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Who are the Beatniks? The Lost Generation – 50 ’ s style

The Beat Generation “ The History of the world is the history not of individuals, but of groups. ” W.E.B. Du Bois. Who are the Beatniks? The Lost Generation – 50 ’ s style. ~ Small group of friends, later a movement ~ Came of age after WWII

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Who are the Beatniks? The Lost Generation – 50 ’ s style

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  1. The Beat Generation“The History of the world is the history not of individuals, but of groups.”W.E.B. Du Bois

  2. Who are the Beatniks?The Lost Generation – 50’s style ~ Small group of friends, later a movement ~ Came of age after WWII ~ Disillusioned by the Cold War & unraveling of American Culture

  3. From the 50’s to the 60’s 1950s 1960s • Civil right’s unrest • Sexual Revolution • Vietnam War Protests • Assassinations • Cold War • Loss of Faith • Rise of the suburbs • Television explosion • McCarthy Red Scare • Age of Conformity • Faith in nuclear family: BABY BOOM

  4. Who are the Beatniks?The Lost Generation – 50’s style • Wore black berets & sported goatees • Played the “bongo drums” • Drank cheap Chianti & smoked marijuana • Hung out in coffee houses • Jargon: “dig”“cool”“crazy!” • Small group of adult writers • Espoused mystical detachment & relaxation of social and sexualtensions.

  5. Key Figures • Jack Kerouac • William S. Burroughs • Tom Wolfe • Allen Ginsberg • Lawrence Ferlinghetti

  6. Introduction to the Public • New York Magazine:“This is the Beat Generation” – 1952 • Kerouac’s On the Road - 1957

  7. From Beat to Beatnik • Herb Cain coins: “beatnick” • “Beat”ific: angelic revelation of self • “Beat” down • Beat (rhythm) of Jazz

  8. Beats vs.Tradition • Rejected traditional poets of the era • New language to express personal visions • Drew upon the everyday: concrete image and specific event • Unconscious creation of forms • Great difficulty getting their work into print

  9. Allen Ginsberg • Born 6/3/26 in Paterson, N.J. • Attended Columbia • 1948 – mystical visions; insane asylum • 1953 – Moves to San Francisco • 1956 - Howl • Died 4/5/ 97

  10. Lawrence Ferlinghetti • Born in Yonkers on 3/24/19 • Joined Navy • Studied at Sorbonne, Paris • Opened City Lights Bookstore • Published “Howl”; arrested with Ginsberg • Currently runs City Lights

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