The Beat Generation came into the spotlight post-World War II because of some American writers who met in New York in the 1950s. The central themes of the Beat culture were the rejection of received standards, style innovations, drug experimentation, alternative sexualities, an interest in Eastern religion, a rejection of materialism, and explicit portrayals of the human condition.
The best known pieces of literature to come out of the Beat Generation are Howl by Allen Ginsberg (1956), Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs (1959), and On the Road by Jack Kerouac (1957). Howl and Naked Lunch ended up as the focus of the obscenity trials that helped liberalise publishing in the United States.
The video below shows Ginsberg reading Howl, his infamous piece of Beat Generation literature:
The authors of these pieces of literature were part of the central group that caused the Beat Generation. These people developed a reputation as bohemian hedonists who celebrate non-conformity and spontaneous creativity.
The Source
The Source is a documentary on the Beat Generation shown in 1999. This documentary looked closely at the Beat Generation from beginning to end, and, despite members of the Beat Generation being deceased, analyses the era in great detail. The first part of the documentary (the length of the documentary means that it had to be split into 7 separate YouTube videos) is shown below. To see the next six parts, proceed to the YouTube channel that uploaded it or click on the correct related videos.
The Beat Generation's Effect on Rock and Pop Music
The Beat Generation had a large effect on rock and roll and popular music outside of the music video for Subterranean Homesick Blues. For example, the Beatles were influenced by the Beat Generation; the "a" in "Beatles" was partially inspired by the Beat Generation. Also, John Lennon was a fan of Jack Kerouac, who was one of the main Beat Generation writers. Another one of these central figures to the Beat Generation, Allen Ginsberg, later met and became friends with the Beatles. One member of the Beatles, Paul McCartney, has another link to Allen Ginsberg, as he played the guitar for Ginsberg's album Ballad of the Skeletons.
Video of Ballad of the Skeletons, with William S. Burroughs reading, music by Philip Glass and Paul McCartney playing the guitar
The performance of A Ballad of American Skeletons - read by Allen Ginsberg and with Paul McCartney playing the guitar - at The Royal Albert Hall in 1993. The evening of poetry and performance was promoted by Goldmark and entitled The Return of the Reforgotten.
Ginsberg had several friends in rock and pop music. One of these was, as I have mentioned in previous posts, Bob Dylan. Other than Subterranean Homesick Blues, another link between the two is that Ginsberg toured with Dylan on the Rolling Thunder Revue in 1975. Ginsberg and Dylan were also both Jewish. Going back to the music video for Subterranean Homesick Blues, as Ginsberg is dressed as a Rabbi when he makes an appearance in the music video, this could be seen as Bob Dylan awarding Allen Ginsberg status. This is because Rabbi are seen as symbols of power, authority and status among Jews.
Ginsberg was also friends with Ken Kesey's Merry Pranksters (this group promoted the use of psychedelic drugs and their motto was "Never Trust a Prankster", which has an obvious link to the group's name). Neal Cassady was part of this group, along with other members which included members of the American rock band Grateful Dead.
Another central figure in the Beat Generation, William S. Burroughs, was friends with Mick Jagger, Lou Reed and Patti Smith. Also, Burroughs' novel The Soft Machine was the inspiration for the name of the British progressive rock band Soft Machine. The musical group Steely Dan is another group that named itself after something from Burroughs' work - in this case, the steam-powered dildo in Burroughs' infamous Naked Lunch. Yet another piece of work that was motivated by Burroughs' work is the track Naked Lunch by the Japanese free jazz band Tipographica. This track was made to celebrate Burroughs' piece of literary work that has the same name. The singer-songwriter Tom Waits also collaborated with Burroughs' on the theatrical work The Black Rider.
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| The late William S. Burroughs |
Before Tom Waits collaborated with Burroughs, though, he had links to the Beat Generation. Tom Waits was a Beat [Generation] fan (fans of the Beat Generation were known as Beatniks), and wrote the song Jack and Neal about Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady (aforementioned major parts of the Beat Generation). Tom Waits also recorded the track On the Road with Primus. This was written by Jack Kerouac after finishing the novel.
Furthermore, a song named Kerouac was created to make a tribute to Jack Kerouac as well as his personal philosophy and way of life. This song was written by low rock musician Mark Sandman. Sandman was the former member of the alternative jazz rock band Morphine, where he was the bass guitarist and lead vocalist. He was widely open to the Beat Generation, which led to his creation of the song Kerouac.
The Resurgence of Interest in the Beats
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| Laurie Anderson's album Mister Heartbreak features Burroughs |
In the 1980s, there was a resurgence in interest in the Beats among bands. Allen Ginsberg worked with Clash, and Burroughs worked with Sonic Youth, R.E.M., Kurt Cobain, and Ministry (to name a few). Laurie Anderson featured Burroughs on her 1984 album Mister Heartbreak - Burroughs read the lyrics of the closing track, Sharkey's Night - and in her 1986 concert film Home of the Brave. As well as this, King Crimson produced the album Beat. This album was inspired by the Beat Generation.
Burroughs was named by Bono from the group U2 as a major influence, and Burroughs also made an appearance in U2's music video Last Night on Earth in 1997. This was Burroughs' last filmed performance, as he died mere weeks after.
A detailed and well informed post. I imagine you found this research interesting.
ReplyDeleteOne small revision, you say at the beginning of your commentary that the "beat generation was caused by....
Instead, the beat generation came into the spotlight post World War 2.....
Excellently researched Will with effective examples of the Beat Generation. Fans of the Beat movement were called Beatniks!