Analysis of Beat Poetry - Essay Example

Beat Poetry Beat poetry refers to the spoken-word performances that were created by associates of the popular postwar movement known as beat generation. Some of the authors associated with beat generation include Jack Kerouac, William S. Borroughs, and Allen Ginsberg. The beat generation was much concerned about changing consciousness in the poetry writing styles during 1940s. They came up with poetry writing styles that defied conventional writing (Caruaru 98). Several drugs were used by the beat generation members. Such drugs included alcohol, bhang, morphine and other psychedelic drugs. The group members would first experiment with the drugs while composing beat poems since they were not much familiar with the effect of these drugs. The main drive behind the usage of these drugs was due to intellectual curiosity, and hedonism. However, the contribution of these drugs to the composition process of beat poems cannot be stated; their relationship with creativity has not been found. However, the beat generation members believed that the use of drugs helped them to be creative while composing beat poems (McClure 32). Thesis topic Beat poems have led to non-censorship of poetry and women liberation as well as sexual liberation. Beat poetry was initiated due to the battle against social conformity. In addition, literary tradition was also important to the work of the beat generation artists. In order to achieve high degree of consciousness, the beat generation artists would use hallucinogenic drugs, the same way meditation and eastern religion were used to achieve consciousness. On religion, Buddhism was crucial to the beat artists. For instance, Gary Synder and Allen Ginsberg dedicated much time studying Buddhism which was reflected in most of their works (Zott 54). One good example of beat poem is known as “Howl and other poems” which was composed by Allen Ginsberg. The publication of the “Howl” was done by Lawrence Ferlinghetti and his press city lights publishing group. In the following year, Felighetti was taken to court after being accused of obscenity. However, the court ruled that the “Howl” was not obscene. The debate surrounding the obscenity of the “Howl” brought more fame and national interest on the works of the beat poets (Caruaru 98). Ginsberg’s poem “Howl’ had lines that talked about homosexual sex. These lines were of much concern to the authorities. In addition, other beat poems such as “naked lunch’ which was composed by Burroughs, dwelt much on drug use and sexual content. Apart from lines of homosexuality, the beat poems also contained explicit descriptions of sexual practices. The victory in the courts ended an era of poetry censorship in the United States thereby giving composers freedom to come up with more beat poems of their choice (Zott 54). Other composers of beat poetry include Diane di Prima and Neal Cassandr. However, the most notable beat composers include William S. Burroughs and Jack Kerouac. They came up with some of the classic beat poetry pieces such as “naked lunch” and “on the road’. In addition, these artists participated in the writing of poetry as well as being part of the beats. The term beat generation was actually coined by Kerouac, where he described his status and those of his friends in the beat generation during the post-war years (Gray 67). On women empowerment, beat poems and beat generation members have been criticized of portraying American women as housewives. The poems do not offer liberation for social vices in the society affecting women. This is evident of how female contemporaries of the beat poets are involved in the writing of the poems. The women are absent in the mainstream interpretation in most beat generation compositions. The female contemporaries have been given flat and traditional gender roles of a traditional woman (Knight 6). The exclusion of women from the histories of beat generation symbolizes the way society was structured. There was much patriarchy. The beat generation writers are just but a reflection of the social vices that were taking place in the society. I believe that much criticism should be towards the society rather than to the composers. Beat poetess are a reflection of the society. In the 1950s, women empowerment had not been advanced as in the modern world. Women composers of beat poetry include Joyce Johnson, and Carolyn Cassady. Other notable writes apart from Johnson and Cassady include Hetie Jones, Joanne Kyger and Harriet Zwerling (Knight 6). Beat poems were considered to be obscene because many of the key figures were based on homosexual or bisexual. Open figures of homosexuality were shown in the compositions of Ginsberg and Burroughs. It is important to note that most of the beat generation members met each other through homosexual social connections. Influences of beat poetry to the society Beat poetry has had significant influence on the way the society views certain issues. First, beat poetry has brought about spiritual liberation. Every member of the society has got the freedom to follow any religious group without being discriminated. The beat poets were associated with Buddhism as their spiritual liberation. Further, they claimed that drug used helped them in achieving consciousness necessary in composing beat poems. Consequently, beat poems has brought a revolution on the radical thoughts held on sexual orientation. Be at poems have led to sexual revolution, for instance, gay liberation where every individual has the right to chose whether they want to be gay or not without being discriminated. Further, beat poems have helped in women liberation struggles and to some extent, black liberation (Gray 67). On the world of censorship, beat poetry has helped in the liberation against poetry censorship. Every person can compose any poem without being taken to court due to charges of obscenity. Creativity among artists must be enhanced without being restricted on areas they need to compose their poems. Finally, beat poems led to the introduction of rhythm and blues genre of music. Music groups such as the Beatles have become instrumental beat generation poets and writers of all time (Johnson & McCampbell 45). Conclusion Beat poetry artists have contributed a lot to the emancipation of poem composers and artists. They have inspired several artists and musicians who have earned a living from their creative works. The government should guarantee the freedom to engage in any creative work without being discriminated. It is only through such freedom that artists and young creative minds can be developed in the society. Works cited Caruaru Carmela. Beat poets. New York. Alfred A Knopf publishers. 2002. Print. Gray Richard. A History of American literature. New York. John Wiley & Sons. 2011. Print. Johnson Ronna & McCampbell Nancy. Girls who wore black: women writing the beat. generation. Rutgers University press. 2002. Print. Knight Brenda. Women of the beat generation: the writers, artists and muses of the heart of a revolution. New York. Conari press. 1998. Print. McClure Micheal. Huge dreams: San Francisco and Beat poems. New York. Penguin Books. 1999. Print. Zott Marie. Beat generation: authors’ I-Z. New York. Gale. 2003. Print. Read More