1.2 - cultural conformity and challenge - beats and beatniks Flashcards
(11 cards)
What is the difference between a ‘square’ and a ‘beat’?
‘Squares’: mostly MC young teenagers but were conformists, agreeing with mainstream culture, more insulting
‘Beats’: meant cheated, robbed, emotionally and physically exhausted who rejected materialism, consumer culture and conformity for a lifestyle of spontaneity, drugs, free love and defiance of authority
How did Allen Ginsberg’s poem ‘Howl’ dissent from social norms?
It argues that the materialistic, consumer-based and conformist elements of in American society in 50s are what is destroying the best qualities of human nature, touched on taboo topics
How did Jack Kerouac’s life and book On the Road (1957) exemplify his rejection of contemporary social norms?
His book talks about his experiences as a young drifter and its excessively long sentences are owed much to the rush of sensation he got from smoking marijuana as he wrote and it originally contained descriptions of drug use and homosexual practices but these were removed for publishing.
What were ‘beatniks’ and why did Jack Kerouac and other ‘beats’ dislike them?
‘Beatniks’: characterised by young people having an anti-establishment attitude (denoted from ‘nik’)`apartment in north beach, San Francisco, Greenwich NYC with mattress, table, lamps bells, bamboo curtains and wine bottles suspended from ceiling, men had sandals or were barefoot while women typically wore tight jeans with baggy sweaters and had long straight hair) and they were disliked by the ‘beats’ because they saw them as pretentious copycats
Why did the mid-1950s witness an adult fear of ‘juvenile delinquency’ and how far was this fear justified?
Newspapers and magazines typically focused on the problem of juvenile delinquency and the senate held hearings on the matter. Despite the activities of teenage gangs, statistics demonstrated no increase in juvenile delinquency during this era with many contemporaries even arguing that the younger generation was more conformist
Why was rock ‘n’ roll appealing to teenagers of the 1950s, especially Elvis?
Rock’n’ roll was the first genre of music that sharply defined teenagers as it combined black ‘race music’ and hillbilly. This created a sense of group identity as only they enjoyed it (the older generation heavily criticised the genre and feared it corrupting their children) rand with temporary jobs and often generous allowances, teenagers had money to spend on records. Furthermore, Elvis was an icon of the 50s who specifically appealed to a young female audience who swooned over him.
Who was Elvis and what was his impact?
- Combination of black ‘race music’ (jazz, blues, rhythm) and more white, country music = rock and roll
- Nicknamed ‘Elvis the Pelvis’ from his controversial movements
By Spring 1956: Presley fast becoming national phenomenon and teenagers came to his concerts in unprecedented numbers, with the enthusiastic reaction, causing riots at some performances
- Nicknamed ‘Elvis the Pelvis’ from his controversial movements
Who was Chuck Berry and what was his impact?
- One of the pioneers of rock n roll music
- Nicknamed ‘father of rock n roll’
- African American from St Louis
- Johnny B. Goode (1958) was major hit, peaking at number 2 on magazine’s hot r&b sides chart
Later in life, string of physical and sexual assault allegations
Who was Johnny Cash and what was his impact?
born to poor farmers in Arkansas initially a folk/guitar singer
* Career took off in late 50s increasingly associated with rebelliousness, anti-authority symbolised by wearing black
* Began performing concerts in at prisons in late 50s
* Folsom Prison Blues
* By late 50s, problems with alcohol and drugs (continued through 60s)
* Walk the line movie
Where did Beat originate from, who did inspire and what were their style?
- Beat: came from slang for ‘beaten down’ or downtrodden, world of hustlers, drug addicts and petty thieves
- Where Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac sought inspiration
- To them, also had spiritual connotation as in ‘beatitude’
Fashion-oriented: loose sweaters, leotards, tight black pants, berets, and sunglasses all the rage & spaces: coffee houses, cellar nightclubs, and espresso shops opened to meet new demand
What was On the Road and what was its impact?
: seen as defining moment for post war beat and counterculture generations, with protagonists living life against backdrop of jazz, poetry and drug use (main character, Sal Paradise)
