Beat Generation

1. Name some important Beat authors. 
Some important Beat Authors are:
-Ginsberg  
-Burroughs
-Lawrence Ferlinghetti

2. Where did the Beat Generation culture originate primarily? 
The Beat Generation was originated by a group of American post-World War II writers who came to prominence in the 1950s. The origins of this generation can be traced to the Columbia Univercity. Some of the classmates there discussed about getting a "new vision".



3. How was it seen by the general public?
they were seen as Anti-society people. Also seen as a Hippies.

The so-called Beat Generation was a whole bunch of people, of all different nationalities, who came to the conclusion that society sucked. -- Amiri Baraka

But yet, but yet, woe, woe unto those who think that the Beat Generation means crime, delinquency, immorality, amorality ... woe unto those who attack it on the grounds that they simply don’t understand history and the yearning of human souls ... woe in fact unto those who those who make evil movies about the Beat Generation where innocent housewives are raped by beatniks! ... woe unto those who spit on the Beat Generation, the wind’ll blow it back.-- Jack Kerouac


4. What did it offer the nation?
-express sexually and spiritual liberation.
-ecological conciousness.
- the use of illegal drugs such as LSD and Marijuana.
-liberation to express your self.


5. Describe the main characteristics of Beatniks. Can you find any images or video clips to support your description?
Clothing for Men

The beatnik look for men primarily reflected the young artist's look of France, with tight cotton shirts, berets and scarves. Turtlenecks or horizontal striped shirts emerged as a stereotypical piece of clothing for male beatniks. Plain sweaters with no design were also a classic beatnik look. Beatnik men generally favored all black clothing, including shoes. Big, dark sunglasses were often a key item in a male beatnik's wardrobe.

Clothing for Women
For beatnik women, the look went counterculture to the era's frilly skirts and fancy hair seen in the mainstream culture. Black was a favored color for women, especially black Capri pants, stirrup slacks or pencil skirts. Women's tops might be sweatshirts, turtlenecks, knit shirts, thin sweaters with cowl necks or black leotards. Berets and scarves were must-have accessories for female beatniks. Jewelry was minimalistic, often reflecting Eastern religious symbols.

Hairstyles
Men's hairstyles for the beatnik generation included a classic pointed goatee. Growing facial hair made a direct statement against the era's preference for clean-shaved men. Contrasting to the buzz cut common on men, beatnik men grew their hair out longer in more of a bowl cut. The girls wore long, straight and unadorned hairstyles, as they considered going to salons as materialistic. It wasn't uncommon for both women and men to dye their hair black.

Beatnik Look in Movies and TV
The beatnik clothing was firmly cemented into the mainstream media by several movies and television shows. Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face demonstrated the all-black, Parisian-inspired beatnik look in 1956. A beatnik connection to bongos and coffee shops full of poetry made an appearance in the 1958 movie High School Confidential. The Rebel Set (1959) and Beat Girl (1960) also presented plots centered around anti-establishment beatniks.

taken out from: http://www.life123.com/beauty/fashion/beatnik/what-did-beatniks-wear.shtml

accesed in: 11/11/2012

6. How do you think the Beat Generation have influenced our present culture? 

i think they had influenced in how people are not afraid of saying out loud their sexual orientarion for example some important singers of artists. They have also influenced in the use of certain drugs. People believe more in peace now than in war and violence.

bibliography:
http://www.heureka.clara.net/art/beat-generation.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beat_Generation