Allen Ginsberg Howl Analysis
California came onto the national stage in the summer of 1957 with the sudden arrest of Shigeyoshi Murao and surrendering of Lawrence Ferlinghetti in regards to the publishing and selling of Howl by Allen Ginsberg. Prosecuting Ferlinghetti was an advance in the broader crusade “to protect families by keeping controversial expression, like that in “Howl,” out of newspapers and off airwaves.” The rise of juvenile delinquency encouraged radical conservatives to seek out contentious content and remove it from society in an attempt to save the American public and give the United States a fighting chance in the Cold War. Members of either side of the debate were animate for their cause. Conservative leaders in the United States were fearful that
the delinquent threat would ultimately endanger the country as the youth began to band together behind cultural contraband rather than the government as “once initiated, impressionable young minds inevitably hint for something stronger, something with more ‘jolt,’ something imparting a greater thrill.” This thrill was said to come from infiltrated communists, justifying the campaign to remove controversial contraband. Advocates for the Beat Generation and Ferlinghetti, sought to protect the rights established by the First Amendment. Similarly to many others, Ronald Reagan feared state censorship would weaken American freedom and would produce adolescents “mentally conditioned to [the point which] somebody can tell them . . . what they can read and what they can hear . . . and what they can say and what they can think. If that day comes we have lost the Cold War.” It is not the job of the state to decide what material is appropriate for the public, rather it is the right of the public to make that decision for themselves. Joel E. Black, author of the article, thoroughly established the ideals and concerns for the parties both in favor, and opposed to state censorship. Black utilized statements of those connected to the case and social leaders throughout the country in order to recreate the beliefs of Americans during the trial. Although the main beliefs of the nation were discussed in the work, Black seemed more supportive towards the Beat Generation, as he was critical of the radical conservatives throughout the text for their ideas and justifications of the censorships. Ultimately, Black argued in favor for the right of the public to make their own choice and for the First Amendment, defending the right to “novel and conventional ideas” as they served as the primary opposition to ignorance and protected the democratic nature of the United States. The People of the State of California V. Lawrence Ferlinghetti was one in a series of cultural clashes in the United States after World War II. The decision upheld the right to publish and sell obscene pieces of work due to their potential social value, and upheld the rights of Americans under the First Amendment deeming censorship by the state unjust as it limits the intellectual power of the people. Citizens have the right to be exposed to all matters of work and opinion, and make individual decisions afterwards, not to be controlled by the state in any degree. Judge Clayton W. Horn defended the right of the people to have access to obscene material, and to make personal opinions separate from the ideals of the state. Horn defended democracy and the freedoms of the people that are the backbone for the United States.
the delinquent threat would ultimately endanger the country as the youth began to band together behind cultural contraband rather than the government as “once initiated, impressionable young minds inevitably hint for something stronger, something with more ‘jolt,’ something imparting a greater thrill.” This thrill was said to come from infiltrated communists, justifying the campaign to remove controversial contraband. Advocates for the Beat Generation and Ferlinghetti, sought to protect the rights established by the First Amendment. Similarly to many others, Ronald Reagan feared state censorship would weaken American freedom and would produce adolescents “mentally conditioned to [the point which] somebody can tell them . . . what they can read and what they can hear . . . and what they can say and what they can think. If that day comes we have lost the Cold War.” It is not the job of the state to decide what material is appropriate for the public, rather it is the right of the public to make that decision for themselves. Joel E. Black, author of the article, thoroughly established the ideals and concerns for the parties both in favor, and opposed to state censorship. Black utilized statements of those connected to the case and social leaders throughout the country in order to recreate the beliefs of Americans during the trial. Although the main beliefs of the nation were discussed in the work, Black seemed more supportive towards the Beat Generation, as he was critical of the radical conservatives throughout the text for their ideas and justifications of the censorships. Ultimately, Black argued in favor for the right of the public to make their own choice and for the First Amendment, defending the right to “novel and conventional ideas” as they served as the primary opposition to ignorance and protected the democratic nature of the United States. The People of the State of California V. Lawrence Ferlinghetti was one in a series of cultural clashes in the United States after World War II. The decision upheld the right to publish and sell obscene pieces of work due to their potential social value, and upheld the rights of Americans under the First Amendment deeming censorship by the state unjust as it limits the intellectual power of the people. Citizens have the right to be exposed to all matters of work and opinion, and make individual decisions afterwards, not to be controlled by the state in any degree. Judge Clayton W. Horn defended the right of the people to have access to obscene material, and to make personal opinions separate from the ideals of the state. Horn defended democracy and the freedoms of the people that are the backbone for the United States.