Conformity In The 1950's

During the 1950's America had not yet recovered from the devastating effects of World War II and was already thrust into another conflict, The Cold War. This war of espionage and fear between the United States and Russia created a hatred of communism and Communists in America. Events like The Second Red Scare, known as McCarthyism created a panic that anyone could be a communist. McCarthyism led to false accusations of communism onto other people without any evidence to support their claim. People everywhere were scared that the person living next to them for 15 years as a neighbor was in fact a communist Because of this fear; many people were led to idea of conformity, encouraged by political figures such as President Eisenhower. Americans
Kerouac was merely saying these upset youth were the product of being beaten down mentally and emotionally into near submission. The name stuck and became a signifier for those looking to change society. William S. Burroughs was another original Beat writer, though slightly older than his contemporaries. Burroughs was denied entry into the Army during World War II, and had instead spent several years traveling the country and performing odd jobs to get by. Perhaps more than his contemporaries, Burroughs embodied the spirit of reckless abandon for which the Beat Generation was known. In Mexico City, and in a drunken rage, Burroughs accidentally shot his first wife Jane Vollmer in the head. Burroughs was in Mexico at the time ironically to avoid possible imprisonment in the United States. The extreme nature of Burroughs life and attitude obviously would carry over into his artistic efforts. His greatest contribution to Beat literary technique was what he deemed the cut-up, a form which utilized collage and cubism to differ from traditional linear narrative. The disregard for narrative mirrored Burroughs’ mental state, as he struggled with alcohol and drug addictions for the majority of his life. Luck ended up bringing together Kerouac and Burroughs who along with Allen
This all paperback bookstore, a novel idea, allowed for the purchase of books at a much cheaper price meaning poor students and other youth could afford to buy and read works influential to the Beats. Ferlinghetti also entered the publishing industry, bringing both lesser-known and established poets to the mainstream so the youth could read Beat writings as well as established scholar’s writings. City Lights quickly became a hub of Beat Generation literature and culture. In his own poetry, Ferlinghetti used a jazz-inspired rhythm and improvisational themes. Encompassing many Beat writing styles Ferlinghetti’s lines seemed haphazardly thrown on the page, though underneath the seeming disorganization was careful planning and a deliberate effect. Ferlinghetti was also well known for his use of combined humor and darkness, a juxtaposition that has found its way into modern film, television and writing. Dark humor was the perfect reflection of the state of America in the middle of the 1950’s. Ferlinghetti saw the decadence and prudery of American culture, and the destructive potential of capitalism and in order to cope and deal with the negatives of the time he turned to laughing at the absurdity of it all. Because of his style of humor Ferlinghetti was a more accessible Beat writer to contemporaries and future scholars alike yet his views on American consumer culture and sexuality perfectly epitomized