The Beat generation is a cultural trend born in the 50’s in the Usa; its exponents protested against the conformist society of the second post-war period; a beat, exhausted generation, without the hope of a future to leave to the world. The beat generation was born from the chance meeting of some young people and a great strong feeling, friendship, grew among them. They were Kerouac, Ginsberg, Ferlinghetti, Corso, McClure, Snyder, Burroughs. The beat was a young intellectual who wanted the society to listen to him, a man who searched truth in drugs, in mysticism, in oriental philosophies, in sex and in long improvisations of be-bop. The beat utopia was to reach the solution of every social conflict and liberation from every taboo without any violence and to propose a new feeling between men and nature. “All human beings are also dream beings. Dreaming ties all mankind together.” J. Kerouac

The political and social context

• War in Vietnam (1954-1975)• Berlin Wall (1961-1989)• Black Movement• Beat Generation• Hippie movement• Beginning of the “cold war”• Students’ rebellion (1968)• Communist regimes in the East

Important people

Politicians:• J.F. Kennedy (Usa)• Malcom X• Martin Luther King• Richard Nixon• Charles De Gaulle (France)• Nikita Kruschev (Soviet Union)

Important peopleWriters and artists:• Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Gregory

Corso, Lawrence Ferlinghetti• Andy WarholSingers:• Bob Dylan & Joan Baez• Jimi Hendrix• The Doors• The Beatles• The Rolling Stones• Simon & Garfunkel

The Beat Generation

“The beat generation is a group of children, sitting on the corner of the road, talking about the end of the world”

J. Kerouac

…

In a period of deep crisis the beat generation was able to rebel against the bad society in which people lived. It was able to propose a new kind of life: they tried to spread the ideals of peace and brotherhood, which the society seemed to forget.

“America when will we end the human war?” A. Ginsberg

“I went outside in the pure dawn, but why should I be glad about a dawn, that dawns on another rumour of war?” Jack Kerouac

“We live in a world where we have to hide to make love, while violence is practised openly” J. Lennon

“Democracy doesn't rule the world, You'd better get that in your head; This world is ruled by violence, But I guess that's better left unsaid” Bob Dylan

…

The Beat generation was the only right answer to violence and war, their hope for a better world was their power. Their ideals are still valuable, they are still the answer to make our world, full of violence and empty of justice, become better for everyone… Our dream is a world with no need for greed or hunger, and full of brotherhood, with all the people living life in peace. Maybe a utopia, but we can believe…

…

“If someone thinks that love and peace is a cliche that must have been left behind in the Sixties, that's his problem. Love and peace are eternal…” J. Lennon

The Hippie Movement

The hippie movement was born in San Francisco bay in 1964.

The hippie ideological principles were grounded on non-conformism,homelessness,oriental mysticism,sexual freedom,an expansion of individual coscience by means of unrestricted alcohol and drug taking expecially LSD and hashish, colourful pacifism through the so-called flower power setting all disputes.

The hippie movement had an undeniable merit: it represented the most authentic reaction against the American way of life, imperialism and repression of ethnic minorities.