Howling On the Road: Visions of the Beat Generation Today

Abstract

The Beat Generation has had a great impact upon audiences, readers and critics.
However, at the time of its birth, its members gained little recognition. The themes
presented in their works -sex, drugs, jazz, and social non-conformity- were considered
frivolous and lacking in literary quality by many critics. The purpose of this paper is to
explore the influence of the Beat Generation on today’s cultural sphere. The paper explores
two main texts, On the Road by Jack Kerouac and Howl by Allen Ginsberg. The Beat
Generation continues to inspire contemporary society in a wide range of cultural fields.