The Writers of the Beat Generation and their Role in Rebellion and Research Paper

The Writers of the Beat Generation and their Role in Rebellion and Reflection - Research Paper Example This research paper describes the Beat Generation, that was a period in American history where writers broke through the barriers of censorship, and were able to present views that explored the taboos of the time and helped to spur on a revolution. The purpose of this essay is to look at the revolutionary nature of the Beat Generation, particularly the writers from this period in American history, and consider the way in which these writers presented views that were controversial. In addition, the researcher of this paper considers the ways that the writers spurred on rebellion within their environment, which had previously been subject to high levels of censorship. The approach of the researcher to examining this topic consists of multiple aspects presented. This capstone essay also considers the ways in which the Beat Generation succeeded, and where it failed. The first aspect will be to examine literature and research that has been done on this time period to consider the way in w hich the writing and behavior of the Beat Generation would have been understood within its context. The second component is examining the literature itself, and also responses to this literature within peer-reviewed papers. All information gathered will be directly related to the thesis in an attempt to provide strong support for the argument. One approach that may be taken is to consider a few specific authors from this period and to consider the way that their work contributed the rebellion and revolution in this period. Thesis Statement: The Beat Generation was a period in American history where writers broke through the barriers of censorship, and were able to present views that explored the taboos of the time and helped to spur on a revolution. Preliminary Annotated Bibliography Arthur, Jason. Allen Ginsberg’s Biographical Gestures. Texas Studies in Literature and Language. (2010). 52.2, 227-446. Print. This journal article is an interesting examination of the biography published by Allen Ginsberg in 2006, who is one of the most well-known Beat Generation. The author discusses in detail the approaches that Ginsberg takes in crafting his biography, and what is interesting about these approaches. This article provides a useful examination into the way a prominent Beat Generation writer is perceived both by himself and by an outside observer a significant time after his generation has passed. Huddleston, Diane M. The Beat Generation: They Were Hipsters Not Beatnicks. Department of History semi nar paper. Western Oregon University, 2012. Web. This capstone paper considers the ways in which the Beat Generation succeeded, and where it failed. The author considers the motives of this generation and how their intent was misunderstood by the society around them. One important aspect about this piece of literature is it considers the way that the Beat Generation and its impacts progressed through San Francisco, providing detailed information about critical events during this time. Lagaron, Elizabeth M. â€Å"Blessed are the Pure of Heart† Variations on Magical Realism in the Beat Generation: Pathways to Critique and Resistance. Dissertation. University of Kansas, 2009. Web. This dissertation provides an in-depth examination of various aspects of the Beat Generation, including literary works, and considers how magical realism was applied through their work. The author focuses on three key writers from the Beat Generation, Diane di Prima, Elise Cowen and Jack Kerouac. The a uthor also considers the influence of this on the social realities that the authors faced, something that is highly relevant to this paper. Peters, Nancy J. The Beat Generation and San Francisco’s Culture of Dissent. In, Reclaiming San Francisco: History, Politics, Culture. James Brook, Chris Carlsson, Nancy J. Peters eds. 1998. San Francisco, CA: City Lights Books. Print. This article considers the impact that the Beat Generation had on a specific area of the United States. Peters examines the way in which San Francisco’s culture led to the prevalence of such dissent, and likewise considers the way that the Beat Culture shaped San Francisco. The article also discusses specific pieces of literature that appeared within the period, and chronicles some of the important events. Pokharel,