The Beatnik mindset was created in opposition to the booming post World War II economy. Beatniks saw runaway capitalism as destructive to the human spirit and antithetical to social equality (Gair, 10). Additionally, their dissatisfaction with consumer culture pushed against the stifling and prude etiquette of their parent’s generation. Prior to the establishment of the Beatnik’s open and direct mindset, frank discussions of sexuality were considered taboo, and seen as unhealthy and damaging to ones personal psyche (Lee, 15). Beatnik literature and art stood in opposition to the clean formalism of the early 20th century modernists. Instead, they enjoyed literature that was straightforward, bold and more expressive than anything that had come before. Many critics dismissed Beatnik literature as being purely provocative, a means to get attention as opposed to serious and pure art (Campbell, 12). However, time has proven that the impact of the Beat Generation was not short-lived and the influence of their work continues to be widespread. Similar to their literature and art, Beatniks’ criticism came from every corner of society. Academic communities claimed that Beats were anti-intellectual and unrefined. While mainstream America was horrified by their supposed sexual deviancy and illicit drug use, creating a moral panic among older generations during the 1950’s. This panic according to Haenfler occurs when “a number of people in society believe that a group of evil-doers pose a threat to the moral order and therefore must be stopped” (Haenfler, 66). Society was concerned that this group of disillusioned youth would lead to the demise of American culture. Yet amidst all the negative feedback, the Beat Generation effectively absorbed all of this criticism without disintegrating.
The Beat generation made a lasting impact on the structure of American society. Because of Ginsberg’s Howl, the notion of what was acceptable literature broadened immensely. Censorship as a force for modulating public discourse in literature came to an end (Lee, 35). The Beat Generation instituted a multitude of subterranean values such at the Beat’s infatuation with Native American and Eastern philosophies and religions. This exploration of foreign thought contributed to globalization, polytheistic religion, and the creation of modern environmental ethics (Matterson, 3). Modern poetry went under a reformation as a result of the Beatnik’s revolutionary literary style. Poetic structures were relaxed and allowed authors and to express themselves in any fashion they chose. Experimentation with substance, lifestyle and sexuality became more normalized. Allowing for individuals to explore and express themselves as opposed to conforming to fit a mold of what was deemed normal or ideal by American society (Gair, 40). Thus, the Beat Generation was actually more educated, sophisticated, and based off of literature then they seemed at first glance. Their artistic rebellion was quite calculated and informed, and the Beatnik’s counter-culture lifestyle paved the way for innovative generations to come.
The City Lights Book Store in SF still exists, below is a link to an explanation of the powerful symbol of this popular Beatnik hangout and what it means today.