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Art and its impact on society
Importance of arts in society essay
Art and its impact on society
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Over the decades, art has been used as a weapon against the callousness of various social constructs - it has been used to challenge authority, to counter ideologies, to get a message across and to make a difference. In the same way, classical poetry and literature written by minds belonging to a different time, a different place and a different community have somehow found a way to transcend the boundaries set by time and space and have been carried through the ages to somehow seep into contemporary times and shape our society in ways we cannot fathom. Widely recognized as an American classic, Howl by Allen Ginsberg of The Beat Generation is a poem that managed to have a powerful influence on the American society in the 50s - the impact …show more content…
Kill Your Darlings (2013) is another biographical film starring Daniel Radcliffe that’s based on the Beat Movement – both films categorized under the ‘indie’ genre. A few cases in which this poem is particularly relevant in today’s society, apart from just the general hipster culture, is the fact that in many ways we’re faced with similar issues of social oppression of certain sects of the population, homophobia, discord amongst different cultures and excessive consumerism – all these being matters than Ginsberg felt strongly about and sought to fight against. Howl is a representation of a very stereotypical ‘drugs, philosophy, music and sex’ driven young adult, college life that is so often accused of pretentiousness – and maybe in this era that is true. We have rights and liberties that the youth of the 50s didn’t enjoy – so what are we fighting for? Our reasons may not be as great as those of the decades gone by, but we have our battles nevertheless. Our society’s not perfect, but we are heading towards a brighter future – at least in the minds of young, creative idealists we are. For many reasons, Howl remains the voice of every generation at some point in time – it is a reflection of the impulsive drive of the youth of every era, itching to make a
Allen Ginsberg was a Jewish American poet, who was born in June 3 1929, he’s poetry vigorously opposed such topics as militarism, economic materialism and sexual- repression. Ginsberg is best known for his epic poem "Howl", in which he denounced what he saw as the destructive forces of capitalism and conformity in the United States.
Sociologists often employ intersectionality theory to describe and explain facets of human interactions. This particular methodology operates on the notion that sociologically defining characteristics, such as that of race, gender, and class, are not independent of one another but function simultaneously to determine our individual social experiences. This is evident in poetry as well. The combination of one poet’s work that expresses issues on class with another poet’s work that voices issues on race, and so forth, can be analyzed through a literary lens, and collectively embody the sociological intersectionality theory.
What is art and how is it used as a tool for communication? These multifaceted questions are answered by analyzing ancient and modern art. In the article “When Art Loses Its Sting: The evolution of Protest Art in Authoritarian Contexts” Jacqueline Adams explains how art captures the interest of sociologists. Art executes a unique duality in society. In both recent and ancient history, art has been used as propaganda. Now, contemporary art works to challenge or protest ideologies. Analyzing art provides an interesting insight: the art of today holds as much influence as it did in history. Art has not “lost its sting,” but rather gained a phenomenal impact.
...erg’s lines are inwardly. The self of Whitman is all-encompassing but Ginsberg’s self is passive, lacking diversity by excluding rural settings. In short, Ginsberg’s Howl” is a journey through a different route to reality by leaving the doubts behind and taking the lead role of a public American poet-prophet, which Whitman only dreamt of in his life by composing poetry for an imagined audience.
Ginsberg was a literary revolutionary as can be seen in his poetry. He pushed form and genre, theory and confrontation, confession and controversy right to the threshold and over the doorway of societal standards. In pushing and pushing, Ginsberg creates a new vocabulary for certain words by capitalizing them and giving them the significance of the ‘proper noun.’ By capitalizing the first letter of certain words, Ginsberg gives a solid identity to intangible things and redefines their role in a corrupted society that has destroyed the “best minds” of his generation.
Born June 3, 1926, Allen Ginsberg is known as one of the most influential poets of the Beats Generation. With his forward political views and content that pushed limits, he was always working toward equality for the all. Ginsberg is considered to have “[grown] up in a conventional and uneventful fashion,” with politically active parents as an influence (Lewis, Critical Survey of Poetry). It is no mere coincidence that as he continued to grow, he also became involved with politics. Many of his poems tend to address issues that Ginsberg did not agree with. It is said that many of Ginsberg’s poems have something to do with what has influenced his life. They are considered to have some autobiographical elements.
Ginsberg’s first reciting of his poem Howl at the Six Gallery reading in San Francisco was met with praise and applause.
...nd Ginsberg come to celebrate his triumph over censorship, support of the arts, and the ways “Howl” revolutionized literature and opened doors for individuals who longed to reveal their eccentricities before it was considered “appropriate” to do so. The fact that festivals like these are permitted to exist, that people still gather in Ginsberg’s name, that people are allowed to live with out restrictions because of his work are just some examples of how this man’s legacy lives on far longer than he could have ever imagined. Allen Ginsberg led a band of misfits through a re-imagination of literature and, despite the controversy he inspired and through his determination to avoid censors, those misfits changed the way literature was written and how the world responded to literature forever. There has and will never be a writer to affect as many lives as Allen Ginsberg.
...ortant to understand when examining the Beat Generation since many of its readers sympathized with the message that the pocketbook poem successfully conveyed, allowing Ginsberg to have great influence on his future actions towards the Beat movement.
Allen Ginsberg’s three-part poem “Howl,” is an exclamation of utter frustration, fueled by the individuality-shattering, conformity of his time. It is a heartfelt tribute to his fellow angelheaded hipsters, the “best minds” of his generation, “destroyed by madness.” It is the identification and calling out of Moloch: the source of this devastating ailment afflicted upon individuals during the 1940s and 1950s. Finally, it is a notion of sympathy and unity, addressed to Carl Solomon, the recipient of the poem’s dedication. Ginsberg’s “Howl” synthesizes and summarizes the Beat Generation’s outright rejection of societal mores and expectations, through the medium of free verse, dithyrambic poetry.
BUNEA VALENTIN LEONARD GROUP 3A, ENGLISH-AMERICAN STUDIES. ALLEN GINSBERG, HOWL AND THE LITERATURE OF PROTEST. Allen Ginsberg (1926-1997) was an important figure in the Beat Generation Movement that took place right before the revolutionary American 60s. Other major beat writers (also called beatnicks ) were: Gregory Corso, Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs. The beat poetry was meant to be oral and very effective in reading.
Simpson, L.A.M., A revolution in Taste: Studies in Dylan Thomas, Allen Ginsberg, Sylvia Plath and Robert Lowell (London: Macmilan, 1978)
Howl by Allen Ginsberg is a revolutionary poem against conformity, authorities and sexual repression. The poet attitude towards his society is explicitly expressed in this epic poem. Moreover, Allen Ginsberg explains the reason behind the travels and drug abuses of the Beat Generation in this poem. In addition, the Beat Generation thirst for freedom sexuality can also be seen throughout the poem. Howl introduces the readers to its fresh ideas about human sexuality, social norms and freedom of religion.
The 1950’s beatniks gather around coffeeshops, writing and grumbling about the unfairness of the government and society’s closed mind. Today, youth gather around their laptops and type away, despairing over the unfairness of the government and society’s closed mind. Allen Ginsberg’s poetry embodies those angry youth. His unique choices in diction, symbolism and imagery artfully conveys his criticism against the wrongdoings of Uncle Sam and his subjects. Through his poem America, Ginsberg reaches out to all generations of people and exposes the ethical mistakes that both the government and society as a whole make, and these mistakes are classic in the sense that it is always a mistake that everyone keeps repeating.
The Beat writers formed in New York City, started with only a few members, but grew to have an impact on American society, especially in literature and politics, which still lasts today. Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg were the founders of the Beat G...