Virtual Scrapbook Narrative

Slide 1:
The Beat Generation was an era in history like no other. The culture, the music, the people, all of it unique and nothing like anything ever before. As time changes, all of these aspects of life change with it. So what makes the Beat Generation so unique and different from all of the other major stages throughout America’s culture? The lifestyles.

Slide 2:
The Beats’ financial situations for one were not always the best. There were a number of Beats who previously served in America’s military and received monthly checks as a source of income because many did not have jobs. As a Beat, it was almost obligatory to travel the country and with such aspirations, they could not keep a steady job. Of course there were many other reasons as well, but the Beats were definitely never considered career oriented.

Slide 3:
Although the Beats never excelled in any one career field other than a few landing good jobs as writers or poets, they would take on small jobs even if for short periods of time and do whatever it was they could to earn their drinking money. Many Beats, as soon as they got any amount of money would take it straight to the bars to enjoy their evenings. They would spend more than planned but have the time of their lives meeting new people, bar hopping, dancing and listening to the unique music of the time.

Slide 4:
The Beats would party and drink and smoke weed and be social all through the night and into the morning. Some did so because they had nowhere to stay the night. Some would meet a guy or girl and go home with them that night. Some would go home with multiple.

Slide 5:
The Beats didn’t have a plan. Many days, weeks, and even months would go by just flying by the seat of their pants. Whether it was too much work to come up with a plan or they didn’t have enough money to know what to do next, they just lived life to the fullest that they knew how.

Slide 6:
One can only imagine how the Beats got around. Without much money, flying was out of the question, without a steady job only few could afford vehicles, without a plan few could make a train on time if they had bought a ticket, so what did they do to move around? Hitchhiking! Sure the Beats would join up with a buddy who had a car and catch a ride, or sneak onto a train while it’s at the station, but hitchhiking just seemed to be the easiest and most efficient way to travel. (sounds of traffic in background)

Slide 7:
Many of the stories told of the Beat Generation come from the ones experienced while hitchhiking, about the people they met and the connections that were made.

Slide 8:
Another aspect of the generation that made it so different from the rest is the music! Oh the music was so beat! Jazz and swing were popular at the clubs and bars and on the radio. Sure there had been many jazz songs already written, but nothing like the style these had. What makes the music of the beat generation so unique and different from any other is that not only had no music like it ever been created before, but it never died. Beat Generation music is still not only very recognizable but is easy to find even still today. (jazz excerpt in background)

Slide 9:
The most influential aspect of the lifestyles of the Beats where simply put, how they interacted with each other. Though they were spread all across the country, they really were a tightly knit culture that had their ups and downs but ultimately looked after each other. The friendships that grew throughout and the books, stories and poetry that resulted from these encounters with other beats are remarkable in their uniqueness. They all lived their lives by an unwritten code that to them needed no explanation. These stories, memories, interactions and reminisces of how life as a beat used to be, are still spreading and show no sign of fading away.

Sources:

Charters, Ann, Ann Charters, and Allen Ginsberg. Scenes Along the Road: Photographs of the Desolation Angels, 1944-1960. New York: Portents/Gotham Book Mart, 1970. Print.
Frank, Robert. The Americans. New York: SCALO Publishers in association with the National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1998. Print.
Kerouac, Jack. On the Road. New York: Viking, 2007. Print.
Wright, Michaela. In class notes. Spring 2015. Print.