Why 'The Beats'?

The first time I heard about 'The Beats' and 'The Beat Generation' was long after I read On the Road by Jack Kerouac. I had no idea the book which enchanted me from the very first line belonged to such movement that took place after the WWII in the United States. Suddenly I felt ignorant. Especially because in that particular moment I was staying in San Francisco, CA, where The Beats had major influence.

One day, I was walking through Chinatown with a friend, taking pictures of the peculiar buildings of the neighborhood, when suddenly we found a street named after Kerouac. I could not be more surprised. Why did my favourite writer have a street named after him? Why in San Francisco? Still I did not know. But I felt curiosity and I wanted to figure it out.

Not long after and really close to Kerouac's street, we found a museum called 'The Beats'. I saw Kerouac's face on the sign in the entry and immediately I knew that the museum was dedicated to him somehow. I spoke to my friend and we both agreed to visit it and discover what surprises held inside. It was then when I first realized that what stroke me the most of Kerouac's writing was shared by other writers which also belonged to this so-called 'Beat Generation'. I felt excited. Really excited. I wanted to know more about them, and of Kerouac himself. And luckily the museum had many things to teach us about them. 

After our short visit in the museum I left knowing a great deal of things about the Beats. I was not feeling ignorant any longer. I understood better Kerouac's writing and I felt I wanted to know more about writers such as Allen Ginsberg, William S. Burroughs, Hebert Huncke and many others who happen to appear in Kerouac's On the Road.

Now, a year and a half later, I have recently decided to dedicate my final project to The Beats. Why 'The Beats?' I asked myself. There are many reasons really, but basically because I wanted (and still want) to satisfy my curiosity. I feel I do not know enough about their writing, their views of the world, their lifestyle... and I want to learn more. Why were they so influential? What is so special about them? Why does their writing stroke me? Hopefully, by June, I will have answer to all those questions.

-Gemma.