Beatnik: English Police slang ‘Bobby on the beat’ meaning a policeman’s patrol area done on foot – ‘beat’ becomes part of criminal slang. 1930’s -1940’s street jazz slang ‘dead beat - meaning worn out, tired, beaten or unscrupulous, person of low morals. 1939 – 45 World War II – mid forties Bebop or Bop Jazz breaks through in New York. 1948 – Jack Kerouac in conversation with John C Homes uses the term ‘beat generation’ - he describes the characters and scene in his novel ‘Go’ (1952) Holmes is asked to write an article for the Sunday Times – “This is the Beat Generation” 1955 - Kerouac writes ‘Jazz of the Beat Generation’ – for New World Writings. 1957 – On the Road is finally published – with much thanks to Allen Ginsberg – the trial and publicity around HOWL has also prepared the ground – the BEAT GENERATION becomes a term in everyday usage; often used to describe illegal, immoral behavior or youthful culture. Kerouac says the Beat Generation – was actually a short lived group of friend in the 40’s – and the 50’s grouping are ‘cool and beat’ or ‘hipsters or beatsters’ 1958 April – Russian Sputnik satellite is launched – America’s fear of losing Cold War the space race increases – Herb Caen of the San Francisco Chronicle coins the term ‘Beatnik.’ 1958 – Protest an English publication – The Beat Generation and All the Angry Young Men 1959 June – Kerouac writes for Playboy Magazine trying to expand on what he sees as the more spiritual side of Beat. Early sixties sees many Beat orientated books – The Beat – The Beat Scene – The Beat Coast Scene – 1962 – The Big Sur – Kerouac describes being hounded by ‘silly beatniks’ And meeting ‘Beat Dandies’ “a new and strange underground group of beatniks” Who dress in a stylish and colorful manner. Baby Boomers – children born between 1946 – 1964 – become more affluent Kenneth Rexroth used both the terms hipster and hippies to refer to young people participating in African American or Beatnik nightlife. 1964 - Malcolm X’s autobiography, claims hippie was used in 1940’s Harlem to describe a specific type of white man who “acted more Negro than Negroes” 1965 September 5 in the article, “A New Haven for Beatniks ” by San Francisco journalist Michael Fallon writes about West Coast hippies. 1969 August 15 – Woodstock Music and Arts Fair – known as the hippie festival. 1969 Oct 21 Jack Kerouac dies at the age of 47. 1969 December 6 - The Altamont Speedway Free Festival – a riot and murder ensued during the Rolling Stones set – it has been described as the end of the hippie era
Posted on: Tue, 05 Nov 2013 21:48:11 +0000
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