Origins of Beatnik

The beatnik was a sub-cultural movement developed in the United States during the decade of 1950's that later got more followers all around the world and become one of the biggest and most controversial suburban culture of its time. It also had very clear characteristics that goes from the free drug consume, the sexual liberation and anti-materialist ideologies. It is consider that the beatnik was the origin of the hippies since the word "hippy" comes from a phrase used by them. The raise of this subculture is related with American literature since the writer Jack Kerouac was the one who introduces the term "Beat generation" in 1948 when he was referring to the group of authors from which he was part of. It also refers to his social circle in general, formed in the underground of New York, characterized by young anti-conformist members who gather with intellectual purposes and to do certain activities that were not accepted by society. However the term was originally published by Clellon Holmes in his book Go (consider as the first beat novel) in which he describe this suburban group and call it the "beat generation", but the word "beat" was introduced into the group by other author: Herbert Huncke. The term was later expanded and popularized by Jack Kerouac.

The beatnik was very influential during the decades of 1950's and 1960's since it was liberation in many ways for the young Americans who were against the society standards and the conservative government. It was so strong that the history of the United Estates (and maybe the world history) cannot be studied without seeing this topic, because it does not only change the perspective of the people regarding global society, but it also create many movements, from feminist and homosexual activist, to a whole musical genre. It also influences the artistic and literary world.

By: Gabriel Restrepo