For my research project I intend to answer question A. I shall focus on the levels of diversity and specifically inequality present in San Francisco, as for me this has been undoubtedly a recurring theme throughout the course. I believe that the vast discrepancies in wealth present in the city underpinned the beat movement, as not only is the theme present in beat writings, but it is also integral to beat philosophy. I shall therefore be focusing greatly on Ginsberg, Kerouac and Ferlinghetti.
I do, however, anticipate difficulty in providing sufficient analysis of the different writer's works within the allocated space, and of finding the most applicable examples to illustrate my thesis.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
"The Dharma Bums"
Right from the start of his novel The Dharma Bums, Kerouac explores the notion of what he considers to be a "Dharma bum", providing examples of specific individuals for whom he considers the term to be a particularly apt description. He states that he considers himself to be a "religious wanderer", as well as :
"An oldtime bhikku in modern clothes wandering the world...in order to turn the wheel of True Meaning, or Dharma, and gain a merit for myself as a future Buddah."
The "Dharma" element of the term "Dharma bum" can therefore be considered to relate to Buddhist spirituality and seemingly the desire to obtain fulfillment through the pursuit of spiritual goals. The "bum" element of the term refers to Kerouac's decision to live sections of his life as a down and out on the street, as for Kerouac the down and out were almost saintly.
The concept of the "Dharma Bums" is especially relevant to the beat movement, as it is tied in with some of its key concepts. Kerouac is able to find pleasure in the lowliest of lifestyles, experiencing "one of the most pleasant nights of [his] life " after camping down on the beach and eating canned macaroni in the cold, with this notion of finding beauty in everything underpinning elements of the beat movement. The beats also sought to "view the wealth and power from the point of view of the down and out people on the street," something which Kerouac also attempts in The Dharma Bums.
"An oldtime bhikku in modern clothes wandering the world...in order to turn the wheel of True Meaning, or Dharma, and gain a merit for myself as a future Buddah."
The "Dharma" element of the term "Dharma bum" can therefore be considered to relate to Buddhist spirituality and seemingly the desire to obtain fulfillment through the pursuit of spiritual goals. The "bum" element of the term refers to Kerouac's decision to live sections of his life as a down and out on the street, as for Kerouac the down and out were almost saintly.
The concept of the "Dharma Bums" is especially relevant to the beat movement, as it is tied in with some of its key concepts. Kerouac is able to find pleasure in the lowliest of lifestyles, experiencing "one of the most pleasant nights of [his] life " after camping down on the beach and eating canned macaroni in the cold, with this notion of finding beauty in everything underpinning elements of the beat movement. The beats also sought to "view the wealth and power from the point of view of the down and out people on the street," something which Kerouac also attempts in The Dharma Bums.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Native American Displacement
Since the time of the first European settlers landing, the Native people of America have been seemingly continually oppressed and persecuted. During the nineteenth century, the government's policy towards Native Americans was one which, should it occur today, would be considered to be genocide, with public calls for the extermination of the Sioux and bounties placed on Indian heads. The nineteenth century also saw the forced migration of Native Americans, in what has come to be known as the "trail of tears".
After Andrew Jackson's implementation of the "Indian Removal Act" in 1830, thousands of Native Americans living east of Mississippi found themselves forced to leave their homes and their lands and move to designated "Indian Territory". The marches were long and cold, and this coupled with a shortage of wagons, horses, blankets and food enusured thousands of Native Americans did not survive the journey. A hundred and twenty three years later, the U.S government's treatment of Native Americans was not much improved, with Indians now being displaced once again. This time, however, the move was away from the reservations and into the cities, something which resulted in Native Americans losing the "special relationships they had been given under federal law, including the tax-exempt status of their land and federal responsibility for Native economic and social well-being. "
Once again, Native Americans found themselves being forced to move and having their lands seized, something which like the trail of tears, proved immensely damaging for the Indian community. It was this forced migration which served as a catalyst for the occupation of Alcatraz, something which served to raise awareness of the Indian's plight, in both a contemporary and historical context.
After Andrew Jackson's implementation of the "Indian Removal Act" in 1830, thousands of Native Americans living east of Mississippi found themselves forced to leave their homes and their lands and move to designated "Indian Territory". The marches were long and cold, and this coupled with a shortage of wagons, horses, blankets and food enusured thousands of Native Americans did not survive the journey. A hundred and twenty three years later, the U.S government's treatment of Native Americans was not much improved, with Indians now being displaced once again. This time, however, the move was away from the reservations and into the cities, something which resulted in Native Americans losing the "special relationships they had been given under federal law, including the tax-exempt status of their land and federal responsibility for Native economic and social well-being. "
Once again, Native Americans found themselves being forced to move and having their lands seized, something which like the trail of tears, proved immensely damaging for the Indian community. It was this forced migration which served as a catalyst for the occupation of Alcatraz, something which served to raise awareness of the Indian's plight, in both a contemporary and historical context.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Mission Dolores
Mission San Francisco de Asis was founded in San Francisco on the 29th of June, 1776 and was named after Saint Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan order and also San Francisco's namesake. The mission has more commonly become known as Mission Dolores, and is still serves as an active church today. The mission served not only as a house of worship, however, but also as a place of education and a centre for the agricultural community.
Upon examining the Mission's official website one can witness the positive vibe which is undeniably eluded; one can see the positive work of the mission within the local community and marvel at the pictures of the ornate decorations. There is, however, an alternate history of the mission which remains notably absent from the site, however it is a history which is gradually coming more and more into the public focus: the Native American story.
The California Missions and Native Americans are linked right from the start. It was natives who were recruited to build the Missions, something which has resulted in the creation of interesting artwork, in which native motifs are intertwined with Christian symbolism. The Missions also served to convert Native Americans to Christianity, a policy which which initially began as voluntary, however by the 1880's the recruitment became highly aggressive. This new policy led to the violent disruption of Native American societies, with Indians having elements of their culture forcibly destroyed, whilst also being made to adopt the Christian way of life.
Many Native Americans appear to hold a deep resentment of the mission system, something that has come into the public eye recently due to the Catholic desire to canonise the founder of the mission system, something which greatly conflicts with the Native American viewpoint
which declares that he should be condemned for his brutality. The public perception of Mission Dolores is also starting to be altered as a consequence of the appoinment of the first Native American curator at the site. He is, however, also a devout Catholic and thus serves to bridge the gap between the two histories, whilst also ensuring that the public perception of the Mission is altered, so that the atrocities committed are not simply glazed over.
Upon examining the Mission's official website one can witness the positive vibe which is undeniably eluded; one can see the positive work of the mission within the local community and marvel at the pictures of the ornate decorations. There is, however, an alternate history of the mission which remains notably absent from the site, however it is a history which is gradually coming more and more into the public focus: the Native American story.
The California Missions and Native Americans are linked right from the start. It was natives who were recruited to build the Missions, something which has resulted in the creation of interesting artwork, in which native motifs are intertwined with Christian symbolism. The Missions also served to convert Native Americans to Christianity, a policy which which initially began as voluntary, however by the 1880's the recruitment became highly aggressive. This new policy led to the violent disruption of Native American societies, with Indians having elements of their culture forcibly destroyed, whilst also being made to adopt the Christian way of life.
Many Native Americans appear to hold a deep resentment of the mission system, something that has come into the public eye recently due to the Catholic desire to canonise the founder of the mission system, something which greatly conflicts with the Native American viewpoint
which declares that he should be condemned for his brutality. The public perception of Mission Dolores is also starting to be altered as a consequence of the appoinment of the first Native American curator at the site. He is, however, also a devout Catholic and thus serves to bridge the gap between the two histories, whilst also ensuring that the public perception of the Mission is altered, so that the atrocities committed are not simply glazed over.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Brautigan's 'Grider Creek'
Brautigan's Grider Creek is written in a very symplistic style with no figurative language,ensuring that it becomes easily accessible for all his readers. It begins with a long, un-punctuated sentence which serves to set a tone of monotony for the piece. Through setting this monotonous tone, Brautigan is able to hint at the monotony of the subject's life, an idea which is also conveyed through the content of the Grider Creek.
Unlike many of Brautigan's other writings, Grider Creek has an air of sadness about it, rather than one of humor, with the piece conveying a sense of unfulfilled dreams. The fact that it is entitled Grider Creek seems somewhat ironic, as one reads it expecting to find a description of the place, however upon reading one learns that the individual was never able to reach the place he desired. Through opting for the title Grider Creek, Brautigan is able to enhance this notion of sadness, as it highlights the subject's lack of fulfillment of his ambition. This melancholy tone is also enforced through Brautigan's choice of language. Through his inclusion of the sentence 'the map was nice though', Brautigan is able to induce pity in the reader, as the person still seeks to find happiness in a map, something which conveys an idea of almost naive optimism.
It is perhaps here that parallels can be drawn between Brautigan and the beat poets, as, in this instance, he uses his writing to convey a sense of being at the lower end of society and unable to achieve his goals, a theme which is seemingly recurrent in beat writings.
It must be noted, however, that this sense of sadness as portrayed in Grider Creek is something not necessarily common to all Brautigan's writings, and the above comparison of Brautigan to the the beats is based solely upon Grider Creek.
Unlike many of Brautigan's other writings, Grider Creek has an air of sadness about it, rather than one of humor, with the piece conveying a sense of unfulfilled dreams. The fact that it is entitled Grider Creek seems somewhat ironic, as one reads it expecting to find a description of the place, however upon reading one learns that the individual was never able to reach the place he desired. Through opting for the title Grider Creek, Brautigan is able to enhance this notion of sadness, as it highlights the subject's lack of fulfillment of his ambition. This melancholy tone is also enforced through Brautigan's choice of language. Through his inclusion of the sentence 'the map was nice though', Brautigan is able to induce pity in the reader, as the person still seeks to find happiness in a map, something which conveys an idea of almost naive optimism.
It is perhaps here that parallels can be drawn between Brautigan and the beat poets, as, in this instance, he uses his writing to convey a sense of being at the lower end of society and unable to achieve his goals, a theme which is seemingly recurrent in beat writings.
It must be noted, however, that this sense of sadness as portrayed in Grider Creek is something not necessarily common to all Brautigan's writings, and the above comparison of Brautigan to the the beats is based solely upon Grider Creek.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Ginsberg's 'America'
Published in 1956 during the height of the first cold war, Ginsberg's poem America serves as a platform from which to attack the policies of the United States. The poem serves not only to attack the American-Soviet conflict itself, presenting it as nonsensical and childish, but it also hints at the internal conflict suffered by Ginsberg, as his opinion regarding his nation seems greatly in conflict with his identity as an American.
In America, Ginsberg mimics a childish or ill-educated manner of speaking, opting to use phrases such as ' them Russians' to hint at a level of stupidity on belhalf of those engaging in the cold war. He also highlights the way in which America's anti-communist stance resulted in domestic repression, however this is presented very much in the form of a warning, through juxtaposing instances of miscarriages of justice such as the Sacco and Vanzetti case, with references to communism. Through citing examples of injustice from thirty years previous rather than mentioning a case like that of the Rosenburgs, for example, Ginsberg is able to hint at the levels of discrimation which continued to undepin American society, and at the injustice and prejudice present in the judicial system; something which had failed to evolve during the first half of the twentieth century. Through his usage of historical rather than contemporary examples, Ginsberg subtely emplores his nation and the reader to let these miscarriages of justice serve as a cautionary tale, and not to let his country become a nation of injustice, rather than one of freedom.
One question I would like to raise regarding the readings is:
What is the impact does the presentation of Ferlinghetti's poems on the page have upon the reader?
In America, Ginsberg mimics a childish or ill-educated manner of speaking, opting to use phrases such as ' them Russians' to hint at a level of stupidity on belhalf of those engaging in the cold war. He also highlights the way in which America's anti-communist stance resulted in domestic repression, however this is presented very much in the form of a warning, through juxtaposing instances of miscarriages of justice such as the Sacco and Vanzetti case, with references to communism. Through citing examples of injustice from thirty years previous rather than mentioning a case like that of the Rosenburgs, for example, Ginsberg is able to hint at the levels of discrimation which continued to undepin American society, and at the injustice and prejudice present in the judicial system; something which had failed to evolve during the first half of the twentieth century. Through his usage of historical rather than contemporary examples, Ginsberg subtely emplores his nation and the reader to let these miscarriages of justice serve as a cautionary tale, and not to let his country become a nation of injustice, rather than one of freedom.
One question I would like to raise regarding the readings is:
What is the impact does the presentation of Ferlinghetti's poems on the page have upon the reader?
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