Beat Generation

I am actually not very familiar with the Beat Generation – I was not alive in the 1950s. I believe that it was, as the name somewhat suggests, a nonconformist movement that effectively preceded the hippies of the 60s.

I know that drugs are strongly linked with this generation, so they come to mind when I think of “beat generation”. The “Beat” also immediately brings to the mind “offbeat” (going along with the nonconformity), “upbeat”, and of course, “beatnik” – words which I bet characterized the time. Perhaps music – or other forms of expression – was closely tied to the Beat Generation.

Finally, I can’t help think of Jack Kerouac when I hear “Beat Generation”. He was a great man.