Media during the beat generation
Along with the effect that the Beat Generation had on poetry, it also heavily influenced other media such as books, artwork, and music. Teenagers began to push the envelope and try to break out of the mainstream, conservative, American middle class mold.
Books
These books are well-known of for being part of the Beat Movement. Jack Kerouac wrote many novels, but On the Road made him the cult hero of the Beats. All of these books portrayed life in post-war America, and had themes of teenage angst and alienation. They all connect with the poetry of the time period because they discuss the same topics, and have the same underlying views and opinions.
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Artwork
Abstract Expressionism was extremely popular in America leading up to the Beat Movement. Artists began experimenting with imagery that was abstract and placed an emphasis on dynamic energy, in contrast to the normal, reflective focus. The exposure to European modernism, such as cubism abstract art and surrealism, set the stage for the most advanced American art. The crisis of war and its aftermath are key to understanding the works of the Abstract Expressionists. These young artists were acutely aware of human irrationality and vulnerability, and they wanted to express their concerns in a new art of meaning and substance. Direct contact with European artists increased as a result of World War II, which caused so many—including Dalí, Ernst, Masson, Breton, Mondrian, and Léger—to seek refuge in the U.S. The Surrealists opened up new possibilities with their emphasis on tapping the unconscious. One Surrealist device for breaking free of the conscious mind was psychic automatism—in which automatic gesture and improvisation gain free rein.
Music
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Jazz music was extremely popular with the Beat Generation, and had many influences on them. Many of the Beat poets grew up listening to jazz music, and jazz is always associated with the Beat Movement.