Anonymous asked: I have to come up with a thesis for history on a subject that interests me- I decided to do the Beat Generation. I just need to come up with a cool idea for it. I was thinking of doing one on how the Beats influenced subsequent youth generations (beatniks, hippies, punks, Naropa), but I don't know. I want to talk about all the cool history- like the Columbia years and time on the road, etc. Any ideas?
It sounds like you’re on a great track. You can discuss how Neal Cassady went along with the Merry Pranksters, Ken Kesey, and Leary and other ways in which the Beat culture guided the hippie era or how the introduction of coffeehouse readings and self-publication spurred a focus on individuality and breaking from norms. It’s an awesome topic; you can really take it all over the place. Good luck!
