8/03/2011

The Doors & The Beat Generation

  • Such confusion lies in the phrase “Beat Generation”. First coined by author Jack Kerouac to define his perception of life throughout the 50’s, to this day what he really meant by “Beat” isn’t all that clear. At first I though he meant Beat – like that of a drum, for the reason that great music and poetry came from this time(The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Allen Ginsberg), then I realized Beat- as in beaten down for the time’s post-war sense( WWII:1939-1945), and now as I research the term, I guess Kerouac could also have meant Beat for his inspiration in the Beatitudes( a set of teachings within Christianity ) . The more I think about it the more I see how all three of them fit so perfectly. The beat generation had so much going on that the word “Beat” ,in all it’s defenitions, seems to capture it’s sense perfectly.                                                                                                  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Now to the music… I’ve been reading “On the Road” by Jack Kerouac and since I have also read “No one here gets out alive” (Jim Morrison Biography), I know how inspirational Kerouac(Specifically his character Dean Moriarty) was to Jim Morrison and The Doors. And being a Doors fan I must admit…The Doors for me are the best band to come out of The Beat Generation.( Not to say I don’t like The Beatles >.< but the Beatles found their fame in America…didn’t live through it like The Doors ) From their sound to Morrison’s own life/lifestyle, The Doors had within them the inspiration of all the Beat Generation had to offer. They were connected to WWII, drugs were a major part of their lives,lived by anti-conformity, and sought philosophy and intellect. If it wasn’t for their other major inspiration in Aldous Huxley (Author of “The Doors of Perception”), The Doors would have been The Beatniks.( Imagine that! lol )

- Click Here – For more on The Beat Generation and Jack Kerouac

-Click Here – For more on The Doors

 

Here are some Videos of The Doors and their “Beat Generation” inspired music Smile 

Waiting for the Sun

 

Break on Through ( To the Other Side )

No comments:

Post a Comment