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.
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