Wonderful lecture. I usually RU-vid Ginsberg's reading of "Howl" a couple times a year. But after watching this lecture, I now have a greater appreciation for the symbolism and the reason behind so many of the shocking language references the poet uses.
A very clear and accurate explanation of concepts sometimes difficult to grasp and not very often clearly exposed. I'd like to know the name of the lecturer, please. Thanks a lot, it has been very helpful.
the "about" button lists "Todd James Pierce." I googled him. He is a professor, but younger than the lecturer. Maybe you can contact him to find out about the lecturer.
...(-_-)... since I'm writing this Twice I respect this person's idea that Howl somehow relates to some post ww2 oppressive ideology, however, I would more relate it to the fact that many vets from Korea and Vietnam returned from their service without all the praise and glorification that vets from WW2 enjoyed. Also post ww2 times seem to be about celebration and enjoyment of the fact that the war was over...Perhaps much like "A Shropshire Lad" the true value of Howl was not appreciated until long after its publicization.
i don't think it's so much about post-war temperaments as it's about a homogenous cultural attitude that emerged post-WWII; a kind of pre-packaged, consumerist lifestyle and set of ideals, sold through television sets newly occupying family rooms, while ppl sat down to their TV dinners; convenience, modernity, and homogeny were valued, and day-to-day life was void of individualism korea, but especially, viet nam, kicked beat culture into high gear (not ironically, in good part to those same TV sets), spawning the larger counter-culture movement that rejected the commercialism and conformity of post-WW think. it was the next logical populist expression/ideology of the beat generation, pushing against the same walls as ginsberg, with increased intensity
