In the vibrant 1950s, the Beat Movement championed a lifestyle marked by rampant drug use, liberated sexual expression, a marked indifference to societal and political concerns, and a bold defiance of authority. Imagine how such a movement might navigate the dawn of the twenty-first century. Would a contemporary American society embrace or reject a resurgence of the Beat Movement, and what might influence this response?

While the original Beat Generation was predominantly composed of a small group of young, white males, the movement's influence rippled outwards, touching the lives of women and African Americans who also participated in its culture. Embark on a research journey to unearth stories of these lesser-known Beats and craft an essay that explores the parallels and contrasts between their experiences and those of their more famous counterparts.

Among the trio of artistic expressions that defined the Beat Movement—writing, visual art, and music—it was the literary works that stirred the most controversy and faced the coldest reception from mainstream America. Why do you think the written word of the Beats faced more resistance than Abstract Expressionism or the bebop beats? What set Beat literature apart, making it a lightning rod for criticism?

In the 1920s, the phrase “Lost Generation” was coined by author Gertrude Stein to describe the intellectuals, poets, artists, and writers who sought refuge in France after the upheaval of World War I. Explore what Stein intended by this label and examine how the Lost Generation compares and contrasts with the Beat Generation in their philosophies and expressions.