Howl describes the hard, ruddy
like of lower class citizens in America that seem harsh to sensitive viewers yet,
the poem is written in a sophisticated manner that causes the reader to see a
dirty world in a new way of art and literature. There are many allusions to
drugs, sex, and violence in howl. For example, “Who bit detectives in the neck
and shrieked with delight in police cars for committing no crime but their won
wild cooking pederasty and intoxication…” is a beautifully written line yet it
is describing violent acts to the police. (Ginsberg,13) in another instance the
poet uses strong poetic words to convey his message along with a sophisticated
use of words by saying “who burned cigarette holes in their arms protesting the
narcotic tobacco haze of capitalism…”, causes the reader to think about what is
being said and how the capitalism relates with burning holes into one’s skin. (Ginsberg,
13) I personally would consider most
things that are poetic artistic however; there are many people who do not. What
makes howl obscene and to what degree? Is merely mention or saying words such
as biting, intoxication, burning, sex , etc. enough to be considered obscene or
does the poem or works of art have to become more descriptive in order to capture
violence. Howl is not a poem that is meant to be violent nor is the only topic
or main idea of the poem sex and drugs; they are only pieces of the puzzle that
add up to make a whole story. For the greater meaning behind Howl is that there
are people who go through life and people who must survive these terrible
things. Maybe this poem was meant to shock people in order to make them realize
how striking and terrible it is to live around drugs and violence. In the
introduction it says “we are blind and live our blind lives out in blindness. Poets
are damned but they are not blind, they see with the eyes of the angels” and “it is the poet, Allen Ginsberg, who has gone,
in his own body though the horrifying experiences described from life in these
pages.” (Ginsberg, 8) Perhaps describing these horrible things was a way for
the poet to make sense of his life or maybe they are his inspiration. I think that we turn a blind eye toward things
and that we should not ignore all the bad things that happen. However, is it
appropriate to write about them in works of art rather than protesting, helping
out with charity, or even voting? What if art is a way to make people listen
and make people confront what they avoid or know nothing of? I believe that
although Howl his gritty, shocking, and sometimes violent; it still has a truth
that needs to be heard.
Why do you think that Ginsberg
decided to add in all of the gruesome details?
Should something still be
considered obscene even though it’s the ugly truth?
Do you consider this obscene? Why or
why not?
I think that the force and gruesomeness behind Ginsberg's lines really pushes this darker side of society into the face of the reader. This poem is not quiet, but instead it cries out with dark and unsettling imagery, delving into the destructive nature of Ginsberg's generation and the pent up frustration of restrained artistic expression. The grit of the subject matter tears apart the reserve of conformity and exposes the madness within with a mix of delight and horror. The title, even the way Howl was written, suggests a sort of frenzied madness, as if the poem was meant to be expressed all in one breath. Overall, Ginsberg did not want to spare the reader anything, but instead spoke with brutal honesty, uncovering the chaos that lurks on the fringes of society.
ReplyDeleteI would have to say that Ginsberg added all of the gruesome details because he wanted to state the facts on how the different people of a society are living. The gruesomeness opens the eyes on how people are controlling their society by their actions. Whether the actions may be good or bad, the people are free to live the way they want by choice and not by force. Even if they may be living undesirably, they are willing to suffer the consequences.
ReplyDeleteGinsberg wrote the honest truth about his generation; the idea that people would seem it obscene seems to be another way of avoiding the issue, I believe. He emphasized all of the gory details, laving nothing to spare, so that the public would know the truth. Sometimes the truth is ugly and appalling; however, in order to do something about it, it has to be said.
ReplyDeleteThis goes back to earlier class discussions on the validity of "obscenity". Is something obscene because it is a jarring, shocking truth written in very vividly? In some people's eyes, yes, but who are they to say that the public should not know about the horrible things Ginsberg's generation went through? It is a lesson for us to consider, to remember, not for someone to hide away due to their distastes in literature.
I wouldnt consider the details in Howl to be gruesome but rather simply a mirror into what society was actually like during the time. Thinking that this poem was banned for the sole reason of mentioning drugs, sex, violence, and alcohol is not really delving very deep into what the poem is actually talking about. Rather it was banned because it acted as a call to arms of sorts for the misfit generation of the time. I wouldnt consider it to be obscene but because the exact idea of what obscene is varies, reasons for resistance to teach it to high school aged people exist. Because there is a deeper meaning to Howl that young people are believed to not be able to understand or find it is often not accepted into high schools.
ReplyDelete