Markus Jakob

Essay from the year 2017 in the subject English - History of Literature, Eras, language: English, abstract: This term paper investigates Blakean elements in William S.Burrough's work "Naked Lunch" and Blake's influence on the 1950s Beat Movement in the USA. One of the Beat movement's main themes is the expansion of human experience and perception. Literature intends to show its recipients, which are considered corrupted by established, commercial media, a considerably liberal attitude. The Beat movement origins in the USA of the 1950s, a period which was shaped by the expansion of military capacities, isolationism, mass media, post-war circumstances and the threats of the Cold War. Those factors resulted in an emotional state of anxiety, depression and paranoia. In the course of the decade authors intended to constitute a movement against those contemporary circumstances. Thereby, the desire for social, political, sexual and spiritual freedom found expression through unconventional art forms which were considered shocking or even obscene among the American bourgeoise. For that purpose, the characteristics of the Beat movement will be outlined at the beginning. Subsequently, the author presents a brief insight into Blake's concept of politics, religion and freedom. Finally, it will be demonstrated how Blakean ideas contribute to Burroughs' novel. Thereby, the focus lies on spirituality, repression and sexuality.

How Did the Work of William Blake Influence the Beat Movement?

A Blakean Approach to William S. Burroughs's "Naked Lunch"

Félix Bruzzone

Sechsundsiebzig

Nach einer Epoche, die als eine der glanzvollsten in ihre Geschichte eingehen dürfte, ist die katalanische Hauptstadt heute einmal mehr von Selbstzweifeln zernagt. Während Barcelona in den letzten zehn Jahren annähernd eine Million Immigranten aus aller Welt mit einer in Europa einzigartigen Selbstverständlichkeit aufnahm, begannen ihre Einwohner den Massentourismus zunehmend als zerstörerischen Faktor zu empfinden. Solche Paradoxe, die Mischung aus Vernunft und Wahn, machen zweifellos das eigentliche Wesen Barcelonas aus. Noch immer ist Barcelona Europas Stadt mit den meisten und schönsten Märkten, die nun nach und nach erneuert werden; noch immer ist die katalanische Küche authentisch. Ebenso sind die engen Altstadtgassen wie auch die Prachtstraßen des 19. und 20. Jahrhunderts lebenspralle Schauplätze einer nie abbrechenden Ereignishaftigkeit geblieben. Markus Jakob spürt den urbanistischen und gesellschaftlichen Wandlungen nach, in denen sich die Stadt nach Jahrhunderten der Despotie und des Aufruhrs unter stabilen demokratischen Verhältnissen neu entwickeln und neu verwirklichen konnte.

Metro zum Strand oder die vermessene Stadt

Lesereise Barcelona

Essay from the year 2017 in the subject English - History of Literature, Eras, , language: English, abstract: This term paper investigates Blakean elements in William S.Burrough’s work "Naked Lunch" and Blake’s influence on the 1950s Beat Movement in the USA. One of the Beat movement’s main themes is the expansion of human experience and perception. Literature intends to show its recipients, which are considered corrupted by established, commercial media, a considerably liberal attitude. The Beat movement origins in the USA of the 1950s, a period which was shaped by the expansion of military capacities, isolationism, mass media, post-war circumstances and the threats of the Cold War. Those factors resulted in an emotional state of anxiety, depression and paranoia. In the course of the decade authors intended to constitute a movement against those contemporary circumstances. Thereby, the desire for social, political, sexual and spiritual freedom found expression through unconventional art forms which were considered shocking or even obscene among the American bourgeoise. For that purpose, the characteristics of the Beat movement will be outlined at the beginning. Subsequently, the author presents a brief insight into Blake’s concept of politics, religion and freedom. Finally, it will be demonstrated how Blakean ideas contribute to Burroughs’ novel. Thereby, the focus lies on spirituality, repression and sexuality.

Markus Jakob

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