Allen Ginsberg was an iconic poet/writer in the 1950’s. He was widely known for several of his pieces such as "Kaddish", "Reality Sandwiches" and "The Marihuana Papers". Allen Ginsberg was acknowledged as a proponent of free speech following his most popular piece titled, "Howl". It was inevitable that he would become main stream after publishing "Howl" due to what was then considered objectionable, barbarous content. Ginsberg then advocated gay rights, drug use and political protests. Ultimately, he illustrated to America that it was, in fact, quintessential to fight for what you believe in.
Bob Marley was an iconic reggae artist in the 1970’s. He was well known throughout the U.S but has also left an impression in countries all over the world. Nowadays people still recognize his famous face printed on t-shirts and posters. Most who weren’t even a part of his generation are at least familiar with his hit songs “One Love,” “Jammin’” and/or “No Woman No Cry.” However Bob Marley has influenced the world in many more aspects beyond his music. He’s changed the worlds outlook on people rights, religion and politics through his music as well.
Ginsberg’s "Howl" contained a great deal of explicit content which was later unaccepted by society. Being pro free speech, he fought for his right to express himself in whichever manner he wished through his poetry:
“This Whitman-esque and scripturally charged poem’s explicit
depictions of public sex acts, many of them homosexual, as well
as its attacks on the culture and institutions of postwar America,
were vilified as obscene- leading to the arrest of the poem’s publisher-
only increased Ginsberg’s celebrity. He was, rather suddenly, not
merely a famous poet, but also a guru, a role he would maintain for
the rest of his life. The subsequent publication of Kaddish and other
poems (1961) and Reality Sandwiches (1963) served only to solidify
this reputation (Miller).
Bob Marley and his band became popular after releasing their album called Burnin‘. Burnin’ included their hit song, “Get Up, Stand Up,” which illuminated the minds of listeners to, literally, stand up for their rights. “Get Up, stand Up” caught the ears of the entire world and immediately became a hit because it was one of the first songs that was not just about love, but about the rights of the people.
The Beat Movement was a literary movement created by poets Allen Ginsberg as the leading member, Lucien Carr, William Burroughs and Jack Kerouac. “It was during countless late-night conversations and arguments that Allen, Carr and Kerouac began to shape their iconoclastic vision of the arts- a 'New Vision' they called it- the underpinnings of what would eventually become the Beat Movement.” (Miller) Together they wrote poetry to express their unique views on society. The Encyclopedia of World Biography states:
The Beat Movement was an American social and literary
movement originated in the 1950’s where artists derisively
called “beatniks,” expressed their alienation from conventional
society by adopting a style of seedy dress, detached manners
and a “hip” vocabulary. Generally indifferent to social problems,
they advocated sensory awareness that might be induced by drugs,
jazz, sex or the disciplines of Zen Buddhism.
It is because of this movement that rappers of our time such as Biggie Smalls and Lil Wayne are able to express themselves lyrically unreserved without restriction.
Back in Jamaica, Bob Marley became a member of the Rastafarian religion. At the time, the natives of Jamaica called it the Rastafari Movement. It was a religion that was not recognized widely, but Bob Marley helped the spread of this religion through his music. Reggae music, as a matter of fact, is the music developed by Rastafarians. His songs, “Rastaman Chant,” “Forever Loving Jah,” and “Redemption Song,” are a few examples of songs which promoted his dedicated views on Rastafarianism. They sent messages to listeners to be faithful to your God and do right by him. Rastafarians are also known for their religious use of Marijuana for spiritual purposes. Bob stated in interviews that it heightens their consciousness to get closer to God.
Allen Ginsberg also used drugs on a regular basis. Although it was not for religious purposes, Ginsberg claimed to have started experimenting with drugs after reading poetry by William Blake. The Encyclopedia of World Biography states:
He said that some of his best poetry was written under the
influence of drugs: the second part of Howl with PEYOTE,
Kaddish with AMPHETAMINES, and Wales- A Visitation with
LSD. However, after a trip to India in 1962, where he was
introduced to yoga and meditation, he generally changed his
mind about drugs. He believed that yoga and meditation were
far superior to raising one‘s consciousness, but still believed that
psychedelics could prove helpful in writing poetry.
The same way Bob was using drugs for the benefit of his religious practices, Ginsberg was using it to improve his poetry.
“Throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s, as Ginsberg’s fame grew, his poetry began to take a more distinctly political focus, and he began using his newfound celebrity to raise awareness about social and political issues” (Encyclopedia of Activism and Social Justice). Like Bob Marley, Allen Ginsberg was able to speak and protest what he felt about the American policies in the war with Vietnam. He displayed these protests in his pieces, The Fall of America, Planet News, and Plutonian Ode. Having raised awareness of this, in 1965, thousands of people were ready to march in protest of the Vietnam war. However, a day before the protest the infamous motorcycle gang known as “Hells Angels,” threatened the protesters. To make peace, Allen Ginsberg went to leader Sonny Barger’s home to talk and make a compromise. Not many know what words were exchanged but many have said that Ginsberg offered LSD to Sonny and his group (Hell’s Angels). Successfully they accepted and agreed not to attack the protest the next day.
Bob Marley used the music of his culture (reggae) to sing about the corrupt areas and hardships of Jamaica that he had been exposed to from childhood. Always knowing from an early stage that he wanted to help everyone he could around him, Bob used his fame and influence as a way to reach people in the international music scene. Bob Marley was able to change the world’s outlook on politics. At the time when he was at his peak, Michael Norman Manley, Jamaica’s fourth Prime Minister, experienced struggle Jamaica being a supporter of People’s National Party (PNP). Supporters of his opponent, Edward Seaga and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), became violent throughout the election of 1976. Knowing that Bob Marley was famous for singing about politics and oppression, Manley put together a free concert for Bob to perform and attempt to calm the madness occurring between the political groups. Fortunately at the end of the second “One Love Peace Concert” Bob Marley was able to mend the tension between the two political parties successfully.
Allen Ginsberg and Bob Marley were very similar iconic figures of their time. They both worked with what they loved to do, whether it was music or poetry, to reach people in an intellectual manner. Although Ginsberg was a bit troubled, they were both role models to many in their time. Today Bob Marley and Allen Ginsberg are looked up to as two men who helped change the world perspective on people rights and freedom of speech. It is safe to say that each of them were icons of pop-culture and counter-culture.
Works Cited
“Allen Ginsberg.” Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2nd ed. Vol. 6. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 332-333. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 9 Feb. 2010. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?&id=GALE%7CCX3404702486%v=2.1&u=cuny_laguardia&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w
“Ginsberg, Allen (1926-1997).” Encyclopedia of Activism and social Justice. Ed. Gary L. Anderson and Kathryn G. Herr. Vol. 2. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Reference, 2007. 619-621. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 9 Feb. 2010. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?&id=GALE%7CCX2660300337&v=2.1&u=cuny_laguardia&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w
Miller, Laura M. “Ginsberg, Allen.” Encyclopedia of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered History in America. Ed. Marc Stein. Vol. 1. Detroit: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 2004. 456-458. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 9 Feb. 2010. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?&id=GALE%7CCX3403600203&v=2.1&u=cuny_laguardia&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w
