The Beats: A Graphic History

Set against a backdrop of the changing American cultural landscape of the 1950's and 60's, The Beats: A Graphic History is primarily a biographical work which focuses on leading Beat writers Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and William Burroughs. Appropriate to the medium, the graphic novel does not delve too much into literary analysis. Instead, with brutal honesty,swriter Harvey Pekar and illustrator Ed Piskor explore the sometimes sordid but always interesting personal lives and social impact of these and other Beat writers.

For those not familiar with the term, the Beats were known for their rejection of mainstream American values, experimentation with drugs and alternate forms of sexuality, and an interest in Eastern religions. The major works of Beat writing are Allen Ginsberg's Howl (1956), William Burroughs' Naked Lunch (1959) and Jack Kerouac's On the Road (1957). Both Howl and Naked Lunch were the subject of obscenity trials that ultimately helped to liberalize what could be published in the United States. On the Road transformed Kerouac's friend Neal Cassady into a youth-culture hero. Many Beat themes eventually crossed over into mainstream American culture. For example, the television shows Dobie Gillis and Route 66 definitely borrowed from Beat writings, and many musicians such as John Lennon and Bob Dylan were inspired by the Beats, sometimes writing songs with them and even occasionally including them in their on-stage performances.

It is quite interesting indeed to see this subject matter portrayed in the style of Pekar's American Splendor. Known for his ironic depiction of everyday life, Pekar provides a very serviceable overview of a complicated subject. With his help, those not familiar with the Beats can learn quite a bit about the movement, although more research is required to learn something about the key literary works themselves. Those more familiar with the material can gain a very interesting perspective on who these writers really were. With the help of his illustrator, Pekar humanizes the Beats and helps us to understand their struggles and their triumphs, as well as the intense isolation and depression they often experienced.