What is the Beats?
The Beats movement was created in New York City and California, though San Francisco became the focal point of the movement. The movement sprung from youth dissidence and dissatisfaction of society Post-WWII. They were called the "Beats" generation because they wanted to 'beat' and reshape societal norms and writing styles. They often used drugs like MDMA and LSD to stimulate their minds and take themselves to a higher level of consciousness. The poets regularly referred to things thought obscene in that day and age such as drug consumption, nudity, and sexuality. It opened the doors for many other poetic movements.