Charles Bukowski: The Beat Movement

After the 1940’s, the thoughts that swirled most in people’s heads were completely blank, and it was not even just their impassive thoughts, but everything else happening around them. People took in what they saw happening in the world, but had no feedback to give. Back in those days, no one really contemplated for themselves; they usually just pondered and hid what they truly felt. Everyone except for authors, poets, and writers, like for example: Charles Bukowski. Usually when people think of the name “Bukowski”, a huge question mark pops into mind… Who is Charles Bukowski and what did he do? Charles Bukowski was a poet who was often closeted for many reasons. Those reasons may be that he was too vulgar, too extreme for young adolescent

The Beat Movement was a group formed by writers (such as Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg) who did not conform with the literary standards at the time. They used the word “beat” to describe their free style of writing and their nontraditional crazy way of life (The Beat Movement). Although Bukowski hated and often denied being a part of the Beat Movement, he fit in with this movement due to his honest and humorous style of writing (McCullough). Many of the journalists at that time spoke the truth, but none did it like Bukowski. Bukowski discussed random and important topics such as closeted relationship abuse, society problems, hangovers, horse-racing, and hookers he had met (McCullough). His work also offered an intimate portrait of a lower class America struggling with vices in the face of a crushed American dream (Wood). There was something taboo about Bukowski’s writing, especially with the topics he brought to the table, and most of the things he wrote about was the reason why readers were so interested. Bukowski spoke the truth, and while most authors lie about their encounters, he was unable to. In an interview he once said that every time he tried to write fiction it would fall flat, so he mainly stuck to non-fiction writing (Altucher). Bukowski had no problem sharing his views and thoughts with the rest of the world, and that is what made him a magnificent example of a writer within the Beat