Representation of the Beat Generation in the Life Magazine in the Late 1950s – Early 1970s

Section: Foreign Journalism

In the 1960s, American society underwent serious changes and became more liberal in its morals and values. In the article, this development is examined through the representation of the Beat Generation in LIFE, a general interest magazine, during two periods: 1958—62 and 1968—72. The author assumes that the media outlets with a huge readership could reflect not only the editorial opinion, but also the attitudes and values of average Americans. Therefore, by examining the changes in the media coverage of the Beat Generation it is possible to trace the changes in American society as a whole during the 1960s. A content analysis of relevant articles in the LIFE magazine showed that during this period the representation of the Beat Generation definitely shifted for the better, which affirms the liberalization of society’s morals. No researches on the media coverage of beats have been made so far, no opinion polls showing Americans’ attitude to them in the 1960s were conducted either. This suggests that the current research offers a novel approach to the studies of the 1960s in the USA.

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