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THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ALLEN GINSBERG

What You Need To Know:

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ALLEN GINSBERG, a documentary about the Beat Generation, is a retrospective of our recent radical generations told from Ginsberg's perspective as a counterculture poet, activist, pacifist, and quasi-Buddhist. Although this film will never receive wide distribution (except, perhaps on television), it is valuable as an example of the continual chipping away of Christian foundations within the lexicon of American experience. In the passage of time, when Mr. Ginsberg is lauded for being a great poet, he will carry with him into history the baggage of his homosexuality and apostasy which led so many of our youth astray.

Content:

(Ab, FR, A/D, H, Ho, L, NA, PC, S) A fusion of Jewish tradition with Buddhism marks Ginsberg's personal pantheon; drug use lionized by Mr. Ginsberg & Timothy Leary, among others; humanist perspective; passing references to Mr. Ginsberg's homosexuality & his homosexual marriage; political correctness subtly reinforced by the offhand acceptance of his homosexual "union"; and, counterculture thought & practice.

More Detail:

In 1956, Jack Kerouac wrote “On the Road” and Allen Ginsberg wrote “Howl”–and the Beat Generation was on. THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ALLEN GINSBERG is the only authorized film biography of Mr. Ginsberg’s remarkably long career. The film is a retrospective of our recent generations told from the perspective of this counterculture poet, activist, pacifist, and quasi-Buddhist. His poetic style (displayed generously throughout the film in readings of his own works) is one that, while metered, is yet a stream-of-consciousness cacophony of sights, sounds and genuine emotional accessibility.

This documentary is probably not going to be widely distributed, so its impact will be much smaller than a mainstream movie. Its audience is likely to be either the already converted (to nihilistic agnosticism), or someone with an arts background auditing it for the historical value. The risk is more insidious–it is the continual chipping away of Christian foundations within the lexicon of American experience. In the passage of time, when Mr. Ginsberg is lauded for being a great poet, he will carry with him into history the baggage of his homosexuality and apostasy. Mr. Ginsberg warns at the end of this film, as a sort of obit, “Don’t follow my path to extinction.” Sadly, few will remember this; most will mythologize him instead.

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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.