One of the most respected Beat writers, Allen Ginsberg‘s epic poem “HOWL” was written as part of a 1956 poetry collection entitled “HOWL and Other Poems” and is considered one of the Influential works of the Beat Generation. HOWL was Ginsberg’s first published poem and instantly established him as a vital new voice during dramatically changing times. Read the poem “HOWL”.
Introduced during a poetry reading in October 1955 at San Francisco’s Six Gallery, Ginsberg’s “impassioned and uninhibited reading of “Howl,” a long poem that broke with convention, became the highlight of the event.” When “Howl and other Poems” was published in 1956 by City Lights, law enforcement quickly seized all unsold copies of the book and charged the bookstore owner, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, with the distribution of obscene material. Although Ferlinghetti was acquitted in 1957, the trial drew national attention to the growing cultural revolution in the west. Aftwerwards, Ferlinghetti wrote, “It is not the poet but what he observes which is revealed as obscene.” (eNotes).
City Lights Booksellers & Publishers
announces a HOWL book trailer contest.
Deadline for entering the HOWL contest is September 24th, 2010, the date of the HOWL movie premiere starring James Franco, Jon Hamm, David Strathairn, Jeff Daniels, Mary-Louise Parker, Treat Williams, and Alessandro Nivola!
Contest Rules
- Create an original video book trailer for Allen Ginsberg’s epic poem “HOWL”
- Trailer must be no longer than 90 seconds.
- Email City Lights the link to your trailer to contest@citylights.com.
- City Lights will post their favorite video entries on their YouTube page, plus the winning HOWL video will post on their YouTube and Facebook pages.
Prize
- The 4-color HOWL 2’x3′ movie poster
- A HOWL T-shirt
- A “HOWL if you heart City Lights” bumper sticker
- A copy of City Lights’ book HOWL on Trial.
