Angel Headed Hipsters (Howl by Allen Ginsberg)

A few weeks ago I went to see a film with a friend of mine entitled "Howl." Obviously, being a good bookworm, I had heard of the poem by Allen Ginsberg, but I had never read it--my beat reading was cut short after On the Road because I got distracted by Hemingway, which is much more to my tastes.

The film focused on the obscenity trial surrounding the publication of the poem "Howl." Jon Hamm was in it! I do love me some Don Draper...and also, James Franco played Ginsberg. Those of you that know me know that I'm slightly obsessed with James Franco; he can do pretty much anything. He was excellent and almost unrecognizable as Allen Ginsberg. The film was interesting; it juxtaposed the trial with a reading of Howl (which Franco did, it was easily the best part of the film) and with episodes out of Ginsberg's life. The only parts I didn't like were the cartoon interpretations of the poem--it was much too literal and it kind of took me out of the film.

Anyway, I watched the movie, and still hadn't read the poem. So my friend lent me his copy, and I finally got to sit down and read it today. I turned on some music, and sat in my papasan reading and feeling a bit like a hippie (the music definitely helped with that--it was kind of a sixties soul type thing). Although I liked Howl, I liked some of the other poems in the book much better- for example, "Transcription of Organ Music" and "Song."

I'm not a huge fan of poetry, but I can stand a little. I'm not going to recommend this, per se, but I know I have some friends that would enjoy it.

I'm almost done with my semester, so I'll have plenty of posts during the winter holidays. Until next time, Happy Reading!