Film and Literature of the 50s

Jack Kerouac

Jack Kerouac was an American writer who was born in 1922. He grew up in a french-american family. He attended Columbia University, and here he met a famous writer called Allan Ginsberg. Jack was a part of the beat generation. Jack Kerouac has written many novels and his most famous work is the book “On the Road”, which has been made into a movie, which was released on the 4th of October in Denmark.

He is known for writing about topics like poetry, sex, jazz, travel and drugs. He mainly wrote autobiographical novels about moments in his life, and about the people he met along the way. After his death in 1969, he became more famous than he already was, and some unseen works were published.

On the Road

The novel “On the Road” is about Jack Kerouac and his travels across America with his friends. The novel involves themes such as sex, drugs, friendship and other exciting things. The novel was published in 1957 by Viking Press.

The Beat Generation

The Beat Generation was a group of young poets and novelists, presumably at the same age. The group became famous in the 1950’s, and some of the big writers in The Beat Generation are Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Henry Miller, William Borroughs and Kenneth Patchen.

Jack Kerouac was the leader and spokesman of the Beat Generation. In 1948 he came up with the name, as a description of his social circle.

The Crucible

The Crucible is a play written in 1952 by playwright Arthur Miller. It has been published as a book later on. The story of The Crucible takes place in the small community of Salem, Massachusetts in the ending of the 17th-century. During the 17th-century, the work of witchcraft was highly despised in most of the western world.

Here we meet John Proctor. He is a farmer whom is married to Elizabeth Proctor. Proctor has committed adultery by having an affair with his former servant, Abigail. Abigail is jealous of Elizabeth who has fired her, and Abigail ends up accusing her of witchcraft. It eventually ends up with Proctor is the one getting accused for performing witchcraft, even though he was innocent and so he is put into trial. The main conflict in the play is centered on Proctors hesitation to accuse Abigail. Proctor hesitates in regards to saving his name.

John Proctor has been locked away and he has gone through a lot waiting to die, but when he is given the chance to choose his destiny, he chooses his life over his soul. After a talk with Elizabeth he realizes what he will miss out on, if he is hanged, and what it will put his wife and sons through. He wants to spare them the pain and he wants to be with them even though it means that he will be looked upon as a sinner . Proctor’s confession will result in him hanged on the church door for everyone to see, and his name to be ruined forever.

At first Proctor is willing to live with the shame as long as he has his family by his side. But as he is about to sign the confession, he drastically changes his mind. He can’t go against his belief and faith, just to keep his life. ”Proctor has just finished signing when Danforth reaches for the paper. But Proctor snatches it up, and now a wild terror is rising in him, and a boundless anger.” Proctor refuses to give the signed paper to Danforth as his confession is made to God, and so there is no need to show it to the public. “Damn the village! I confess to God, and God has seen my name on this. It is enough… God does not need my name nailed upon the church! God sees my name; God knows how black my sins are! It is enough”. He has always been a good and respected man although he has made mistakes such as lust, and by tearing the paper he shows that he wants to remain honest and loyal to his faith and hoping that it will bring him to heaven, even if it will mean his end. He will rather want to die as an honest man than to confess to something, which he has not done, and live a lie.

Alfred Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980)

Considered by many to be the father of modern horror.

Even though he was British he changed his citizenship to American in 1950, after moving to Hollywood in 1939. Even still, his films were considered to be American. Always having American actors and settings.