The Analysis of the Social Origin for the death of subject in Allen Ginsbergs Howl through the Cultural turn of Fredric Jameson

Abstract

The post-modernist creations after World War Two were always argumentative. The beats generation such like Allen Ginsberg who sparked ideas but lost in the chaotic social order at the same time during this post-war period, which trigger the exploration of the subjectivity in their works. Based on the claim in Jamesons theory the cultural turn, Allen Ginsberg and his generation was in a situation of death of subject which only call for the common social utopia but ignore the individualistic sense. Under this framework, this essay discusses the origins of the death of subject in Allen Ginsbergs Howl by examining the impact of technology and industrial revolution as well as the chaotic social order of consumer society after WWII. It is clear that death of subject existed in the Howl due to multiple factors of pressures of society, but his work is still remarkable literary creation with strong personal style especially in terms of emotional expression.