Beat photos? Beats me.

September 27, 2005 1:17 PM

What are the most iconic images of the beats?

I am going to be making life-sized cutouts of Ginsberg, Kerouac and Burroughs for an upcoming 50th anniversary reading of "Howl."

What images do you most identify with the above authors? Ideally full or 3/4 body photos, not so much head shots, but whatever comes to mind.

posted by BleachBypass to Media & Arts (17 answers total)

Berets, stubble, turtlenecks, cigarettes.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:30 PM on September 27, 2005

Oh, and khakis.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:31 PM on September 27, 2005

There's a kind of funny photo of Ginsberg either wearing a sandwich board or holding a big sign that says "POT is FUN" at some demonstration. See here.
posted by scratch at 1:36 PM on September 27, 2005

It may not be the most iconic, but when I think of images of Ginsberg, I always think of this portrait (not really SFW, I guess) of him and Peter Orlovsky by Elsa Dorfman.
posted by trip and a half at 1:40 PM on September 27, 2005

This book cover has a good photo of Neal Cassady and Jack Kerouac together.
posted by gorillawarfare at 1:41 PM on September 27, 2005

This image of Kerouac, by Elliot Erwitt.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 1:47 PM on September 27, 2005

How about Bob Dylan's Subterranean Homesick Blues "video?"
posted by ZenMasterThis at 1:50 PM on September 27, 2005

This page has some great shots. The Ferlinghetti pic is what I always think of as is the Kerouac and Burroughs. This is the other one of Ferlinghetti I think of.
posted by Pollomacho at 2:08 PM on September 27, 2005

Maynard G. Krebs
posted by CrazyJoel at 2:43 PM on September 27, 2005

Best answer: When I picture Jack (and I do it often, I am a Beat addict) I think of this pic by Ginsberg of Jack with his brakeman's manual.

Any photo of Burroughs with a gun is appropriate, as is any photo of Ginsberg naked.
posted by m@ at 3:00 PM on September 27, 2005

I second m@'s photo of Kerouac.
posted by hootch at 3:23 PM on September 27, 2005

Something like this for Gary Snyder.
posted by hototogisu at 3:47 PM on September 27, 2005

You might give a tip of the hat to the City Lights Bookstore:

http://www.citylights.com/
posted by Ken McE at 6:03 PM on September 27, 2005

Best answer: This is the one that I've seen again and again.
posted by Who_Am_I at 7:09 PM on September 27, 2005

*snaps fingers*
posted by SPrintF at 7:21 PM on September 27, 2005

I third m@'s photo. I actually bought a book with this photograph in it, had it scanned and blown up and framed and gave it to my brother about 10 years ago.

He still has it hanging in his bedroom.
posted by phildog at 5:56 AM on September 28, 2005

Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions - BAs to M@ for posting one with seconded and thirded votes, and Who_Am_I for finding one with all three together.

Appreciate the help.
posted by BleachBypass at 4:08 PM on September 29, 2005