Good art never dies, but rather lingers in the minds of society. Allan Ginsberg's poem “Howl” has relevance many years after it was written. "Howl" is a poem and story about the history of the beat generation and the philosophies of the beat poets. At the time Howl was written, America was in the midst of the Cold War and conservatism was the norm. The shocking nature and vulgar language of "Howl" make the poem unique in a time when having long hair, or even having a beard, was risky. Allan Ginsberg makes the reader reflect on their freedom and expression in a time when even society is against them. By using his obscene words, even by today's standards, he surprises readers and gives them a chance to see that the world can be open if they open their minds and go outside of social norms. Quasi-libertine, openly homosexual, shocking, narrative-type poetry plays a role in influencing our generally more liberal society's philosophy on homosexuality, art, and artists. The themes of freedom and expression still resonate today after such a shift in philosophy. Ginsberg's writing of this historical poem offers a glimpse into his generation. This essay will try to show how “Howl” has influenced current culture. From this perspective, the history of contemporary society at the time of writing "Howl" will be analyzed. Subsequently the structure of “Howl” will be revised for its artistic merits. Finally, the contemporary vision of “Howl” will be studied. “Howl” reaches society by shocking, educating and embracing the reader. The period in which Ginsberg was writing was hard for a person like Alan Ginsberg: a homosexual poet. In “Prelude to a Poem: Ginsberg's Long Path to '...... middle of paper ...... a Ginsberg behaved like a homosexual man who lived in the 1950s. Being ostracized for something ridiculous, instead of an actual immoral action. Works Cited Jackson, Brian. “Modernist Gaze: Surreal Impressions in the Poetry of Allen Ginsberg.” Texas Studies in Literature and Language 52.3 (2010): 298-323. MUSE project. University of Kansas Libraries, Lawrence, KS. November 29, 2010. Ginsberg, Alan. "Scream." The Norton anthology of modern and contemporary poetry. 3rd ed. vol. 1. Ed. Jahan Ramazani, Richard Ellmann and Robert O'Clair. New York, NY: Norton, 2003. Ginsberg, Allen, et al. "From "The Poetry That Changed America: 'Howl' Fifty Years Later." American Poetry Review 35.2 (2006): 3-10. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. November 29, 2010. Schumacher, Michael. "Prelude to a Poem: The Long Walk to 'Scream.'” Tricycle 3. Spr. 2007. 96-103.