“I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked…” 

Poetry and jazz are the heart of American culture; the works themselves, and the reactions to them, reflect the conflict inherent in our evolving society. As we approach the 60th anniversary of the publication of Allen Ginsberg’s seminal poem “Howl,” the CSI Fine Arts department explores the connection between the Beat Poets and jazz. Poets such as Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac built the foundation for the Beat oeuvre in the New York club scene in the 1940s, and the movement was thrust into the nation’s consciousness when Ginsberg first publicly read “Howl” in San Francisco, October 7, 1955.  This exploration will intertwine a reading of “Howl” with jazz performances, readings of other Beat poets, and some surprise contemporary writings by CSI faculty and staff inspired by Ginsberg. Please be aware that the material contains graphic imagery and language some may interpret as vulgar; the performance is not recommended for children.