Allen Ginsberg's Howl and Literature Interpretation: Intersectional Identity Contextualized within the Canon of Literature

Erica Kushner*, Department of English, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506

Field (Broad Category): English & Literature (Oral-Human Engagement) 

Student’s Major: English 

In this critical manifesto, there will be a thorough exploration of disregarded identities of writers in context with how meaning is derived and understood through pieces of writing. When looking at “Howl” by Allen Ginsberg, there is frequent allusions to his nature as a gay man and as a Jewish man, yet when often taught in survey literature courses, these aspects of him are left out. The closest reference to these identities is to mention Ginsberg’s work in relation to Walt Whitman, connecting the writers through the lense of being a gay man. In order to understand why this approach to teaching such writings is deeply flawed, a close reading of “Howl” and “Footnote to Howl” will be used to provide context for what is missing in the interpretation of these readings, along with an examination of how the cycle of being a professor in collegiate education functions and how that affects future reading and interpretations of literature. Ultimately, from this manifesto will come the appreciation of various identities and how they are not only intersecting but directly integral to the meaning of a piece of writing. 

Funding: 

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: My efforts were mainly voluntary.