became more commonplace, as suburban conformity began to be replaced with a more open and unconventional lifestyle, the stark contrast which had existed between the Bohemia of the Beats and the American middle class gradually began to fade" (Gontarski 1990). This commercialization led to the downfall of the beat generation and it was soon replaced with another counterculture, the hippie movement. This new counterculture, however did adopt many views of its former and leaders of the beat generation such as Allen Ginsberg became active participants in this new rebellion. The influence of the beat generation can also be found in the philosophies of many new subcultures such as punk.As long as there is a majority counter cultures will always exist. The beat generation was one of the many to directly challenge American values. The Beats have forever altered the nature of American consciousness. The Beat Generation of writers offered the world a new attitude. They offered a method of escape from the unimaginative world we live in, through the exploration of one's intellect....
