The late 1950s and early 1970s of the 20th century were not an easy and turbulent time in the history of the United States. It was the time of radical changes in society and people's perception of the world. During this period, the activity of the US population, especially the younger generations, increased and transformed into numerous mass movements and protests for civil rights. Of course, in the past, Americans fought for reforms in their country, but never before has the United States faced such fierce protests against racism and segregation, against women's inequality and the spread of nuclear weapons , against the Vietnam War, for support of homosexual rights and for various social transformations. All these moods and events demonstrated that serious changes are needed in the political, economic and social spheres and directly influenced national politics, changing the lives of millions of American citizens. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayThe ongoing changes in society did not leave indifferent many public and creative figures of the time, having a great impact on their activity and creativity. Of course, culture always reflects the era and the most important problems of our world. And literature, the first of all arts, understands and responds to everything that happens around. Not only do different events and history influence authors and their works, but also the creativity of writers and poets can influence the life of the individual and the entire society. One of the authors whose creativity reflected that complex and contradictory period was Allen Ginsberg, one of the most famous and cult poets of American literature of the second half of the 20th century. He was not only the most scandalous poet of that period, he was also openly gay, provocateur and social activist, errand boy of the youth movement and guru of the counterculture. Allen was expelled from Columbia University for obscene poems and romance with his friend, took drugs and was treated in a psychiatric hospital, could strip naked in front of his audience, was often arrested for protest activities. Allen Ginsberg was certainly a brilliant and extraordinary figure of American culture. His poems, often written under the influence of marijuana and LSD, influenced certain sectors of American society throughout the world. Allen Ginsberg has entered the history of global culture as one of the founders and ideological inspirers of the culture of the Beat Generation. The authors of this counterculture proclaimed in their works the ideas of personal freedom, free love, denied the lows and values ​​of bourgeois society and existing culture. Their art, certainly, played an important role in spreading protest ideas. Ginsberg's poem "Howl" has become the anthem of the Beat Generation and the most significant work of this culture. The poet regrets his generation from the first lines: "I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, hungry, hysterical, naked..." (Ginsberg, p. 126). The “Scream” is like a flow of thoughts and feelings of entire generations, it is a protest against all existing laws, it is the cry of the soul, the scream of the most truthful and passionate poet of Beat culture. In a 1977 New York Times interview, the journalist commented that Ginsberg's poetry "seems so attached to the world", Ginsberg responded that he would have preferred the word "involved", and explained that "involved means present in the middle, fully aware and active." . True, his creativity, his civic position and his whole life wereinvolved, active and not independent. It made American poetry more mass and socially significant. Socio-political topics were central to Ginsberg. His poetry was a revolt against the foundations of society, he showed everything honestly and without embellishment:“Moloch! Loneliness! Dirt! Ugliness! Ash and unobtainable dollars! Children screaming under the stairs! Guys sobbing in armies! Old people crying in parks!” (Ginsberg, p 131). His America is not prosperous and happy. It shows itself from the inside, often ugly, with all its intolerance towards society, with the cult of the dollar and the loneliness of a person. Of course, it cannot be denied that no one wrote about these problems before Ginsberg, but there was no author, before or after him, who would have spoken about these social evils so openly and ferociously: “America, when Will we end human warfare? *Fill yourself with your atomic bomb... America, why are your libraries full of tears?... I'm tired of your crazy demands. (Ginsberg, p.146). Although the author did not directly call for revolution in his poems, he meant spiritual revolution, the revolution of consciousness, a rebirth and renunciation of everything that deprived a person of freedom. In general, A Ginseng did not exist taboo topics, forms, words and methods of expression in his poetry. In his poems he achieved full freedom that he could not find in real life. Ginsberg's poems, written in crude language, do not obey the traditional rules of poetry and are devoid of classical poetic forms, rhythms and content. His poems are more like poetic prose that is difficult to perceive, however, his poetry found its readers among creative people and ordinary people. Allen Ginsberg wrote about everything that worried him: politics, religion, human relationships and homosexuality, about finding oneself in this world. Steve Bloom, photographer and writer, gives his assessment of A. Ginsberg's work in the article “Allen Ginsberg and the movement of the 60s”: “Ginsberg's poetry can be appreciated by those with different opinions, not only by those follows his personal politics, precisely because he does what every good (or other artist) should do to delve into everyone's social issues. It tells us an artistic truth about that social reality, or at least it does its best to do so. He works hard to paint an honest and deeply human picture. In the 1960s he became one of the most revered authors of American literature and an idol of the youth movement. This happened not only because poetry never had such great respect and popularity as at that time, but also because his philosophy and civic position were reflected not only in his poems, but also actively defended in social and political activity. The poet probably participated in most of the non-violent movements and protests that hit the United States in the post-war period, he supported freedom of speech, the legalization of marijuana, took part in the protests against the Vietnam War, for the protection of the environment and others. Allen Ginsberg lectured at colleges and universities and supported several movements in other countries. He was one of the first to declare his non-traditional sexual orientation and honestly spoke about it in his poems. He also participated in actions in defense of gay rights. Ginsberg was a member of the AWAVW organization created in 1965 by American poets Robert Bly and David Ray. This organization held poet readings and meetings at universities, parks, cafes, and participated in peaceful marches and protests against the Vietnam War. In the book “I celebrate myself. The somewhat private life of Allen Ginsberg” Bill Morgan recalls that “every reading Allen gave still attracted crowds.