What's a Beatnik??

On the surface you might imagine a “beatnik” and a “hippie” to be the
same. Both rejecting societal norms and experimenting with
unconventional lifestyles, but with further investigation you can see
that they are different. It some instances even, disliking one another.
The terms “beatnik” and “hippie” are defined by the Merriam Webster
online dictionary as:
Beatnik: A person who participated in a social involvement of the 1950’s
early 1960’s which stressed artistic self-expression and the rejection
of the mores of conventional society; broadly: a usually young and
artistic person who rejects the mores of conventional society.
Hippie: a usually young person who rejects the mores of established
society (as by dressing unconventionally or favoring communal living)
and advocates a  nonviolent ethic; broadly: a long haired
unconventionally dressed young person.
The recurring theme is rejecting the mores of a conventional society,
however, the mindset and the follow through differs.

Beatniks are of the post World War II era, late 1950’s early 1960’s.
Typically youthful writers and artists, searching for spontaneity and
romance. They were heavily inspired by jazz music and French literature.
Beatniks were categorized as outside of mainstream society, loners,
possibly pro-communist, but mostly apolitical. Their experimentation of
drug use was typically in hopes of inspiring creativity, and was often
limited to benzodiazepines, opiates, and cannabis.
Of those who may have called themselves beatniks, Jack Kerouac stands
forefront. The phrase Beat Generation was termed in 1948, introduced by
Kerouac it describes a social circle of underground nonconformists and
early writers who met in New York City, namely Columbia University.
Jack Kerouac came to stand at the forefront of this reform due to his
book On the Road, written in 1951 but not published until 1957,
ironically due to editing, the book introduces many well known writers
and fellow beatniks. It was described as encouraging delinquency.”
Beatniks were compared to Hugh Hefners ideals “as a vision of male
rebellion against conformity and responsibility” (J.Jones, 2008, p.588).
The New York Times Magazine November 16, 1952 introduced the “Beat
Generation” to the world; “beat-implies the feeling of having been used,
of being raw. It involves a sort of nakedness of mind, and ultimately of
soul; a feeling of being reduced to the bedrock of consciousness” The
generation was also termed “lost”. The article also quoted “ …their
excursions into drugs or promiscuity come out of curiosity, not
disillusionment.” As time went on and the underground society became
better known through writings and art more media was drawn and the “Beat
Generation” was finally named. Beatnik was coined by Herb Caen of the
San Francisco Chronicle on April 2,1958. It is a linguistic blend of the
Beat Generation (Jack Kerouac) and the Russian space capsule Sputnik.
As time progressed many Beatniks underwent what looked like a makeover.
By trading their low profile “playing it cool” dark attire for colorful
“being cool” expressive attire the world was introduced to the “hippie”.
“ 1960’s hippie culture evolved from beat culture, and greatly
influenced by changing music and style, and creation of rock and roll
from jazz” (www. cystalinks.com/hippies)
About 1960 the term “hippie” was introduced, stemming from hipster, or
as stated above previous beatnik. Hippies were categorized as more of an
outward expressive type. Their expression focused more on music than
writing and obvious experimentation of drug use, mostly but not limited
to psychedelics and marijuana.  Harvard professor Timothy Leary
advocated hallucinogen use as a way to expand your mind. In lieu of
curiosity, hippies used drugs to achieve a euphoric state of mind,
almost as one would use alcohol to drown their sorrows. They politically
involved and were involved in many anti-war rallies, with some resulting
in violence With the invention of the birth control pill in 1960 sexual
freedoms and women’s liberalization persisted, and a sexual revolution
had also taken place.  By 1972 the hippie was accepted by modern society
and it was the end of an era.

References:
Merriam Webster online dictionary

New York Times magazine, November 16, 1952 ‘This is the Beat Generation’
by John Clellon Holmes

www.crystalinks.com/hippies

www.wikipedia.com

Jones, J., Wood,P.H., Borstelmann, T., May,E.T., & Ruiz, V.L., P.
(2008). Created Equal A Social and Political History of the United States.

Information contributed by Brieana Burton