Today it has been exactly 96 years ago since one of the greatest literary cult figures entered the world. Jack Kerouac. Creator of the spark that became the Beat Generation, worshiper of animated living, and allround-tramp. A veil of truth encircles him that makes him in one way or another pretty untouchable. A truth that was much needed in the postwar years as a reaction against the sober and choking bourgeios reality of the time. Something that seems more relevant than ever nowadays. Hence this ode to Jack Kerouac.

Who was Jack Kerouac?

Jack Kerouac got his fame foremost because of his book On The Road. Not entirely surprising it is then, that this blog derived its name from this renowned piece of literature. It's a book that tries to permeate the Ground of Being and does it awe-inspiringly well. In this autobiographical novel, Jack Kerouac describes an odyssey he (Sal Paradise) makes with his travel buddy Dean Moriarty (Neil Cassady in real life). Retrospectively he explains the trip:

“Dean and I were embarked on a journey through post-Whitman America to FIND that America and to FIND the inherent goodness in American man. It was really a story about 2 Catholic buddies roaming the country in search of God.”

With a whole generation of pseudo-backpackers today, the call for a courageous life is needed now more than ever. Ooh! Where are the Jack Kerouacs of yesteryear?

It's the characterization of the ultimate road trip. It's a tribute to life and simultaneously a reverance to death. Kerouac and Cassady went with unbridled energy in search of sophisticated business like sex, drugs, and profound conversations that took until early morning. But like often with a sincere quest to Meaning, this one has been accompanied too with a deep notion of loss and melancholy. Throughout the book one can perceive a hint of sadness: from the capricious existence in the margins of society to having an admiration for the souls of sigaret-gathering railway bums, the train jumping hobos, the hitch hiking pennyless, the labourious seasonal workers, and lastly to an all-encompassing realization of the meaningless of everything.

Jack Kerouac (#2)

The exuberant freak

Jack Kerouac knew about the dark side of the moon. This, however, was not an excuse for nihilism. On the contrary, it gave in fact a boost to his unrestrained and unadjusted life. Whether or not together with Neal Cassady, throughout his life Kerouac was in search of the answer to whatever it's all about. Often this was done in periods of solitary soul searching. In his book Desolation Angels he describes his experience as a fire lookout on the mountain Desolation Peak. For months on end he lived alone in a wooden cottage, cut off from the temptations of the city and in search of what the Buddhists call 'direct experience' (Most of his life, Kerouac was fascinated by buddhism). Eventually he gave up his solitary life and decided to take part again in society. However, just like he was intrigued by the quest to inner quietness, he was also attracted by the exuberant freaks:

“[…]the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes “Awww!”

Jack Kerouac is a man who dared the splash and took the dive into the deep. He saw that it was unfathomable and that experience in the world goes from ecstacy to deadly silences, and back again. With a whole generation of pseudo-backpackers today, the call for a courageous life is needed now more than ever. Ooh! Where are the Jack Kerouacs of yesteryear?

Jack Kerouac handtekening

98 Replies to “Een ode aan Jack Kerouac”

  27. you are in reality a excellent webmaster. The website loading speed is incredible. It sort of feels that you’re doing any unique trick. Also, The contents are masterpiece. you have performed a excellent activity in this matter!

    Reply

  28. I was very pleased to find this net-site.I wished to thanks to your time for this excellent read!! I positively enjoying every little bit of it and I’ve you bookmarked to take a look at new stuff you blog post.

    Reply

  30. My spouse and i felt absolutely contented when John could finish off his survey from the ideas he discovered from your own blog. It is now and again perplexing to just always be giving out information and facts which often other folks have been trying to sell. We really understand we have got the blog owner to be grateful to for this. Most of the illustrations you have made, the simple blog navigation, the friendships you help engender – it’s all amazing, and it’s really aiding our son in addition to the family imagine that this situation is cool, which is truly pressing. Many thanks for all!

    Reply

  32. Just desire to say your article is as astounding. The clearness in your publish is just nice and that i can think you’re an expert on this subject. Fine with your permission let me to seize your feed to keep updated with impending post. Thank you 1,000,000 and please carry on the rewarding work.

    Reply

  36. Almost all of whatever you mention happens to be supprisingly appropriate and that makes me wonder the reason why I hadn’t looked at this in this light before. This particular article really did turn the light on for me as far as this particular topic goes. Nevertheless at this time there is actually just one position I am not too comfy with so whilst I make an effort to reconcile that with the actual core theme of your issue, permit me observe just what all the rest of the readers have to say.Very well done.

    Reply

  37. Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but other than that, this is excellent blog. An excellent read. I will certainly be back.

    Reply

  39. Do you mind if I quote a few of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your webpage? My website is in the exact same area of interest as yours and my visitors would really benefit from some of the information you present here. Please let me know if this okay with you. Thanks!

    Reply

  41. Hello, you used to write fantastic, but the last several posts have been kinda boring… I miss your great writings. Past several posts are just a bit out of track! come on!

    Reply

  46. Awesome blog you have here but I was wanting to know if you knew of any message boards that cover the same topics discussed in this article? I’d really like to be a part of group where I can get opinions from other experienced individuals that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks a lot!

    Reply

  47. I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the structure of your website? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or two pictures. Maybe you could space it out better?

    Reply

  48. I have been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be a lot more useful than ever before.

    Reply

  51. I’m just commenting to let you be aware of what a outstanding discovery our princess went through reading your web site. She discovered many issues, with the inclusion of what it is like to have an ideal coaching heart to let the rest with ease learn about specified problematic subject matter. You actually surpassed visitors’ expectations. Many thanks for churning out such effective, trustworthy, revealing and easy tips about the topic to Lizeth.

    Reply

  53. I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your website. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme? Excellent work!

    Reply

  66. I was recommended this website through my cousin. I am no longer certain whether or not this post is written through him as no one else recognise such precise approximately my trouble. You are amazing! Thanks!

    Reply

  69. I’m not sure where you are getting your info, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more. Thanks for wonderful info I was looking for this info for my mission.

    Reply

  70. Most of whatever you assert happens to be supprisingly precise and that makes me wonder why I hadn’t looked at this in this light before. This piece really did switch the light on for me personally as far as this particular issue goes. But there is actually 1 issue I am not too comfortable with so whilst I attempt to reconcile that with the central theme of the issue, let me observe what all the rest of the readers have to say.Well done.

    Reply

  97. Hmm is anyone else having problems with the images on this blog loading? I’m trying to determine if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog. Any feed-back would be greatly appreciated.

    Reply

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *