Gary Snyder: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Riprap

Fifty years ago this Fall a small press in Kyoto, Japan published an English language book of poems, Riprap, by an unknown, first-time poet and UC Berkeley graduate student, Gary Snyder. It was, along with Allen Ginsberg's Howl and Jack Kerouac's On the Road, one of the books that launched the Beat Generation. It was also the most important book of American nature writing since John Muir's The Mountains of California in 1890, a pioneering work in the brief history of the American Buddhist sensibility, and a set of poems that combined freedom and elegance in a way that opened up new pathways in modern poetry. Join us in celebrating this landmark in American literature and in the cultural life of California.

http://english.berkeley.edu/

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Education

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• uc
• berkeley
• ucberkeley
• webcast.berkeley
• cal
• Gary
• Snyder
• Riprap
• English
• poetry
• literature

[ninus999]

This is the Gary Snyder whose name is fictionalized as Japhy Ryder in Jack Kerouac's "Dharma Bums." He took refuge as a Buddhist while living in Japan and eventually became a Buddhist Monk, but chose not to attain Priesthood. HE is one of the remaining "true American Treasures" Along with Kerouac and many others of that time, including some of those mentioned in piece. "Turtle Island " was one of Snyder's literary achievements.

This man doesn't do a very good job, due to his lack of true focus!

[arbutus27]

Say what you like about the Internet, but in the end it's like television, food, alcohol: depends what you do with it. As far as I'm conccerned, if I keep finding gems like this in it - well, I'm a devotee.

[swannavon]

I love Gary Snyder.

[TheodorBjork]

McClures aged quickly recently :(

[jhop9898]

It's impossible not to like this guy.

[logosthedestroyer]

Thank you Berkeley for this wonderful video and for highlighting Gary Snyder!