At the point in the film, James Franco is portraying Ginsberg in an interview about his poem, his intentions, and the trial surrounding Howl. Franco's character is casually pouring tea as he discusses the very explicit section that catches most readers by surprise: "Who let themselves be fucked in the ass by saintly motorcyclists, and screamed with joy". In the interview Ginsberg tells the reporter that surprise was just what he was looking for. We aren't just talking about profanities or the actions described here: We are talking about the way in which the motorcyclists and the reaction are described. Picture, for a moment, a motorcyclist. Most people see a large, burly, tough looking guy with a beard. Maybe he's even a hell's angel? This is not the type of person we would picture getting involved in such activities. Prototyping? Yes. But I believe this is exactly what Ginsberg was counting on. He even calls the motorcyclists "saintly", another description we do not expect. The most significant word in this passage, however is "joy". In the film, Ginsberg addresses this word specifically. One would expect the narrator to say "screamed in pain" or another equivalent. Ginsberg makes it a point to explain that he wanted this line to be unexpected. It is entirely possible, depending on who you are, you could be screaming in joy. This scene in the film enables me to gain a better understanding of the poem in a way that I would otherwise be unable to see.
Did Ginsberg succeed in surprising you with this passage? What does this element of surprise do for the poem? How did the film help you gain insight and understanding?
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