The cultural milieu surrounding Allen Ginsberg's writing was shaped by the Beat Generation and the political upheavals of the 1950s and 1960s, including civil rights, anti-war protests, and shifts in sexual liberation. His poetry, particularly "Howl," confronted societal norms and expressed a deep discontent with consumerism and government oppression. Ginsberg's engagement with Buddhism and his exploration of personal and social issues connected him with a radical community. The counterculture movement that emerged during this time provided a platform for his ideas, making his works emblematic of a generational response to convention and injustice, and solidifying his status as a cultural icon.