Which group of writers and artists emphasized spontaneity and spirituality over conformity?

The Beat Generation is characterized by a focus on spontaneity, personal spiritual exploration, and breaking away from societal norms and conventions. This group of writers and artists emerged in the 1950s and is often associated with a rejection of mainstream values in favor of individualism and creativity. They celebrated free expression and often explored themes of spirituality through the lens of their experiences, making their work deeply personal and innovative.

This emphasis on spontaneity was reflected in their writing style, which often favored improvisation and stream-of-consciousness techniques. Furthermore, the Beat Generation sought to inspire a counterculture that challenged the expectations of their time, promoting ideals of freedom, love, and exploration of consciousness, both through literature and lifestyle.

In contrast, the other groups mentioned, while significant in their own right, do not specifically prioritize spontaneity and spirituality in the same way. For instance, the Lost Generation writers often addressed themes of alienation and disillusionment following World War I, focusing more on the societal impacts of that era. The Romantic Poets emphasized emotion and nature but were more aligned with idealized expressions than with spontaneous rebellion. Transcendentalists valued individual intuition and the connection to nature in a philosophical sense but were not as focused on the same cultural rebellion