In the 1950s, Alan Freed, a Cleveland radio disc jockey, greatly increased the audience for rhythm and blues when, for marketing purposes, he renamed it

The social realist movement, which emerged in the early 20th century, focused on depicting the everyday lives of working-class people and social issues through literature and art. While On the Road addresses social themes, it does so through a lens of personal exploration and spiritual quest, rather than the focused social critique typical of social realism.

Gonzo journalism, popularized by Hunter S. Thompson in the 1970s, blends facts with fiction and often involves the journalist as part of the story. Although Kerouac's work contains elements of subjective experience, it predates gonzo journalism and does not share its distinctive style or approach.

The romantic movement, which flourished in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, emphasized emotion, nature, and individualism. While On the Road does showcase elements of adventure and self-discovery, it aligns more closely with the countercultural and avant-garde aspects of the Beat Generation rather than the historical romantic ideals.

The Lost Generation refers to a group of American writers who came of age during World War I and felt disillusioned by the war's aftermath. Although Kerouac's contemporaries may have shared some themes, his work is distinctly tied to the Beat Generation's focus on exploration and rebellion against societal norms.