Jack Kerouacs novel On the Road is associated with a cultural movement known as

The social realist movement focuses on depicting the everyday lives of working-class individuals and the social issues they face, often portraying harsh realities. While Kerouac's work addresses societal concerns, it is more aligned with the countercultural ethos of the Beat Generation than with the specific focus on social realism.

Gonzo journalism, pioneered by Hunter S. Thompson, blurs the lines between reporting and fiction, often incorporating the journalist's personal experiences into the narrative. Although Kerouac’s spontaneous prose shares some elements of personal expression, it is not classified under gonzo journalism, which developed later and is distinct from the literary style of the Beats.

The romantic movement, which occurred in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, emphasized emotion, nature, and individualism, but Kerouac's work is more reflective of post-World War II cultural shifts rather than the ideals of earlier Romantic writers. The Beat Generation is a more accurate descriptor for Kerouac’s focus.

The Lost Generation refers to a group of American writers who came of age during World War I and expressed disillusionment with society in the 1920s. While there are thematic overlaps, the Lost Generation predates Kerouac and the Beat Generation, making this choice less relevant to his work.