State College in Beaumont, Texas. She soon moved to Venice Beach that had become a very mean-spirited area. The Venice beat scenes were saturated with drugs and their effects on artistry. Janis stuck to her painting, and she spontaneously performed at the Gas House (coffeehouse) on occasion (Joplin 83). The next fall, she moved to Austin to study at the University of Texas. In Austin, she found more kindred souls- people who seemed to be more keyed to the Beat philosophy of life to which she subscribed (Leahy 1). She did not care much for the school, but she craved the offbeat society that seemed to linger around it (Joplin 92). There was even an article in the school newspaper about Janis and her beatnik appearance and philosophy of life. Her education did not come from the university classes, it came from the Austin music scene (Joplin 99). She sang in local coffee houses through her college days (Aronowitz 1). In the winter of 1963, Janis was nom!
             inated for the "Ugliest Man on Campus" contest by a fraternity. This was it for Janis; she had to escape.
             ...