A Never-Ending Quarrel - Bob Dylan and Society

Bob Dylan and Society

Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject American Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 1,7, University of Freiburg, course: American Music - A Cultural History, 6 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Introduction 'I was born a long way from where I belong. I'm on my way home.'(1) Bob Dylan looks back on an uninterrupted career of over forty years. From 1960 - dating his arrival in New York City - up until now, time has brought considerable changes to politics, society, and cultural life including music and artistic life. It must not be confirmed that these parts of society have always been in connection and interaction with each other. Music influences fashion, comments on politics, moral values and numerous contemporary issues - to name only a few of them. Of course this is also the case vice versa. The extend to which an artist relates to and identifies with these connections can vary considerably between direct reference and subconsciously adapting the spirit of the times. Bob Dylan has always been a difficult case here. People have called him folk singer, political songwriter, Judas, Messiah, nihilist, sarcastic eccentric and poet at the same time, always referring to corresponding periods in his life. Though Dylan must be seen quite conscious of his role as an artist, he seems to dislike clear statements concerning his position and attitude towards these descriptions of himself. On the other side he deliberately stays in touch and plays with the issues of his time, considering them in his songs - especially in his lyrics - sometimes accepting and denying them at the same time. One might question the purpose of that. One might ask what Bob Dylan really is. People could call him a cynical nihilist, declare him opportunistic, hungry for fame and success. Others might say he is a genius, who is completely conscious of his position. To find out more about the development of his character and his attitude as an artist towards political and social issues is the aim of this paper. But the most important question will be: Considering all that Dylan is and was - What has he achieved? As main sources will be considered the two documentative movies Don't Look Back (1967) and No Direction Home (2005) backed by information from several biographies and essays published on him. [...] _____ (1) No Direction Home. Dir. Martin Scorsese. Perf. Bob Dylan. Spitfire Pictures, 2005.