(np) Dylan's _Chronicles vol 1_ AuH20

[Joe Allonby]

I have to agree with Mark. Dylan is an unreliable narrator. I think
that is an artistic decision. He doesn't want you to know. Much of the
power of his songs comes from the ability of the listener to identify
with the narrator. If you know too much or if the lyrics are too
specific, that connection can be endangered. He's protecting his art
FROM politics.

I know conservative Republicans who love Dylan and  find him
inspirational. By "Blood on the Tracks", Dylan was writing songs that
elevated being in love to an act of mythical heroism. It's like Lord
of the fucking Rings and every poor shlub wants to be that hero in his
mind. Even Pat Buchanon could listen to "Tangled Up in Blue" or
"Simple Twist of Fate", identify with the narrator, and say "Wow! I
want to be THAT fucking guy!".These are the same people who feel no
guilt for identifying with Rick Blaine in "Casablanca" even though by
their definition he's a commie terrorist.



On Wed, Apr 6, 2011 at 4:34 PM, Jed Kelestron <jedkelestron at gmail.com> wrote:
> Politics was always one because there were people who were trying to
> change things. They were involved in the political game because that
> is how they had to change things. But I have always considered
> politics just part of the illusion. I don't get involved much in
> politics. I don't know what the system runs on. For instance, there
> are people who have definite ideas or who studied all the systems of
> government. A lot of those people with college-educational backgrounds
> tended to come in and use up everybody for whatever purposes they had
> in mind. And, of course, they used music, because music was accessible
> and we would have done that stuff and written those songs and sung
> them whether there was any politics or not. I never did renounce a
> role in politics, because I never played one in politics. It would be
> comical for me to think that I played a role. Gurdjieff thinks it's
> best to work out your mobility daily.
>
>       --Bob Dylan in Playboy interview (March, 1966)
>