Bob Dylan is, for my money, the poet of our generation, although Allen Ginsberg is a close second. And both figure in the new film “I’m Not There” about his life, his music, and most of all his protean self.
Universally acknowledged as the pre-eminent poet/lyricist and songwriter of his time, he was prematurely elevated by the media--which he despised--to the role of spokesman, yet the reclusive Dylan wouldn’t admit to having any particular message nor to being a poet. “I don’t like the word,” he said. However, his biting, often cryptic lyrics served as a running commentary in capturing the mood of my generation.
Todd Haynes’ fine film almost does justice to those large claims, and is a genuine work of art: not a mere biography nor hagiography, but a look at the many selves of the man. More than Picasso, with his lengthy career and multitude of periods and styles; Dylan is elusive, chameleon-like, trickster-like. Dylan could be facetious, angry, gnarly and downright contrarian, refusing to be pigeon-holed. Repeatedly rejecting the easy Sixties label of mere folksinger and writer of protest songs, he retorted: “All I do is protest!”
A real shapeshifter, Dylan remains impossible to grasp, either as a person or as an artist. Except for the fact that he pokes us awake, into a new way of seeing and being, which is the purpose of true art, however confusing it may sometimes seem.
Coltrane said once told another jazz musician that the main problem with his music was that he was too fast for the audience. This was Dylan’s problem, too—for instance, at the infamous incident at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, when he was booed for going electric and for selling out, which continued for some years afterwards. But who can tell an artist to slow down, stop experimenting and evolving, and keep reprising, year after year and decade after decade, the old favorites which we have liked? As in nature so with art: what doesn’t grow, dies. Ezra Pound famously said that the artist is the antennae of the race, which naturally sticks out far ahead and senses first what is coming down the road.
If Shakespeare got it right, that “all the world’s a stage and all the people players,” it is through playing our roles consciously that we find our true role here in this world, helping each other put on this show. With a large vision and wide angle lens, we can see ourselves projecting a movie with 6.6 billion actors without losing our focus. As one of the six actors who portray Dylan during his stages of life, the stellar Cate Blanchett steals the film. This is worth seeing it.
--Written by Lama Surya Das
Add to Del.icio.us
Add to Technorati
Add to Digg
Add to Newsvine
Add to Facebook
Add to StumbleUpon
Subscribe
I have always liked Dylan. More for his voice and the way he sang than for his lyrics and "protest".
I'm excited to see this movie.
Since it appears you will not take me off of your mailing list I must make a comment. For a moment there you had me almost nervous I thought oh my my mentor can he possibly be supporting some internet based belief. I find it very hard to believe Mr. Dylan would come out in support of any religious belief or religious organization much less one based and founded on the internet. If I am mistaken I apologize and somewhere along the line I must have lost touch with the thinking and the brilliance of this man. I say Peace to all.
Susan...I find it very hard to believe Mr. Dylan would come out in support of any religious belief or religious organization...
didn't dylan come out in support of a religious belief. Ever listen to his saved CD? He also put out a release Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs by Bob Dylan. Whether or not he still believes those things may be up in question, but he did without a doubt come out in support of religion.
All genius artists at one time or another indulge in some type of question or art or song or another about God or religion. I consider Bob Dylan genius - have for a long, long time. Another I consider in this mode is Van Morrison - his album Too Long in Exile as well as other songs are very spiritual. I believe all geniuses must at some time or another address the question or concept of the Spirit and of God.
Post a Comment
By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.