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This study of Bob Dylan’s art employs a performance studies lens, exploring the distinctive ways he brings words and music to life on recordings, onstage, and onscreen. Chapters focus on the relationship of Dylan’s recorded performances to the historical bardic role, to the American popular song tradition, and to rock music culture. His uses of both stage and studio to shape his performances are explored, as are his forays into cinema. Special consideration is given to his vocal performances and to his use of particular personae as a performer. The full scope of Dylan’s body of work to date is situated in terms of the influences that have shaped his performances and the ways these performances have shaped contemporary popular music.
List of contents
Part One: Formations
Chapter One: Eternal Circle: Dylan and Performance
Chapter Two: ABOUT THE SONGS (what they're about): Dylan and the Popular Song Tradition
Chapter Three: Like a Rolling Stone: Dylan and the Rock Tradition
Chapter Four: Hero Blues: Dylan and the Bardic Tradition
Chapter Five: The Wicked Messenger: Dylan's Vocal Resources
Part Two: Transformations
Chapter Six: Simple Twist of Fate: Dylan (re)working songs live
Chapter Seven: Bob Dylan's Dream: Reworking Songs in the Studio
Chapter Eight: Tempest: Bob Dylan's Personae Spanning Two Centuries
Chapter Nine: Masked & Anonymous: Bob Dylan and Cinema
Chapter Ten: Gonna Change My Way of Thinking: Bob Dylan and the Evangelical Tradition
Coda: An Idiosyncratic Guide to a Bob Dylan Concert
Bibliography, Discography, and Videography
About the Authors
About the author
Keith Nainby is professor of communication studies at California State University, Stanislaus.John M. Radosta teaches English and creative writing at Milton High School.
Summary
This study of Bob Dylan’s art explores the distinctive ways he brings words and music to life on recordings, onstage, and onscreen. Dylan’s body of work to date is situated in terms of the influences that have shaped his performances and the ways these performances have shaped contemporary popular music.
