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But that is one of the most interesting potential discussions: the role of American culture in the world,the role of popular music in American culture, the role of Bob Dylan in popular music. If American culture is, as I believe, the equivalent of Greek culture in the Hellenistic period, or Roman culture during and after the Empire, or Chinese culture in Korea, Japan, and Indochina, then it is central, promoting democratic values, a modern sensibility, and creating a medium for a world culture to develop. Rock and roll is the expression of two things: the fluidity of social class in a democratic society, and the viability of multi- ethnic society, which is increasingly typical of modern societies. Based on hillbilly music and black rhythm and blues, it also managed to encompass jazz, Latino rhythms, cabaret music, and many other influences. It was a fundamentally working class music that began to pervade society, and inspire upper middle class kids to form bands and create poetry. Bob Dylan was essential, though, to keeping rock and roll true to its roots, by using musical forms that were straight out of the Mississippi Delta, out of which rock arose, and demonstrating their vitality, and by crafting thematically varied and intelligent lyrics that demonstrated the potential to move beyond love songs. Groups like the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, the Grateful Dead, and the Velvet Underground were inspired by Dylan, and in turn revolutionized rock in the late 60s, and set the stage for its continuation into the 21st century........ |
