The main purpose of the current assignment is to consider, analyze and evaluate influence of a particular culture on one of the representations of massively popular culture of the 20th century. In particular, the following paragraphs will discuss Jewish influence in the musical scene of the 20th century due to the fact that a great variety of musicians popular now and then appear to be either Jewish or have Jewish roots, at least. As for the exact period of 1970s – 1980s, it is worth stating that one of the most popular representatives of rock scene related to Jewish culture was the hard rock band KISS, famous for its bestselling albums, musical performances and their unique make-ups and outfits. Still, it is also worth stating that despite the fact that the founders of the band have always been Jewish, there is little told about the values and principles of Judaism in the songs of the band. In other words, their creation has no relation to Jewish tradition at all.
Therefore, it is worth considering another personality, whose creation is associated with Judaism and his own understanding and attitude towards it. The following paragraphs and the paper in total will consider music and lyrics of Bob Dylan – one of the most controversial musicians in his attitude towards his cultural and religious association. Under his actual name Robert Allen Zimmerman was born in Duluth, Minnesota, on 24th of May, 1941. His grandparents, Anna and Zigman Zimmerman emigrated from Odessa, (contemporary Ukraine) to the United States seeking protection from the famous Semitic “pogroms” of 1905. Thus, it appears more than obvious that Dylan has direct Jewish roots. Further, his parents, Abram Zimmerman and Beatrice Stone have always been the respective members of local Jewish community in cities they lived together with Robert.
After his childhood years full of listening to blues and rock music of the 1940s and 1950s, Robert moved to Minneapolis in 1959 to study at the University of Minnesota there. During those times, he was more than capable to perform the covers of famous rock, blues and folk bands and musicians; however he intentionally chose to perform folk music then due to the fact that despite the catchy rhythms of rock music, it lacked seriousness. He thought that “when I got into folk music, it was more of a serious type of thing. The songs are filled with more despair, more sadness, more triumph, more faith in the supernatural, much deeper feelings” Thus, he started performing at the Ten O’Clock Scholar – one of the coffeehouses near the campus and became more associated with the folk music of Dinkytown, as a result.
During those days, Robert started calling himself Bob Dylan and introducing his music under this name, as well. According to the words of Dylan himself, his choice for a performance name was highly influenced and inspired by Dylan Thomas and his poetry. Further commenting on his chosen name he stated that was born with a wrong name from the wrong parents. "You call yourself what you want to call yourself. This is the land of the free." - that’s how he explained his attitude towards his name and parents.
It is also worth discussing the overall religious beliefs of Dylan. During the years of his childhood, Dylan has been a part of the Jewish community along with his parents, just like it has been stated above. In 1954, Dylan had his Bar Mitzvah correspondingly and according to all the traditions of Judaism. In 1971, when he was 30 years old, he visited Israel, also meeting the founder of the New-York based Jewish Defense League, Rabbi Meir Kahane. This meeting has left more than positive impression about Kahane and the overall concept of Judaism being represented both in Israel and America. Nevertheless, this impression was not adequately enough to keep him being a Judaism follower.
It is a well-known fact that within the period of late 1970s and early 1980s, Bob Dylan turned to Christianity, accepting it as his main religion and belief. In particular, in the period between January-April 1979, he took Bible study classes. It started with members of the Christian church visiting the house of Dylan trying to minister him. He responded that he wanted Jesus to appear in his life and to accept Christianity. Afterwards, he began his studies at the Vineyard School of Discipleship in Reseda.
However, it is still worth noting that Dylan himself never appreciated the journalists and his colleagues labeling him as “born again” with Christianity. According to his own words, he had never been an agnostic or atheist, as he had always believed in a sort of superior power or an energy that proves that the world he lived in was yet to come. Therefore, Dylan has always been religious, though choosing a different confession from his family. Still, once he was asked, whether he belonged to any particular confession and/or church, he always stated that he is not focused on a specific confession or a church.
IN 1997, describing his exact attitude towards the religious aspect of his life, he always stated that he always found the philosophy and religiosity in the music he composed, performed and listened to. Otherwise, he does not recognize any form of belief or religion except music. He stated “Songs like "Let Me Rest on a Peaceful Mountain" or "I Saw the Light"—that's my religion. I don't adhere to rabbis, preachers, evangelists, all of that.” That’s what he considered his religion; further, it was confirmed by multiple interviews that Dylan did not belonged to any particular confession.
Still, this issue has never been an obstacle for him to continuously support the movement of the Chabad Lubavitch and to participate private events and celebrations according to the Jewish tradition. The last included attending the Chabad Lubavitch yeshiva – Hadar Hatorah and Bar Mitzvahs of his children. Further, he regularly visits the synagogues; in particular, in 2007 he attended the Congregation Beth Tefillah, in Atlanta.
After success of his 19th album “Slow Train Coming” – one of the most famous and popular gospel and Christian rock records, Dylan continued to compose and perform songs in the genre of gospel. In addition, he also occasionally managed to release musical covers on religious songs of traditional Judaism and Christianity. He has also managed to refer to his religious faith that kept on changing through the years of his life. For example, he still believed in God and directly stated that the worst two persons to lie to is Him and yourself. He also tended to explain his repetitious touring schedule as a part of agreement with God.
Therefore, summarizing everything that has been stated above, it is worth concluding that the personality of Bob Dylan appears to be one of the most uncertain and definitely disputable among both the musical critics and the representatives of the religious confessions he is associated with. Born as a Jewish unwillingly, it appears more than obvious that he was not so glad about being left without any choice of religion and any choice of God worth believing in. That’s why he refused to call himself Robert Zimmerman, also being aware about the fact that his parents did not appreciate his love towards music, composing and performing and therefore never appreciated his choice of musician’s careers. Consequently, he has become Bob Dylan – a marvelous musician, composer and performer and a true believer, that he tends to call himself.
For any person, be it a simple individual, who we meet each day and for a rock-star that wen tend to watch performing on the stage or giving interviews to magazines, a personal philosophy and religious beliefs appear of the highest importance. For Dylan this question was a combination of several factors of both religious and philosophical nature. Just like it has been stated above, he has always believed in supernatural mysterious creature or energy that rules the world, which is the beginning, the end and the meaning of everything. It was important for him to find God in his different representations and forms.
Correspondingly, it appears more than logical that he has been trying to solve the religious questions and satisfy his needs for answers from two different confessions speaking about the God. Still, in due time, he has understood that his own creation is his God and not necessarily a set of traditions, rules and customs according to a particular church or a specific confession. With the help of the songs he has been listening to he has been receiving knowledge about life, the people, their relationships and situations that make the people do specific actions. Further, it has become his own music, through which he managed to explain the outcomes and his own conclusions about God and about the Sacred in his own life and the life around him.
Therefore, the music of Bob Dylan through the years of his life and career has not only been a brilliant example of classic tunes of rock music combined with gospel, but also a message that he tries to deliver continuously. It is worth assuming that he believes that his never-ending tour is a religious mission assigned by God, which he willingly follows, delivering the values that are actual for any religious confession, both for Christianity and Judaism, in particular.
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