Core 100: Liberal Arts Seminar

Bob Dylan and the American Century

Scarboro / Fall, 2013

I. Description:

This course is designed to foster and develop critical reading skills.  Collectively, we will work towards “reading with understanding” by carefully focusing on texts by and about Bob Dylan.  An underlying conceit of the course is that Bob Dylan’s work is, at its root, an investigation of the meaning and message of “Americaness”—what it means to be an American.  In reading and thinking about the career of Bob Dylan we will be tracing the trajectory of 20^th Century American history, notions of identity and performativity, and the relationship between artist and society. 

II. Purpose:

The ability to read with understanding and critical judgment cannot be underestimated.  Academic success, professional competence, cultural literacy, and intellectual development depend fundamentally on flexible reading skills that can be applied to a wide range of texts.  Reading with “understanding” involves several important processes: comprehending and contextualizing information; identifying meaningful patterns and conventions; identifying key ideas, claims, and assumptions; synthesizing an author’s ideas with the reader’s experiences and knowledge; and developing a comprehensive and well-informed interpretation.  Reading with “critical judgment” is a similarly complex task that includes reading with a sense of objectivity, asking questions about what a text literally says and what it implies, evaluating an author’s reasoning, and assessing the degree to which a writer has achieved his or her purpose.  This seminar provides students with opportunities to develop these skills.  

A. Objectives for the student:

Successful completion of this course will enable the student to

1. identify the tone, purpose, audience, and main idea of a text
2. determine the meaning of a text through close textual analysis
3. annotate, outline, summarize, and evaluate a text
4. situate a particular text within a larger cultural and critical context
5. understand different uses of language and writing conventions
6. determine the uses and validity of different kinds of evidence
7. find and evaluate sources from a variety of mediums (books, journals, magazines, newspapers, the Internet, and so on)
8. synthesize materials from several sources to express ideas, formulate positions, and construct arguments in spoken and written forms

B.  General Learning Outcomes for the Student:

This course aims to help students

1. understand the crucial role that critical reading plays in academic work
2. approach reading as a process in which critical understanding occurs gradually over time with rereading and as new information is acquired
3. recognize the ways in which reading can foster intellectual, moral, and spiritual enrichment and contribute to a satisfying and purposeful life
4. better understand the role of language in everyday life (business, politics, humanities, sciences, etc.) and how it is used to explain, inform, influence, persuade, express, and entertain 
5. take pleasure in the process of making and defending interpretations
6. appreciate the importance of looking at and discussing an issue from a variety of perspectives and disciplines
7. develop the skills and habits of good scholarship—critical reading, logical thinking, effective oral and written argumentation, and academic integrity
8. recognize the personal significance and social relevance of intellectual questioning and liberal arts learning

III. General Requirements

A. Course Readings:

Dalton, David, Who is that Man? In Search of the Real Bob Dylan, Hyperion, 2012

Dylan, Bob, Chronicle, Volume One, Simon and Schuster, 2005

Marcus, Greil, The Old Weird America: The World of Bob Dylan’s Basement Tapes, Picador, 2001

B.  Course Films:

The films for the course are an intrinsic part of the course--they will be the centerpiece of class discussion on the week they are shown, and viewing them is a requirement for the course.   The films will be available on reserve at the King's College Library (please remember that there are roughly 20 people taking this class so plan accordingly).  A subscription to Netflix <<www.netflix.com>> (shared or otherwise) is an inexpensive way to watch the films on your own time.  

Haynes, I’m Not There, Weinstein, 2007

Pennebaker, Don’t Look Back, New Video Group, 2007

C.  Written Assignments

Your written work this semester will culminate in a 8-10 page paper that will ask you to situate the work of Bob Dylan in the context of the American 20^th century.  This will take place in several stages over the course of the semester in the form of smaller written assignments are designed as parts of the larger final paper.  Each assignment asks you to focus on the same album as the subject of your larger final paper.

First Written Assignment          Review Synthesis          September 19^th             2-3 pages

This assignment asks you to synthesize three unique reviews of a single Bob Dylan album. Your synthesis should place the three reviews in dialogue with one another pulling out their theses, noting where they overlap and disagree.  These reviews should be from a mainstream magazine, newspaper or internet site (i.e. the New York Times, Rolling Stone , or any of the books on reserve at the King’s College Library) and should not include individual reviews on blogs or commercial websites (i.e. Amazon.com etc.).

Second Written Assignment      Interview Synopsis       October 1^st                    1 page

This assignment asks you to provide a synopsis of an interview with Bob Dylan as he promoted the album reviewed in your first written assignment.  Your synopsis should, in looking at the questions asked, situate the expectations for and receptions to the album and in reading Dylan’s answers, contextualize how Bob he understood, explained and marketed the album to the public.

Third Written Assignment        Album Review              October 29^th                  1-2 pages

This assignment asks you to write your own review of the Dylan album you are investigating.  This review should be written with an eye to examining the album within the context of his larger work in your final paper. 

Fourth Written Assignment      Contextualization         November 14^th                2 pages

This assignment will ask you the process of placing Bob Dylan’s music in the context of American Popular music.  You will log onto Pandora.com which uses what it terms the “music genome project” to categorize artists and songs with similar artists and songs.  Chose a Bob Dylan song and listen and record the results of the search for one hour.  Try to figure out how the music genome project works.  What is it that makes songs similar?  Do some brief research on the song how are they part of a single geneology (or are they)?  How does the music genome project understand the place of Bob Dylan in popular music?  How might you do it differently?

Final Written Assignment         Final Paper                   December 5^th                8-10 pages

This paper should include elements from the other written work you have completed this semester.  The final assignment asks you to place your chosen Bob Dylan album within its historical context.  How does it relate to other albums?  How has it been understood by critics, scholars and the public?  How is it in dialogue with other texts in American history, literature and music?  How is Dylan seeking to come to terms with the meaning and message of “Americanness?”

D.  Exams

This class will have two midterm examinations (held October 15^th  and November12^th) and a final examination during finals week.  These examinations held in class will primarily consist of your close reading, paraphrasing and syntesizing assigned texts. 

E. Quizzes

There will be ten pop-quizzes over the course of the semester.  These short quizzes will test your careful reading of the assigned texts.

F.  Class Participation:

King’s College regards student participation in class as essential to the learning process.  Therefore, regular class attendance is required of all students.  After three unexcused absences your class participation grade will drop a letter grade (from A to B).  Each subsequent absence will result in another letter grade deduction.  Please see the King’s College Student Handbook for policies regarding excusing absences and campus attendance policies.

Your class participation component of your final grade will be assessed on several criteria.  You will be responsible for leading class discussion of a Bob Dylan album once during this semester.  This will entail reading the album closely, arranging a list of topics and themes to discuss in class and preparing a series of questions to discuss during class.  You will e-mail a list of 8-10 questions to me and your classmates no later than 5:00 the evening before class so that we will have time to reflect on them and prepare responses.

In a class of this nature it goes without saying that a classroom environment in which everyone feels comfortable is essential.  You should treat your fellow classmates with respect, listen carefully to their comments and respond to them in a polite manner. 

I. Grading:

It is your responsibility to understand why you have achieved a certain grade, and what steps you can take to maintain or improve your grade.  You should consult with the instructor during office hours or by appointment before and after exams and written assignments.  Your final grade will be based on the following percentages:

Your grade distribution for class assignments is as follows:

J. Academic Integrity:

The Department of History adheres to guidelines on academic integrity outlined in the Student Conduct Code in the Student Handbook: 

http://www.kings.edu/student_handbook/studentregulations_rights/conductcode.htm

Cheating and plagiarism will be penalized in accord with the penalties and procedures indicated in that source.  All students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the definition of these infractions of academic honesty. 

K. Absences:

I will regularly take attendance in this class. Absences due to college activities, emergency or extended illness may be excused by the appropriate college official. You should consult with the professor about making up missed work in advance or as soon as possible after your return.  Other absences are unexcused and will lower the class participation portion of your grade. After any absence, you are responsible for requesting hand-outs and already returned assignments from me or borrowing notes from other students. If you miss an exam, contact me as possible. You may take a missed exam only at the discretion of the instructor.

L.  Disabilities:

King’s College and I will make every effort to accommodate students with a bona-fide disability that impacts on their ability to learn the course material.  Please meet with me privately so that appropriate arrangements can be made to help in the learning process.

IV. Course Schedule

Course Introduction

Tuesday, August 27^th

Why Read? Why the Liberal Arts?

Thursday, August 29^th

 **Readings: David Foster Wallace, “This is Water: Commencement Address at Kenyon College” [course moodle site]

Section I: Folk and “Finger Pointing Songs”

Discography

Bob Dylan (1962)

The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963)

The Times they Are a-Changin’ (1964)

Another Side of Bob Dylan (1964)

Becoming Bob Dylan, part I

Tuesday, September 3^rd

**Readings: Wilentz, “Introduction” and “Music for the Common Man,” [course moodle site]

Dylan and American Identity

Thursday, September 5^th

**Film: Haynes, I’m Not There [on reserve at the King’s College Library]

Becoming Bob Dylan, part II

Tuesday, September 10^th

**Readings: Dalton, 1-58   

Becoming Bob Dylan, part III

Thursday, September 12^th

**Readings:  Dylan, “Markin’ Up the Score,” Chronicles, 1-22

                   Dylan, “My Life as a Stolen Moment” [course moodle site]

Becoming Bob Dylan, part IV

Tuesday, September 17^th

**Reading: Dylan, Chronicles, 23-105

The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan

Thursday, September 19^th

**Album:    The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, 1963

**Readings: Lyrics: The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan [course moodle site]

                  Bulson, “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” [course moodle site]

**First Written Assignment: Synthesis*** 

Section II: “Judas”—Running Away to Join Little Richard’s Band

Discography

Bringing it all Back Home (1965)

Highway 61 Revisited (1965)

Blonde on Blonde (1966)

Plugging in at Newport and the Folk Movement

Tuesday, September 24^th  

**Readings: Marcus, 1-42

Bringing it all Back Home

Thursday, September 26^th

Album: Bringing in all Back Home, 1964

**Readings: Lyrics: Bringing in all Back Home [course moodle site]

                  Tamarin, “Bringing in all Back Home” [course moodle site]

Making Sense of the Electric

Tuesday, October 1^st  

**Readings: Fred Goodman, excerpt from The Mansion on the Hill [course moodle site]

                   David Hajdu, excerpt from Positively 4^th Street [course moodle site]

                   Paul Nelson, “What’s Happening?”  [course moodle site]

                   Excerpt from KQED Press Conference [course moodle site]

                   Ralph Gleason, “In Berkeley the Dig Bob Dylan,” [course moodle site]

**Second Written Assignment: Interview Synopsis**

Making Sense of the Electric, part II

Thursday, October 3^rd

**Film: Pennebaker, Don’t Look Back [on reserve at the King’s College Library]

“I Need a Steamshovel Mama, to Keep Away the Dead / I Need a Dumptruck Baby, to Unload my Head”

Tuesday, October 8^th

**Readings: Dalton, 61-170

First Exam

Tuesday October 15^th

Part III:  Motorcycles Accidents and Basement Tapes

Discography

John Wesley Harding (1967)

Nashville Skyline (1969)

Self Portrait (1970)

New Morning (1970)

Pat Garrett &Billy the Kid (1973)

Dylan (1973)

Planet Waves (1974)

Blood on the Tracks (1975)

Basement Tapes (1975)

Desire (1976)
Street Legal (1978)

Into the Basement

Thursday, October 17^th

**Reading: Marcus, 42-87

The Basement and America, part I

Tuesday, October 22^nd  

**Reading: Marcus, 87-149

New Morning

Thursday, October 24^th

**Album: Dylan, New Morning, 1970

**Readings: Dylan, “New Morning” in Chronicles, 105-143

                   Lyrics, New Morning [course moodle site]

                   Marcus, “New Morning,” and “Watching the River Flow” [course moodle site]

The Basement and America, part II

Tuesday, October 29^th

**Readings: Marcus, 149-224

**Third Written Assignment: Album Review**

Blood on the Tracks

Thursday, October 31^st  

**Album:  Dylan, Blood on the Tracks 1975

**Readings: Lyrics, Blood on the Tracks [course moodle site]

                  Brownstein, “Blood on the Tracks” [course moodle site]

                  Moody, “Blood on the Tracks” [course moodle site]

Part IV: Dylan and Jesus

Discography

Slow Train Coming (1979)

Saved (1980)

Shot of Love (1981)

Saved!?

Tuesday, November 5^th  

**Album: Bob Dylan, Saved

**Readings: Lyrics, Saved [course moodle site]

                  Hilburn, “Dylan: I Learned that Jesus is Real and I wanted that,” [course moodle site]

                  Bangs, “Love or Confusion?” [course moodle site]

                  Marcus, “Amazing Chutzpah,” and “New West” [course moodle site]

Family Pastoral, Drugs and Jesus

Thursday, November 7^th

**Readings: Dalton, 170-286

Second Exam

Tuesday, November 12^th

Part V: Knocked out Loaded

Discography

Infidels (1983)

Empire Burlesque (1985)

Knocked Out Loaded (1986)

Down in the Groove (1988)

Oh Mercy! (1989)

Under the Red Sky (1990)

Good as I Been to You (1992)

World Gone Wrong (1993)

Infidels

Thursday, November 14^th

**Album:        Dylan, Infidels, 1983

**Reading:      Lyrics, Infidels [course moodle site]

                        Lethem, “Infidels” [course moodle site]

                        Heylin, “Infidels,” [course moodle site]

**Fourth Written Assignment: Contextualizing Bob Dylan**

Oh Mercy!

Tuesday, November 19^th

**Album: Dylan, Oh Mercy! 1985

**Readings: Lyrics, Oh Mercy! [course moodle site]

                  Dylan, “Oh Mercy!” in Chronicles, 143-223

Part VI: Old Testament Prophet of America (Almost went to See Elvis)

Discography

Time Out of Mind (1997)

Love and Theft (2001)

Modern Times (2006)

Together Through Life (2009)

Christmas in the Heart (2009)

Tempest (2012)

Penance and Redemption: Good as I been to You and World Gone Wrong

Thursday, November 21^st  

**Album: Dylan, Good as I been to You, 1992

**Reading:   Lyrics Good as I been to You and World Gone Wrong [course moodle site]

                   Wilentz, “Many Martyrs Fell,” and“All the Friends I ever had are Gone,” [course moodle site]

                   Piazza, “World Gone Wrong Again,” [course moodle site]

Love and Theft

Tuesday, November 26^th

**Album: Dylan, Love and Theft, 2001

**Reading:  Lyrics, Love and Theft [course moodle site]

                  Eric Lott, “Love and Theft [course moodle site]

The Neverending Tour

Tuesday, December 3^rd

**Reading: Dalton, 289-336

Becoming Bob Dylan (?), part V

Thursday, December 5^th

**Reading: Dylan, “River of Ice,” in Chronicle, 223-293

**Final Written Assignment: Final Paper**