Bob Dylan: A Jewish Lens (Two Parts)

The 1960s witnessed an explosion of gifted songwriters and musicians. Bob Dylan ranks among the very top in this class. Over the course of a long and productive career, Dylan achieved a quality in his writing that elevated his work to the level of serious literature. Dylan has earned multiple literary awards in his career, most notably the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016. Dylan’s work reflects multiple influences. Arguably, his Jewish background represents one of the clearest and most important influences on his work. His lyrics and poetry reflect a deep connection with Jewish tradition and biblical sources, especially the Hebrew prophets. These lectures will examine the Jewish elements in his work and seek to demonstrate the value a Jewish perspective brings to our overall understanding of Bob Dylan’s art and influence. This two-part lecture will be taught using audio, video and text analysis.

• Week 1: Becoming Bob Dylan: from Obscurity to Icon
• Week 2: Poet, Troubadour and Prophet: The Many Faces of Bob Dylan

Clifford Wilcox, PhD, is a historian of American intellectual and cultural history. His courses concentrate on culture, ideas, education and religion in American society. He holds a doctorate in American intellectual history from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people 50 and older seeking intellectual stimulation through university level courses (without the pressure of grades) for the sake of learning and social engagement.

Register

Register by Oct. 5 at 3 p.m.