Exploring Freedom through Mobile Outcast Characters in Bob Dylan’s Song Lyrics
Markkanen, Antti (2022)
Markkanen, Antti
2022
Englannin kielen ja kirjallisuuden maisteriohjelma - Master's Programme in English Language and Literature
Informaatioteknologian ja viestinnän tiedekunta - Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2022-05-23
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202204273808
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202204273808
Tiivistelmä
The thesis investigates the appearance of mobile characters, such as tramps, in Bob Dylan’s lyrical output between 1964 and 1967. In his song lyrics, freedom and American attitudes toward mobility play a key role when investigating different individuals who exercise personal freedom through mobility. The hypothesis was that Dylan’s lyrics challenge the traditional American attitude toward mobile characters and the freedom they exercise.
The theoretical framework includes theories on mobility and freedom. In the analysis section, the freedom expressed by mobile characters is explored through the following themes: traveling away from home, existing outside of social norms, and rejection of the domestic sphere. The section examines American attitudes towards mobility, as well as how Dylan’s examples of mobile characters are at odds with the narratives created and maintained by the American media. In addition, it explores how Dylan’s song lyrics shape the discourse of freedom and what kinds of narratives his songs create about mobile characters, as well as what kind of social criticism his mobility-related characters promote.
The thesis argues that while the mobility of the characters encompasses the ideal of American freedom, the mobile characters also face strong social condemnation. Dylan’s lyrics construct a solidarity-based and humanising attitude toward individuals who fall outside the safety net of American society and question the assumptions of the second- class nature associated with mobile characters. Finally, Dylan’s lyrics which focus on mobile characters remind the listener that mobile characters struggle with the same basic needs as the people living in the mainstream society. The need to be accepted and heard is a strong need for some of the mobile characters. However, Dylan’s lyrics do not represent the mobile characters as identical to each other, because some romanticised outlaw figures, such as "John Wesley Harding", seem to enjoy their life outside of the confines of consensus society.
The theoretical framework includes theories on mobility and freedom. In the analysis section, the freedom expressed by mobile characters is explored through the following themes: traveling away from home, existing outside of social norms, and rejection of the domestic sphere. The section examines American attitudes towards mobility, as well as how Dylan’s examples of mobile characters are at odds with the narratives created and maintained by the American media. In addition, it explores how Dylan’s song lyrics shape the discourse of freedom and what kinds of narratives his songs create about mobile characters, as well as what kind of social criticism his mobility-related characters promote.
The thesis argues that while the mobility of the characters encompasses the ideal of American freedom, the mobile characters also face strong social condemnation. Dylan’s lyrics construct a solidarity-based and humanising attitude toward individuals who fall outside the safety net of American society and question the assumptions of the second- class nature associated with mobile characters. Finally, Dylan’s lyrics which focus on mobile characters remind the listener that mobile characters struggle with the same basic needs as the people living in the mainstream society. The need to be accepted and heard is a strong need for some of the mobile characters. However, Dylan’s lyrics do not represent the mobile characters as identical to each other, because some romanticised outlaw figures, such as "John Wesley Harding", seem to enjoy their life outside of the confines of consensus society.