Boucher (Political Theory, Cardiff University) and Browning (Politics, Oxford Brookes University) and their contributors examine the political meaning of Dylans songs and their significance in U.S. political culture. Ranging in theme from how the idea of judgment has developed in Dylans lyrics over the decades to an evaluation (in terms of Adornos writings on commitment in art) of his mid-sixties shift to electric music, essays examine Dylans importance as a songwriter, performer, and social critic. Non-academic readers will be most interested in the new introduction, which takes a broad view of Dylans entire career, and in musician Michael Jones analysis of the infamous Judas! cry at one of the concerts during Dylans 1966 U.K. tour. While the book has its weak points--huge chunks of Dylans post 1960s career are ignored and the writing sometimes borders on self-indulgence--readers who are up for an intellectual challenge will find much of interest here. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Boucher and Browning explore Bob Dylans radical and changing engagement with the political. The contributions deal with various aspects and periods of Dylans career, from his early protest ballads to the artistic high-point of his mid-1960s electric period. Relates Bob Dylans career and writing to the theory and practice of politics
