Sean Wilentz
Bob Dylan and the Charisma of Refusal
Bob Dylan inverts standard categories of charisma, except in being charismatic. His followers look to him as a beacon, invest in him great spiritual authority above and beyond his art, a classic charismatic figure. But Dylan, the quintessential masked man, refuses that authority—which only adds to his charisma. So, what do we make of this charisma of refusal?
Sean Wilentz is a historian of American politics and society from the Revolution to the present, with extensive publications in cultural history, especially about the twentieth century, including folk and popular music, and American art. He received his PhD in history from Yale University (1980) after earning bachelor’s degrees from Columbia University (1972) and Balliol College, Oxford University (1974). A member of the editorial boards of Dissent and Democracy, Wilentz has written over three hundred articles, reviews, and op-ed pieces for publications including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, New York Review of Books, London Review of Books, The Nation, Le Monde, and Salon. His writings on music have earned him two Grammy nominations and two Deems Taylor-ASCAP awards. Wilentz is also the historian for Bob Dylan’s official website, www.bobdylan.com.