Bob Dylans memoir Chronicles - Book Report/Review Example

Take up Sante’s argument and provide specific evidence from various passages in Chronicles thatcorroborate or conflict with his assessment.  According to Luc Sante, as he initiates ‘I is Somebody Else’, those people who manage to obtain the heights of their success as prominent figures looked up by a generation, originating from youthful aspirations, are normally finding it difficult to cope with publicity as they get accustomed to wearing borrowed suits to portray roles designed as commodities of entertainment industry.

Instead of expressing themselves spontaneously which the majority are happy doing in the real world these artists, for certain grounds, have lost the freedom to act by nature, projecting the character of ‘somebody else’ just so they can keep up with the commercial demand and principle of mainstream culture. As in the case of Bob Dylan, in view of “Chronicles”, Sante appears to mean for the readers to rethink plans for extravagant success and learn from Dylan’s memoir the aspect which exudes much regret in life.

Based on “Chronicles”, Dylan had indeed aimed for himself to meet exceeding standards of musical performance which would skyrocket his career in acquisition of the world, glory, and eternity. Despite the humble disposition of his folk genre, Dylan was fortunate to have achieved the status he so desired. Time came, however, when a greatly dear price must be paid as he critically struggled with promotion in 1965 whereby his amplified band occurred running into a significant humiliation. In a way, this incident conforms with Sante’s assessment of truth in a popular artist’s situation which is the inability to step out with a sense of openness in public for recognition and expectation may at anytime pose threat upon his professional fate.

Claiming “the higher their name floats, the greater the levy imposed” directly relates to Dylan’s personal encounter of being heavily taxed for every promoting task necessitated. Similarly, the cost of acquiring fame equates “an even greater burden” which was stated to come from getting “ceaselessly analyzed”. The principal assumption of ‘I is Somebody Else’ does hold to a certain extent Sante, nevertheless, overlooks the positive reflections of Dylan’s experience and response in the process.

It might have overwhelmed him deeply to ride with popularity that amounts to justifiable times of pretense toward the audience and press in general, yet the memoirs made mention of points in the musician’s life when “he was attempting to find or retrieve his own voice.” This makes an evident sign of growth, having realized the essence of restoring true identity apart from merely bearing with the dictates of the industry and management, pop culture, and other influential factors which in a way or another could shake one’s established set of principles.

As exhibited in the “Chronicles”, Bob Dylan can still be evaluated as a working individual and icon who had remained real to himself by way of communicating his personal insights and creativity as a poet besides the attribute of fluidity he intended to excel with in the form and style of lyrical content preferred as a well-celebrated musician of his period. Works CitedDylan, Bob. Chronicles. Vol. I. 1st Ed. Simon & Schuster, 2004. Sante, Luc. “I is Somebody Else”. 2011. http://www.nybooks.

com/articles/archives/2005/mar/10/i-is-someone-else/ . 26 Oct 2011.