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Rock and Roll Faces the Inevitable
Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney are wringing great art and performance out of the relationship between the present and the past.
TL;DR
- The concept of 'late style' in rock and roll, exemplified by Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney, explores how aging artists create profound work.
- McCartney's concerts, featuring older Beatles songs, are presented as elegiac performances that acknowledge loss and the passage of time.
- Authors like Thomas Pynchon and Paul Simon are also cited as examples of artists creating new work that reflects on the relationship between the present and the past.
- The evolution of rock and roll from disposable entertainment to a respected art form is discussed, with key moments like Dylan going electric noted.
- The article argues that for artists like Dylan and McCartney, continuing to create and perform in old age is not about restlessness but about creativity as a lifelong process.
- Legacy is presented as dynamic and belonging to the artists, who have the right to continue making music as they wish, regardless of reception.