Gen Z, Social Media, and the Future of Dylan Studies
A Conversation with Rebecca Slaman
Show Notes
If Dylan’s work and Dylan Studies are going to endure like the works of other great artists then Gen X fans and scholars have to be the bridge between the first generation and anything and everything that comes after. The group of scholars who created the field of study were first generation fans or learned about Dylan from a sibling, neighbor, or friend. They carved out a space for deep analysis of Dylan’s work that could be taken seriously in the academic community. Most Gen X fans and scholars inherited their love of Dylan from their parents and benefitted from the wealth of material available to them courtesy of the early scholars. Indeed, Gen X is building on the work of these early scholars, introducing new perspectives and reconsidering outdated interpretations. Now, Millennials and Gen Z scholars are bringing new energy to the discussion of Dylan’s work. In this episode, Gen Z Dylan scholar and freelance writer Rebecca Slaman discusses her work, how her generation engages with Dylan, and the future of Dylan Studies.
Bio:
Rebecca Slaman is a freelance writer based in NYC. She has a B.A. from Fordham University in English and Classics. Her writing specializes in performance, music, and fan communities. She is also a frequent guest on Bob Dylan podcasts. Rebecca has a Substack called Bawker in which she writes reviews, analysis, and short-form fiction in the style of Philosophy of Modern Song. She also has a chapter in the forthcoming book Court Carney and I are editing reconsidering Dylan’s work in the 1980s.
Links:
Website: https://rslaman.wixsite.com/website
Substack:
X: @ithrewtheglass
Instagram: @ithrewtheglass
