responsiblity for creative output?

Gen and I saw the film I'm Not There today at the Bytowne (I wonder if I'll ever see a a film which is not a musical biopic of sorts and that doesn't leave me with mixed feelings at this theatre - the only other film I've caught there was Control). An hour or two later, I think I enjoyed the film more than I thought had whilst I was experiencing it. I'd originally said I was going to riot if it sucked, and though parts of it were really grating on my nerves (particularly the Richard Gere storyline), I kept it together. One thing that was really annoying me was that during the film it became very evident that unlike most artists I really enjoy I hadn't looked into his personal life too much nor had I grown up during Dylan's early heyday. This was aggravating as I couldn't stop wondering what was 'authentic' in the film's depictions of his life.

One of the central questions, I guess, that I did grasp as emerging from the film (or so Gen confirmed that she had also taken it to be asking) was how responsible is one for the interpretation of their creativity/art. Dylan's answer, as interpreted in this film, seemed to be a resounding - and often surly - one is not at all responsible for this. I guess it was having looked at these questions in a philosophy class or two that I wasn't really interested in this question at that moment. After the film, however, I did find it interesting to remark how little I knew of him and how I pretty much just enjoyed him as an artist and that I rarely probed what I took from his music to any sort of connection to his personal life.

In any case, here are some youtube videos I found of the first and only glorious time I saw Dylan live here in Ottawa the "blues"fest. I never thought he'd live long enough for me to see him live.

How I saw it-ish:

All along the watchtower and an atypical excited Ottawa crowd.


Tangled up in Blue:


Cool version of 'Masters of War':


One of my all time favourite Dylan songs, Don't Think Twice:


Full version, but from further back in the crowd:


In any case, it was an amazing show. For the setlist from that night see here.