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I recently saw the new biopic about Bob Dylan called “A Complete Unknown” and was struck by something.
The movie focuses on the years 1961 to 1965, when Dylan first emerged on the scene, became a huge sensation, and then betrayed his folk-music fans and colleagues by “going electric” at the Newport Folk Festival.
The movie is extremely well done, deftly using Dylan’s music to both tell the story and demonstrate what a musical genius he was. He is expertly played by Timothee Chalamet, who captures well Dylan’s quirky personality while also playing the guitar and singing the songs himself. Quite a tour de force.
One thing that stood out to me was how maniacally focused Dylan was on songwriting. He would do it in the middle of the night, in the morning, or whenever the muse struck him (which was often). He was immersed in music, listening to all different types, thinking about life, pondering how to express his thoughts without being cliche or obvious.
This all took a lot of time and a lot of focus. I seriously doubt that someone like Bob Dylan could emerge in our current culture because of the constant distraction that smartphones entail. I’m as guilty as anyone, but Dylan was able to spend most of his waking time working at the craft he loved without constant distraction or interruption that smartphones impose on us.
The actor who played Dylan, Chalamet, said he didn’t use a smartphone for the entire 3-month shoot, which I think was probably key to dialing in to Dylan’s intensity and almost hypnotic aura.
It makes me wonder how much more productive I could be at work or in my personal interests if only I could get away from my handheld distraction machine!
So, maybe for 2025, in the spirit of the great Bob Dylan and his on-screen avatar, we should put down the phone and focus on reading, talking, playing music, building stuff, or just doing anything that actually creates value for you, your family, and your community. Imagine how different the world might be!
Happy 2025, everyone, especially my critics!
Trey Hoffman
Peachtree City
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