In episode 64, The Boston Sisters (Michon and Taquiena) talk about A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, the biopic about musician/songwriter Bob Dylan (portrayed by Timothée Chalamet) inspired by the book “Dylan Goes Electric!: Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties” by Elijah Wald, with award-winning and Grammy-nominated poet, literary activist, and author E. Ethelbert Miller . 

The conversation focuses on Miller’s personal connection to Dylan's music and the broader cultural context of the 1960s, in addition to...

• The importance of preserving American folk traditions

• The role of artists like Dylan in documenting history including the impact of Dylan's music on social movements

• The role of women in shaping Dylan’s life, career and music

• The significance of oral and musical literature

SPOILER ALERT - There is some detailed discussion about key moments in the film

Episode 64 is part 1 of a 2-part conversation about A COMPLETE UNKNOWN with E. Ethelbert Miller. Episode 65 (part 2) is available 1/28/25.

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TIMESTAMPS

:01 - Introduction to the Podcast and Film Discussion

2:11 - Ethelbert Miller's Background and Contributions

4:45 - Ethelbert Miller's Reflections on "A Complete Unknown"

17:12 - Dylan's Influence and the Role of Women in His Life

27:23 - The Role of Film in Historical Context and Literature

47:12 - The Impact of Dylan's Music and the Importance of Preservation

48:09 - The Legacy of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger

48:26 - The Role of Documentation in Historical Understanding

50:39 - The Importance of Critical Reading and Analysis

55:27 - The Role of Artists as Witnesses to History

58:08 Conclusion and books from this podcast

More Podcast Notes: In the conversation, Miller references Dylan's concerts in the U.K. in 1966. Dylan's infamous "Judas" show, where the musician is heckled, took place in Manchester. The story is included in Martin Scorsese's 2005 documentary "No Direction Home."

Enjoy our PLAYLIST for this podcast, "Bob Dylan: Known and Unknown," on Spotify.

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