What can I say about this that won’t be reductive? I’m reluctant to write this, I admit a degree of crassness, but do want to address the Scorsese documentary. Hats do play a part in this event and, after all, we are a hat blog. First of all, one of my favorite Dylan tunes, “Leopard-skin Pill-box Hat” is actually one of the few songs sung in its entirely in the film. Here are the lyrics:
Well, I see you got your brand new leopard-skin pill-box hat |
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So what to make of this? Initially, it appears as if the hat represents nothing more than a strong symbol of association that Dylan ascribes to the woman that the song is about. Why does the woman wear this hat and why does it catch Dylan’s attention? Something to consider is the fact that pillbox hats were hot-hot at this time. Jackie Kennedy wore pillbox hats designed by Halston, a very chic designer of the day. Jackie led the fashion parade in those days. This woman was not someone acting outside of the mainstream. The hat certainly catches Dylan’s attention, in fact as she carries on with another guy, this clown is wearing her hat and that bothers Dylan more than the affair! Finally, Dylan thinks that this hat is so powerful that he levels the accusation that another guy does not love her for her money (back to my point about the kind of women who would wear these hats in those days), but rather because of the hat, and only the hat!
If you are readers of this blog or VillagHatShop.com, you know that I continue to address the historical power of hats as symbols. I won’t reiterate here, see other blog articles and VillageHatShop.com for more on this. But, did anyone notice that short film, identified as the first footage of Dylan in New York’s Greenwich Village, within the film? The entire short is nothing more than Bob Dylan changing hats. Talk about symbolism! Here, clearly in my opinion, Dylan is saying, as did Scorsese throughout the film, that Bob Dylan is a chameleon, is capable of changing personas, musical styles, and the like.
Tonight is the second part. Keep on the lookout for hats.
Fred Belinsky
http://VillageHatShop.com
in my opinion one of the best interpreters and singers, soloists, composers active at the time, his best time is past but much of the still, I hope and do not show their talent and bring it to market something new or unpublished.
David P. Coleman
2983 Brown Avenue
Greenville, SC 29 607
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Posted by: replica tiffany jewelry | November 04, 2010 at 07:06 PM
Yes can someone please help out me and Nat up there. Does anyone know what kind of hat this is (from his first album "Bob Dylan") or where I could find one...
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y95/pauldoyle/BobDylan-bobdylan.jpg
Thankyou.
Posted by: James | November 09, 2010 at 04:06 PM