”Irriterad på livet i allmänhet och publicitet i synnerhet” : Den svenska mediebilden kring Bob Dylan under hans Sverigebesök 1966

Sammanfattning

This thesis examines the construction of Bob Dylan’s media image in the Swedish press during his first visit to Sweden in April 1966. The study aims to increase the understanding of how Swedish music journalism and media institutions perceived and constructed narratives around Bob Dylan. By analysing the interactions between the artist and the press, the study uncovers the underlying values and normative expectations that shaped the Swedish entertainment journalism at the time. The theoretical framework is based on Denis McQuail’s theories of framing, agenda-setting, and gatekeeping, alongside Philip Auslander’s musical persona and two different definitions of authenticity by Allan Moore and Andrea Cossu. The empirical material consists of a total of 15 articles from the five major Swedish newspapers Aftonbladet, Arbetet, Dagens Nyheter, Svenska Dagbladet, and Expressen, alongside recordings from Sveriges Radio and Sveriges Television. The analysis shows that the Swedish press primarily framed Dylan as a problematic media object and “protest singer” rather than a serious musical artist by focusing on factors such as Dylan’s unkempt appearance, perceived rudeness, and high concert ticket prices.