Dylan Decides World Is Screwed, Cashes In

I’m almost speechless.

If it was any other artist, I might have looked the other way, but in Bob Dylan’s case this must mean something. For someone who’s built an entire career railing against greed, war, and other anti-social behaviors, I have to assume that this cross-promotional ad campaign between the Cadillac Escalade and XM Radio (on whose satellites Dylan hosts a show) means that after some soul-searching, Dylan has decided we’re all doomed and has given up on humanity. Sure, he’s done commercials in the past for Victoria’s Secret and the iPod, but it seems to me that the Cadillac/XM campaign is different. Either he’s got Alzheimer’s and is simply a shell of his former self being handled by his management company, or else he’s given up completely. Unfortunately for all of us, I see no indication of the former and have every reason to believe the latter.

Now, don’t read this as an anti-Dylan post. Far from it actually. Mr. Dylan and his music have greatly influenced my life and personal philosophies. In fact, I find it ironic that he’s chosen to roll this way just as I find myself facing a similar internal struggle. On the one hand, I feel like finally giving up on humanity and living the carefree lifestyle that is the right of a near-post-peak empire citizen (see the myth behind the Roman Vomitoriums for an idea of what that could be like). On the other hand, my default mode is usually to still give a damn and try to be a good earthly citizen in the hope that humanity will finally get it’s act together and, against all odds, solve the myriad of problems we’ve created for ourselves.

Let’s just say Dylan has put a tick in the Vomitorium column.