Bob Dylan's drive to become a "star" doesn't inherently discredit him as an artist. Many of the folk musicians we consider to be beyond reproach -- people like Jimmie Rodgers or Charley Patton -- have sought the spotlight and reveled in critical admiration.

While Woody Guthrie shunned financial success, he clearly wanted to be recognized as a great musician and a revolutionary influence on America. He cultivated his image as a traveling proletariat songster -- a portrayal that became increasingly divorced from reality in the years after Guthrie moved to Los Angeles and became active in the leftist intellectual movement.

Woody Guthrie is still a great (I don't want to say "the greatest" for fear of starting an unneeded debate on this subject) folk musician and songwriter.

Likewise, Bob Dylan has contributed an amazing collection of songs to our collective songbook. To question his intent in writing songs or to call him a "charlatan" does nothing to detract from the greatness of this contribution.