Bruce Springsteen as a Symbol

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe article explores how Bruce Springsteen and his music function as a symbol. The article first presents the Jungian theory of symbols and of music as a conveyer of the symbolic. The central argument of the article is that, by having achieved the status of a powerful symbol, Springsteen influences the psyche of his audience and functions as a psychological resource. Although the author makes no claim to cover the entire symbolic potential of Springsteen and his music, he identifies and discusses three central themes: a symbol of containment, fatherhood, and manhood. The evidence is drawn from statements made by his audience in currently available resources and from a series of the author’s dreams.