Bob Dylan Wins Nobel Prize for Literature!

[Wakefield]

These things generally divide people between lovers and haters. I love literature, but I don't care about the Nobel Prize, probably because I don't recall any Nobel Prize winner as important to my intellectual formation.

That said, it's a matter of fact that Mr. Dylan writes -and very well according the reports of his fans- but his influence, I think, is referred to his career as performing artist, a singer who composes his own lyrics, so I think all of this issue involves a major reading comprehension problem on the part of the members of the jury of the Nobel Prize. 

[Reckoner]

Why not 

Because he's a musician - a song-writer.

I've never previously come across song-writing being classified as literature.

[Parsifal]

 

Precisely. Why giving the prize to someone whose main achievements date from the 60s and 70s of the last century?

You didn´t get it. I have nothing againts Bob Dylan. My issue is with the decision of the Nobel literary committee. The Nobel Prize for Literature (literature, for God´s sake) to someone who hasn´t written one single book in his whole life? Give me a break, amigo.

And a couple lyrics which I am sure have highly sentimental value for some people but whose Nobel-worth is highly debatable.

In fact he wrote a highly regarded memoir and I think a book of poetry, although that is not what the prize is for.

We can legitimately debate whether his songs fit the category of literature, but I don't see the sense in you running down the quality of work you seem to have no familiarity with.

[Gurn Blanston]

In fact he wrote a highly regarded memoir and I think a book of poetry, although that is not what the prize is for.

We can legitimately debate whether his songs fit the category of literature, but I don't see the sense in you running down the quality of work you seem to have no familiarity with.

That's why I quit, too. I am fully content, I honestly don't give a flying f*** what anyone else thinks.

[San Antone]

Because he's a musician - a song-writer.

I've never previously come across song-writing being classified as literature.

So, now you have - it's a simple twist of fate. 

Bob Dylan's lyrics are literature, imo.  The fact that he wrote songs as opposed to poetry or novels is neither here nor there.  He wrote exceptionally well in the form he chose to express himself. 

Now listening to Amazon's Dylan Nobel Playlist.

[Jo498]

Because it's a massive, monumental middle finger to the entire literary world (of which, of course, the jury is a part, to a degree)?

To give the prize to Bob Dylan in 2016 is about as provocative or "countercultural" as having a print of a Warhol picture in one's living room... Neither young nor wild...

But the best comment is probably: Don't think twice - it's alright!



(Leider nicht von mir, I read it somewhere else today)

[North Star]

Coincidentally I watched this splendid 8 minute video essay on Dylan's All Along the Watchtower earlier this week, without knowing he was even considered for the award. And I see the title of the video has been changed since June.

https://www.youtube.com/v/In6gCrGeZfA

[Reckoner]

Isn't this somewhat like giving Wagner (lets assume Nobel prize had been around in his lifetime) the prize for literature for his libretti?

I mean, I guess that'd be fine. Except nobody considers Wagner a librettist in isolation. 

[knight66]

That's why I quit, too. I am fully content, I honestly don't give a flying f*** what anyone else thinks.

Gosh, That is so unlike you!

Mike

[André]

Dario Fo, the italian playwright died yesterday. He received the Nobel prize in 1997. There was lots of hoopla and protests at the time, including - mainly, in fact - from his native Italy. An iconoclast who despised institutions, he was the subject of constant critics and derisive comments. Because of his political activities he was barred from entering the USA.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dario_Fo

His receipt of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Literature marked the "international acknowledgment of Fo as a major figure in twentieth-century world theatre". The Swedish Academy praised Fo as a writer "who emulates the jesters of the Middle Ages in scourging authority and upholding the dignity of the downtrodden". He owned and operated a theatre company. Fo was an atheist.

It seems the Nobel Committee sometimes likes to ruffle some feathers. Good for them. 

[arpeggio]

After reading some of the reactions to my OP I am reminded of the great atonal/tonal debate: a complete waste of time.  The same nonsense is occurring in Talk Classical.  No one has started a thread about this at Amazon.  If it is going to cause the same type of immature sniping, I am not going to start one.

The point is that the whole awards scene is very uneven.  I am sure we can come up with all sorts of award winners in various venues that are undeserving.  Like Shakespeare in Love winning best picture over Saving Private Ryan.  I am certain that there are those who would prefer i]Shakespeare in Love[/i].  So what?

I can understand that some my not like the selection.  To be frank many of their arguments are bogus.  Like the one that he has not written anything that is worthy in the past twenty years.  So it would have been OK to give him the award twenty years ago? No that is not it.  It its clear that many do not like the idea that the award was received by a rock artist.

I wonder how many were offended when the Pulitzer was awarded to a jazz artist or the first time it was awarded to an atonal (whatever that means) work.  I can imagine what would happen if John Williams were awarded a Pulitzer for a soundtrack.  I am certain we would be subjected to a resounding chorus of, "How dare they".

I have not seen a convincing argument on why a libretto or lyrics can not be considered literature.  Maybe a more interesting discussion would be if there are other lyricist who may deserve the honor like Stephen Sondheim.

If some of the members do not understand why some of us are excited over the choice and they want to trash the decision, that is there problem not mine.

[Reckoner]

After reading some of the reactions to my OP I am reminded of the great atonal/tonal debate: a complete waste of time.  The same nonsense is occurring in Talk Classical.  No one has started a thread about this at Amazon.  If it is going to cause the same type of immature sniping, I am not going to start one.

So you create a thread with the expectation that every post will be exactly in line with your view?

And then when there are opposing views presented, you pass this off as "immature sniping", "nonsense" and a "complete waste of time".

Cool.

[Gurn Blanston]

Gosh, That is so unlike you!

Mike

Yes, isn't it? 0:)   

[Karl Henning]

I bought my girl
A herd of moose,
One she could call her own.
Well, she came out the very next day
To see where they had flown.

[arpeggio]

The only response I have to those who are unhappy with the Nobel Prize Committees choice is that one person's meat is another person's poison.

Beyond that I do not know what else I can say.

[nathanb]

At first I thought to come here and post about how this whole thing is an insult to anyone who's ever written a book, and how I'd pretty much only continue to respect Bob Dylan if he point-blank rejected the award himself, but then I remembered that the Nobel Prize has pretty much become an utter joke in recent times, so, hell, why not I guess.

If Bob Dylan kicks the bucket this year, then I'll start believing in karma.

[nathanb]

The only response I have to those who are unhappy with the Nobel Prize Committees choice is that one person's meat is another person's poison.

Beyond that I do not know what else I can say.

You're making a false equivalency with these "tonal/atonal debate" comparisons. I do not reject this whole thing because I am so foolish as to call Bob Dylan's lyrics "bad lyrics", but rather because I will be so bold as to say that "lyrics" (whether Bob Dylan or god awful Decemberists drivel) are about as much "literature" as they are "potatoes".

[North Star]

You're making a false equivalency with these "tonal/atonal debate" comparisons. I do not reject this whole thing because I am so foolish as to call Bob Dylan's lyrics "bad lyrics", but rather because I will be so bold as to say that "lyrics" (whether Bob Dylan or god awful Decemberists drivel) are about as much "literature" as they are "potatoes".

So what you are saying is that you do not consider lyric poetry a form of literature. OK.

[Karl Henning]

Now the senator came down here
Showing everyone his gun
Handing out free tickets
To the wedding of his son
And me, I nearly got busted
And wouldn't it be my luck
To get caught without a ticket
And be discovered beneath a truck

[San Antone]

So what you are saying is that you do not consider lyric poetry a form of literature. OK.

Not to mention the "ballad", a poetic form.