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Dylan wins Nobel Prize in Literature

Awesome.   Best news I've read in a while.
mapman
simao's avatar
simao
656 posts
 
@onhwy61 That many of the writers you mentioned, particularly Nabokov, did not win a Nobel, but Dylan has, is testament to the myopia of the Committee.

It's as if, in a desperate bid to appeal to the masses, they chose a good lyricist. Kind of like an inverted analog of when Jethro Tull won the Grammy for best metal album in 1989.

again, I'm not faulting Dylan himself, nor am I diminishing the import of his work in contemporary pop culture (and counter-culture), but I'm skeptical his Nobel worthiness.

And Harvard professor notwithstanding, @dgarretson , I doubt Dante would want Dylan to accompany him down to Hell in lieu of Virgil, just as I doubt Dylan will still be read and listened to in 2000 years.
mapman's avatar
mapman OP
15,679 posts
 
Well, there was a lot less competition in Dante’s day. That’s for sure, eh?

Also I read Dante was significant for breaking with the tradition of writing in Latin, which only a few could read , but rather writing in teh vernacular which was accessible to more.

Hmm,  Kinda sounds like the same story with Dylan,  putting lyrics to music rather than merely writing poetry that few might read or know.

Maybe the two have more in common than we can even imagine.
dgarretson
2,394 posts
 

If civilization survives to Y4K and historians remember the 20th century, they will likely underscore the significance of the counter-culture and its music that reified social and political currents during the first war lost by the USA. Dylan will be remembered above all other writers in this context.

One could argue as well that this award distinguishes the resurgence of the bardic tradition as a popular art form, in the context of a declining general readership for traditional literature and poetry. Maybe next go-round Trump will win one for his Twitter feed.

The further question is whether Dylan will acknowledge the committee and appear at the award ceremony. Clues may be found in the lyrics to Day of the Locusts on New Morning-- a song about his honorary degree granted by Princeton. 

geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
14,147 posts
 
dgarretson
1,994 posts
10-19-2016 3:51pm
If civilization survives to Y4K and historians remember the 20th century, they will likely underscore the significance of the counter-culture and its music that reified social and political currents during the first war lost by the USA. Dylan will be remembered above all other writers in this context.

Ironically perhaps Dylan would be the first to disagree with the counter-culture connection. Or being labeled a folk singer or representing the anti war movement or singing songs about or representing the counter-culture.


valinar
377 posts
 
I certainly am no literary scholar, but I think I am safe in in agreeing with simao that Dylan is no Dante and will probably not be read in 2000 years or even be remembered. Will any Nobel winner, for literature or otherwise, be remembered in 2000 years, including the 2009 winner of the peace prize? I can't imagine so.
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