Dylan wins Nobel Prize For Literature

[AAL2014]

This was brought up in the Musical Random Chat, but I think it'd be worth making a topic out of. It was announced today that Bob Dylan will win the Nobel Prize for Literature this year. The first American to win since Toni Morrison and I believe the first songwriter to ever win. I think that's a brilliant choice. Although on the surface, it'd be tough to lump songwriting in with what traditionally wins Literature awards. However, given Dylan's history, influence, longevity, and sheer craftsmanship, I can't think of another songwriter that could win this award. Cohen perhaps?

Thoughts on Dylan winning the Nobel Prize? Should songwriters be in consideration for the award? And now that Dylan has won, what other songwriter could be in the conversation for winning this award in the future?
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Attention all planets of the solar federation: We have assumed control.

[Kool Keith Sweat]

Considering the Nobel Committee for literature has a strong bias against American literature, I find it disheartening that Bob Dylan is their American pick for the prize in over twenty years, and will likely be their last American pick for at least another decade or two. American postmodern authors have not been recognized by the committee, and I believe it's a strong pool to choose at least one representative from (unfortunately, Gaddis is dead). I think Dylan's influence over songwriting is undeniable, but the question is whether or not his songwriting is actually 'good.'

As far as allowing songwriters to win the prize, I'm all for it; I'd like to see the prize open up beyond poetry, plays, essays, and novels to journalism, academic articles, liner notes, any written word. I'd also like to see the prize money in the hands of adventurous artists in their prime that can actually use the money to fund their projects, rather than giving an enormous purse to someone that has already picked out their coffin; for this reason, I think the MacArthur Fellowship is a much more interesting prize, though unfortunately not international.

[stangetzaway]

I believe a wise choice for the nobel prize. Obviously Dylan's primarily a songwriter bit he's unquestionably a poet as well. Those 3 albums he released just over 50 years which are now are the crucible in the history of popular music. Rock could now be a mature/sophisticated art form whose boundaries only lie with our imagination. The poetry is so rich and dense in Blonde on Blonde everytime l listen to it I pick up something new.

His efforts to bring to light Ameticas rich past in somg pre his own career in both his radio shows and recent cover albums I'm sure have not gone unnoticed.

The prize for literature itself has traditionally been given to artists quite late in life to recognize their body of work. It's basically a lifetime achievement award and people can draw their own conclusions in comparison to the nobel prize for peace which regularly seems to go to those with a high public profile that blew in half an hour ago. (Obama anyone?)

.

[Jorbaa]

Leonard Cohen

and in 20 years or so, Nick Cave

[jepstein]

Personally I'm of the opinion that if playwrights can be considered for the award, songwriters should be able to be as well.

Congratulations to Dylan, and condolences to Alex Shephard for the fact that nobody will let him live this down, despite being a huge Dylan fan.