One for Little Hawk: Dylan for Nobel?

Subject: One for Little Hawk: Dylan for Nobel?
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 07 Oct 04 - 09:59 AM

From AOL News:
Dylan's nomination sparks Nobel row


How many roads must a man walk down, before you call him a ... Nobel Prize-winning songwriter?

It's a question being asked increasingly in literary circles, as the annual debate over who should win the Nobel Prize in Literature tosses out a familiar, but surprising candidate: Bob Dylan.

While many music critics agree that Dylan -- or Robert Zimmerman, as his parents named him -- is the most profound songwriter in the history of modern music, his repeated nomination for the Nobel Prize has raised a vexing question among literary authorities: Should song lyrics qualify for literature's most prestigious award?

Christopher Ricks, co-director of the Editorial Institute at Boston University - and an avid Dylan fan who has written scholarly papers on the songwriter's work - said the question is "tricky."

"I don't think there's anybody that uses words better than he does," said Ricks, the author of highly regarded works of literary criticism such as "The Force of Poetry" and "Allusion to the Poets," as well as books on TS. Eliot, Lord Alfred Tennyson and John Keats.

"But I think his is an art of a mixed medium. I think the question would not be whether he deserves (the Nobel Prize) as an honour to his art. The question would be whether his art can be described as literature."

It definitely can, said Gordon Ball, an author and literature professor at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia - who has nominated Dylan every year since 1996.

"Poetry and music are linked," Ball said. "And Dylan has helped strengthen that relationship, like the troubadours of old."

The Nobel Prize in literature is given out annually as the highest accolade by the 18 lifetime members of the 218-year-old Swedish Academy. Candidates can be nominated by members of other literary academies and institutions, literature professors and Nobel laureates.

Each year, the Swedish Academy receives about 350 nominations for about 200 different candidates, which is narrowed down to about five finalists. The winner is announced in October after a selection process clouded in secrecy. The finalists, save for the winner, are not revealed for 50 years.

RtS

Subject: RE: One for Little Hawk: Dylan for Nobel?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 Oct 04 - 10:10 AM

Maybe they ought to bave a separate Nobel Prize for songs.

Oh, the benches were stained with tears and perspiration,
The birdies were flying from tree to tree.
There was little to say, there was no conversation
As I stepped to the stage to pick up my degree.
And the locusts sang off in the distance,
Yeah, the locusts sang such a sweet melody.
Oh, the locusts sang off in the distance,
Yeah, the locusts sang and they were singing for me.

I glanced into the chamber where the judges were talking,
Darkness was everywhere, it smelled like a tomb.
I was ready to leave, I was already walkin',
But the next time I looked there was light in the room.
And the locusts sang, yeah, it give me a chill,
Oh, the locusts sang such a sweet melody.
Oh, the locusts sang their high whining trill,
Yeah, the locusts sang and they were singing for me...

Subject: RE: One for Little Hawk: Dylan for Nobel?
From: Peace
Date: 07 Oct 04 - 10:10 AM

I hope he gets it. IMO, he deserves it. If anyone knows how to write the Academy, let me know. I would send a mailed letter, fax and e-mail.

Subject: RE: One for Little Hawk: Dylan for Nobel?
From: open mike
Date: 07 Oct 04 - 10:24 AM

nobel prize found here:
http://www.almaz.com/nobel/
this years' literature winner is announced:
ELFRIEDE JELINEK for her musical flow of voices and counter-voices in novels and plays that with extraordinary linguistic zeal reveal the absurdity of society's clich s and their subjugating power.

Subject: RE: One for Little Hawk: Dylan for Nobel?
From: Peace
Date: 07 Oct 04 - 10:38 AM

Thank you.

Subject: RE: One for Little Hawk: Dylan for Nobel?
From: open mike
Date: 07 Oct 04 - 11:03 AM

(oops-the small print:)the nobel prize internet archives is not affiliated with: this, the OFFICIAL organization: http://nobelprize.org/

Subject: RE: One for Little Hawk: Dylan for Nobel?
From: open mike
Date: 07 Oct 04 - 11:05 AM

here is a page listing contact info for THE FOUNDATION
http://nobelprize.org/nobel/nobel-foundation/

Subject: RE: One for Little Hawk: Dylan for Nobel?
From: open mike
Date: 07 Oct 04 - 01:25 PM

the official page for the Nobel Prize states ;
"The Nobel Peace Prize
To be announced Friday, October 8,
11:00 a.m. at the earliest (local time)"

Subject: RE: One for Little Hawk: Dylan for Nobel?
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 07 Oct 04 - 04:23 PM

Oooh, i do hope he wins! I agree with McGrath, though, maybe they should have a seperate category. It would lead to some interesting discussions on here, anyway! :)

Subject: RE: One for Little Hawk: Dylan for Nobel?
From: JennieG
Date: 07 Oct 04 - 08:23 PM

There's nothing to stop us having our own Mudcat Nobel (or noble if you prefer) prize is there?

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: One for Little Hawk: Dylan for Nobel?
From: pdq
Date: 07 Oct 04 - 09:10 PM

If Dylan does not receive the Nobel Peace Prize, perhaps Nelson Mandela or Yasir Arafat could give him theirs. After all, neither one appears to have any need for them.

Subject: RE: One for Little Hawk: Dylan for Nobel?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 08 Oct 04 - 12:07 AM

Yes, I think Dylan does merit such a prize...not that he really needs it at this point...but he is worthy of it.

Subject: RE: One for Little Hawk: Dylan for Nobel?
From: open mike
Date: 08 Oct 04 - 12:26 AM

i cheerily nominate Charlie Noble..'

Subject: RE: One for Little Hawk: Dylan for Nobel?
From: JennieG
Date: 08 Oct 04 - 12:28 AM

I'll second that nomination!

Cheers
JennieG

---

Messages from multiple threads combined. Messages below are from a new thread.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Dylan & the Nobel Prize for Literature
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 04:29 PM

No kidding, I read this in repeated articles this week when the Nobel was announced for Austria's Jelinek. Someone (his agent, perhaps?) apparently keeps nominating The Bob every year for the Literature prize!

Sure, he's written some great lyrics. But Seamus Heaney he ain't!

Subject: RE: Dylan & the Nobel Prize for Literature
From: Little Hawk
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 04:35 PM

Song lyrics are a worthy form of literature when they're very good song lyrics. Leonard Cohen would be worth considering too.

Subject: RE: Dylan & the Nobel Prize for Literature
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 04:38 PM

I disagree. Song lyrics aren't literature. They also aren't poetry in the written sense--just try writing out your favorite literary sounding song lyric, and you will quickly see how song lyrics don't translate well to the written page, no matter how good they sound in a song.

Song lyrics always come off sounding wooden and contrived as written poetry.

Subject: RE: Dylan & the Nobel Prize for Literature
From: open mike
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 04:39 PM

this has been discussed at length in the past few days..
perhaps this thread can be combined?

Subject: RE: Dylan & the Nobel Prize for Literature
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 04:40 PM

Sorry, I must have missed it. I've no problem with this being combined with another thread on the same subject.

Subject: RE: Dylan & the Nobel Prize for Literature
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 04:45 PM

Could you link to the other thread for us please, Open Mike? I'd love to read it.

Subject: RE: One for Little Hawk: Dylan for Nobel?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 05:04 PM

Thanks!

Now, it appears that some people are confusing the Nobel for Literature with the Nobel Peace Prize? Dylan hasn't been nominated for the Peace Prize, according to the articles. He is a serial nominee, apparently, for the Nobel for Literature.

Frankly, if there were such a thing as a Nobel for song writing I'd give a to Irving Berlin, the Gershwins, or the Beatles before I'd give it to Dylan.

Subject: RE: One for Little Hawk: Dylan for Nobel?
From: GUEST,balalaika
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 04:05 AM

Literature is primarily a wicked form derived from oral language that was singing based. If literature was a bird, feather-removed and packed, you couldn't call a real bird literature. The Nobel Committee needs an alter to accept Dylan, so does the entire intellectual world. So the meaning of nomination is on what Dylan represents not on himself as any individual.

Subject: RE: One for Little Hawk: Dylan for Nobel?
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 06:29 AM

I'd rather see Pete Seeger get one first.

Subject: RE: One for Little Hawk: Dylan for Nobel?
From: Bobert
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 08:34 AM

Yeah, Pete is way overdue... What, does Pete have to go out and do a one hour set on his 100th birthday???