Bob Dylan wins 2016 Nobel Prize in literature
ASSOCIATED PRESS
U.S. singer-songwriter Bob Dylan performing onstage at “Les Vieilles Charrues” Festival in Carhaix, western France.
STOCKHOLM >> Bob Dylan was named the winner of the 2016 Nobel Prize in literature Thursday in a stunning announcement that for the first time bestowed the prestigious award to someone primarily seen as a musician.
The Swedish Academy cited the American musician for “having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.”
Dylan had been mentioned in the Nobel speculation for years, but few experts expected the academy to extend the prestigious award to a genre such as pop music.
The literature award was the last of this year’s Nobel Prizes to be announced. The six awards will be handed out on Dec. 10, the anniversary of prize founder Alfred Nobel’s death in 1896.
9 responses to “Bob Dylan wins 2016 Nobel Prize in literature”
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A milestone in the erosion of Mainstream Art as a High IQ endeavor. IQ equality marks the end of Art as we know it, or, is an indicator of the deterioration of the equality movement. Add Prez Obama’s Nobel prize to the dynamic. Anyone can “nominate” anyone to be considered for such prizes. This one is no doubt an artifact of Mr Zimmerman’s publicity agency. He’s actually a much better blacksmith than a wordsmith, as per his welded gates.
Interesting. If that’s the position of the gates, perhaps the driveway concurs…?
Agree, Mythman, Dylan was certainly much more than a “pop music” artist, but his writing hardly ranks among the greatest literature of our times. Seems that everything is getting dumbed down these days.
Scandinavian countries have been known for being at the forefront of liberalism? That trait is transferred to the selection of individuals for the Nobel awards. With regards to the science awards a more factual approach seems to be the mode.
Come mothers and fathers, throughout the land, and don’t criticize what you can’t understand. Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command. Your old road is rapidly agin’. Please get out of the new one if you can’t lend your hand for the times they are a-changin’. Lyrics from a Dylan song — title in the last 4 words. For a list of his songs, got to http://tinyurl.com/6wx3opw. Click on any of the titles for the lyrics. The tradition of ballads can be traced back to the 10th century and the likes of “Beowulf.” Ballads are poems set to music. Shakespeare, in his day, was popular but not revered. Usually, poets like Dylan and Shakespeare are overlooked by their contemporary literati. The fact that Dylan is being honored while he’s still with us is amazing. Congrats to Bobby.
Kimo, his paintings are at the maturity level of little old ladies who would show up in my painting classes at the U of H. A work of visual art is like an IQ test to someone who knows how to “read” it. Bards were of yesteryear, pop music is of today, and it is not much more than entertaining. Mr Z is among the best of the entertainers, granted. And an icon to folks in the same business. His wretched paintings ought to never be in a museum or sold through a major gallery, like Gagosian.
Mythman, I’m not sure about his paintings, but I believe this Nobel is for his song compositions. Huge body of work.
This means poets like Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog, and Ice Cube can someday win the Nobel Prize.
Good point, Hawaii5OhOh. Maybe. If they produce a significant body of work over a lifetime that speaks to the heart of their generation and to humanitarian goals, then they could be honored, too.