In a week of some significant disagreements on this blog, I am wondering whether we might be able to agree that Bob Dylan being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature is a very good thing?
Peter, the element of loving concern for humanity is a feature of Bob Dylan's poetry and music. He's surely a candidate for a humanitarian award? Not a masty bone in his body - a good Christian characteristic.
When the news broke, I was positive it was an Onion story. Sadly no. More evidence of the continued trivialization of many of the Nobel Prizes. At least it was just silly, instead of being overtly political.
Hi Peter; I agree it's positive, but I think Andrei's general sentiment on this blog is correct. It's kinda trivial cheap western tinsel, while our brothers and sisters in the east are slaughtered. Champagne anybody?
It most certainly is good news and gives me hope that in the future the poignant and wry commentary on the alienation of youth and the human condition in the 20th Century embodied in the still topical lyrics of Alice Cooper may be recognised by the Swedish Academy for the outstanding literature that they are:
I'm your top prime cut of meat, I'm your choice I wanna be elected I'm your yankee doodle dandy in a gold Rolls Royce I wanna be elected Kids want a savior, don't need a fake I wanna be elected We're gonna rock to the rules that I make I wanna be elected, elected, elected I never lied to you, I've always been cool I wanna be elected
Then again there are the subtle alliterative lyrics of the tone poems of the Chiffons such as the brilliantly and sensitively written 'One Fine Day' by Carole King and Gerry Goffin:
Shooby Dooby Dooby Dooby Do Wah Wah Shooby Dooby Dooby Dooby Do Wah Wah
1. Don't think twice, it's alright! 2. Christopher Ricks' Dylan's Visions of Sin is a "masterpiece", illustrating how Dylan constantly references virtue and vice ala the Medieval schema. Highly recommended.
He won it for his lyrics not his music - the committee went to great pains to point this out.
ReplyDeleteMostly we don't notice the Nobel prizes except those awarded for Peace and Literature.
The Peace Prize has almost fallen into disrepute in recent times through some very dodgy choices
Bob Dylan's is OK it is just committee who award it showing their age
Its likely few will notice the 2015 Physics, Chemistry or Medicine and Physiology prizes though - such things are not on most people radar
ReplyDeletePeter, the element of loving concern for humanity is a feature of Bob Dylan's poetry and music. He's surely a candidate for a humanitarian award? Not a masty bone in his body - a good Christian characteristic.
When the news broke, I was positive it was an Onion story. Sadly no. More evidence of the continued trivialization of many of the Nobel Prizes. At least it was just silly, instead of being overtly political.
ReplyDeleteHi Peter; I agree it's positive, but I think Andrei's general sentiment on this blog is correct. It's kinda trivial cheap western tinsel, while our brothers and sisters in the east are slaughtered. Champagne anybody?
ReplyDeleteNick
It most certainly is good news and gives me hope that in the future the poignant and wry commentary on the alienation of youth and the human condition in the 20th Century embodied in the still topical lyrics of Alice Cooper may be recognised by the Swedish Academy for the outstanding literature that they are:
ReplyDeleteI'm your top prime cut of meat, I'm your choice
I wanna be elected
I'm your yankee doodle dandy in a gold Rolls Royce
I wanna be elected
Kids want a savior, don't need a fake
I wanna be elected
We're gonna rock to the rules that I make
I wanna be elected, elected, elected
I never lied to you, I've always been cool
I wanna be elected
Then again there are the subtle alliterative lyrics of the tone poems of the Chiffons such as the brilliantly and sensitively written 'One Fine Day' by Carole King and Gerry Goffin:
Shooby Dooby Dooby Dooby Do Wah Wah
Shooby Dooby Dooby Dooby Do Wah Wah
1. Don't think twice, it's alright!
ReplyDelete2. Christopher Ricks' Dylan's Visions of Sin is a "masterpiece", illustrating how Dylan constantly references virtue and vice ala the Medieval schema. Highly recommended.