The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 awarded to Bob Dylan • Hacker News Board

Re: The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 awarded to Bob Dylan

#61

Post by samch » Thu, Oct 13, 2016, 1:21 PM UTC

OskarS wrote: post #57

xamuel wrote: post #8

Fantastic! Anyone know if it's the first Literature Nobel given to a pure singer-songwriter? Here are three Dylan songs with big literary value: * "Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts": an amazing example of musical story-telling * "The Ballad of a Thin Man": Some of the most post-modern lyrics ever put to music... * "Like a Rolling Stone": One of the most influential songs of all time

I read the lyrics to Dylan's Forever Young at my nephews baptism as a poem, and half the audience was crying. Excerpt: May you grow up to be righteous May you grow up to be true May you always know the truth And see the lights surrounding you May you always be courageous Stand upright and be strong May you stay forever young May you stay forever young.

I play this song for my kids, and I have a hard time not internalizing it myself. It's one of my favorites.

Re: The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 awarded to Bob Dylan

#62

Post by martinbalsam » Thu, Oct 13, 2016, 1:22 PM UTC

hackerkid wrote: post #53

nabla9 wrote: post #9

Bob Dylan now has Nobel Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom, Officier de la Legion d'honneur, Pulitzer, 12 Grammy's, Golden Globe, Academy Award, ...

He's the second person in history to have an Oscar and a Nobel Prize. The first being George Bernard Shaw.

And Al Gore

Re: The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 awarded to Bob Dylan

#63

Post by dekhn » Thu, Oct 13, 2016, 1:23 PM UTC

hiou wrote: post #43

Bob Dylan was never a rebel. He was a generic pop singer loved by basics for generations.

Generic? Pop? Hmm, I think you must be trolling.

Re: The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 awarded to Bob Dylan

#64

Post by kriro » Thu, Oct 13, 2016, 1:23 PM UTC

coldtea wrote: post #30

circlefavshape wrote: post #21

Despite being a massive admirer of Dylan's work, I'm not sure that I'm good with this > for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition There's no doubt he did this, but ... do songs count as literature? I'm not really sure they do, and much as I love the songs, the lyrics by themselves don't have anything like the impact (on me at least) of top-notch poetry

> There's no doubt he did this, but ... do songs count as literature? They should. Literature and poetry started from rhapsodies, sagas, and other forms of song-based storytelling, and it's not very good that it diverted so much to some kind of literary ivory tower.

I'm curious. Should screenplays also be eligible for the nobel in literature?

Re: The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 awarded to Bob Dylan

#65

Post by garyrob » Thu, Oct 13, 2016, 1:24 PM UTC

smnscu wrote: post #10

xamuel wrote: post #8

Fantastic! Anyone know if it's the first Literature Nobel given to a pure singer-songwriter? Here are three Dylan songs with big literary value: * "Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts": an amazing example of musical story-telling * "The Ballad of a Thin Man": Some of the most post-modern lyrics ever put to music... * "Like a Rolling Stone": One of the most influential songs of all time

'Hurricane' always gives me chills. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_(Bob_Dylan_song) Here's a great video on 'All Along The Watchtower'. I'm rewatching this today to celebrate! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In6gCrGeZfA

Agreed, another +1 for Hurricane. A largely-overlooked absolute classic. And of course All Along the Watchtower!

Re: The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 awarded to Bob Dylan

#66

Post by ptaipale » Thu, Oct 13, 2016, 1:25 PM UTC

Tomte wrote: post #33

circlefavshape wrote: post #21

Despite being a massive admirer of Dylan's work, I'm not sure that I'm good with this > for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition There's no doubt he did this, but ... do songs count as literature? I'm not really sure they do, and much as I love the songs, the lyrics by themselves don't have anything like the impact (on me at least) of top-notch poetry

Remember the Song of Songs in the Bible. Or the Nibelungenlied ("Lied" is German for song). Song and story are very much related, especially since back when the people couldn't read, singing stories was more popular than today.

And telling the stories in poetic form and then singing them was a way to memorize them and teach them to next generation at the time when people had no skill to write and read.

Re: The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 awarded to Bob Dylan

#67

Post by peter303 » Thu, Oct 13, 2016, 1:25 PM UTC

hackerkid wrote: post #53

nabla9 wrote: post #9

Bob Dylan now has Nobel Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom, Officier de la Legion d'honneur, Pulitzer, 12 Grammy's, Golden Globe, Academy Award, ...

He's the second person in history to have an Oscar and a Nobel Prize. The first being George Bernard Shaw.

I believe Al Gore won both a Nobel and Oscar.

Re: The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 awarded to Bob Dylan

#68

Post by stinkytaco » Thu, Oct 13, 2016, 1:27 PM UTC

ptaipale wrote: post #44

circlefavshape wrote: post #21

Despite being a massive admirer of Dylan's work, I'm not sure that I'm good with this > for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition There's no doubt he did this, but ... do songs count as literature? I'm not really sure they do, and much as I love the songs, the lyrics by themselves don't have anything like the impact (on me at least) of top-notch poetry

Songs are poetry, poetry is literature. But then again, remember that Sinatra vs. Bieber meme... http://weknowmemes.com/2012/02/music-what-happened/

They put coffee in their coffee in Brazil.

It suppose it goes without saying, but that meme is some selective criticism.

Re: The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 awarded to Bob Dylan

#69

Post by Angostura » Thu, Oct 13, 2016, 1:28 PM UTC

ekianjo wrote: post #40

jcrei wrote: post #5

Come writers and critics Who prophesize with your pen And keep your eyes wide The chance won't come again And don't speak too soon For the wheel's still in spin And there's no tellin' who That it's namin' For the loser now Will be later to win For the times they are a-changin'.

The rebel became part of the institution in the end. Somewhat sad if you ask me.

Only sad if you believe that he didn't effect change in teh institution.

Re: The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 awarded to Bob Dylan

#70

Post by Noseshine » Thu, Oct 13, 2016, 1:29 PM UTC

htaunay wrote: post #28

jcrei wrote: post #5

Come writers and critics Who prophesize with your pen And keep your eyes wide The chance won't come again And don't speak too soon For the wheel's still in spin And there's no tellin' who That it's namin' For the loser now Will be later to win For the times they are a-changin'.

Excellent comment/verse, given the context. Congrats on the insight.

Although listening to that song now I find it somewhat sad and dispiriting, because the "change" that came in the decades following that proclamation, was it really a change? Looking at politics and society? I think of that song in the context of its use in "Watchmen" [0] as more realistic.

[0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVUDdQS2UxA