Expecting Rain

What is your opinion on the Noble Prize for Literature ?

Hope not. Preferred it when Bob wasn't mainstream. I survived the 80's.

Heinrich Detering, professor for german literature and Bob scholar said it like that: "Dylan doesn´t need the Nobel Prize but the Nobel Prize needs Dylan." I think that sums it up quite neatly: the jury of the Nobel Prize is by now a bunch of misanthropic old men despising the average reader. No way they´ll ever give the Prize to Philipp Roth, leave alone Bob Dylan. But a few more Jelineks and Tranströmers and the Prize will vanish into oblivion, completely detached from relevant literature.

It would be pretty cool if he refused that.

Winston Churchill won it in 1953 for "for his mastery of historical and biographical description as well as for brilliant oratory in defending exalted human values".

Why not Bob?

He should, but he won't...

They have too much of a stick up their ass.

Yes, very well put..... and no he would not refuse it.....

Very doubtful he'll get it, and since Obama got the peace prize basically for being black and not being George Bush the whole idea has become increasingly irrelevant and absurd outside of the world of scientific research.

Very much agree. I would argue that his cultural and lyrical influence over the last fifty years merit this recognition by the Nobel committee. It may not be 'high' literature but its lasting significance and influence in my[and I suspect our]listening[and reading] experience is indisputable. I have no problem with him being recognized with this prize, should they go that way.

I didn't say he would, I said it'd be cool IF he would. I mean, people have been going on about it for ages, it comes up every year. Imagine they really wanted to give it to him, and here comes Bob saying, thanks, but no thanks, I don't need it.

It's true he doesn't need it, though I don't doubt he'd be proud of it being for literature as opposed to the 25th Grammy or whatever. But I honestly think it's more important for everyone else looking to him, than it is for himself. We'd get a new round of people posting on here how proud they are of his latest achievement. Proud? What business does anyone here have being proud of him? We have no part in the things that he does.

^

I was curious and I've bought a Tranströmer's book some time ago.

Well... Dylan IS high poetry.

Agree with Fog.

Interestingly now after 33 votes about 50 % ("he should get it" + "he deserves it after Tempest") of the ER users are convinced he should get it but no one thinks he really will get it this year.
May be I should bring in a more positive and optimistic spirit and be the first to vote for "Yes, he will" ?

Having a bad day or what?
I not only don't think he would refuse, I don't think it would be cool if he did..... The Nobel is not the Ed Sullivan show...........and as to being proud ..... maybe he should be proud .... or maybe we should be very pleased for him..... and as to no part in the things he does.... yeah, true.... but really the whole world is his influences..... so although we have no credit in what he does... we all for sure influence what he does....ain't the english language a bitch.....all those little ins and outs.....

Thanks for that hanns. Need anything more be said?

Not at all, it's quite a pleasant day really. All I'm saying is that people are pleased for themselves each time Bob gets an award.

I do think the Literature Price is pretty relevant. About half of the last ten laureates were already quite well known and popular authors. And out of them, I think Orhan Pamuk is one of the most relevant authors in our times. On the other side, I think they're quite good at alternating between celebrating acclaimed authors and bringing out less well known ones, whose work deserve to be read.

The only real issue I have with the Nobel Price for Literature is that they gave it to Bjørnstjerne Bjørson instead of Henrik Ibsen. A horrible, horrible mistake, that will only prove to be more grotesque as the years go by.

However, I hope that there will be more Asian and African laureates in the near future.

You never know, but I don't think they'll ever give it to Dylan. If that should happen, it would have to be for his entire body of work as a whole. I think it would be flat out wrong to give him the prize on the basis of "Tempest" alone.

He should release a book with the lyrics of his best songs. That would give him the nobel price.

There's an open group on facebook. Some of you might want to join.
http://www.facebook.com/groups/BobDylanNobelPrize/

I agree that the Peace Price has fallen (although last year was an improvement), but I don't think this has spilled over to the other Prizes. It's hard for me to say this, but the Swedes still know what they are doing, whereas us Norwegians really don't.

The committee generally looks for complete unknowns... and Bob isn't.

I don't think he should get it, not because he doesn't deserve it but because there are probably lesser known writers out there who deserve it more. I'm not well enough read to state definitively who should get it, maybe we should ask oldfan?

Who would want to select what his best songs or writings are? Himself? The songs are there already if they want to give him a prize, even if the official book of lyrics is not up-to-date anymore. Maybe someone could gather some of his other writings instead, his program and liner notes and poems - there are some very good things.

The lyrics are already out there, in other peoples books...

Yes, himself.
I don't think they give it for an entire body of work. I think it's for one selected opus.
He must also have tones of papers full of unreleased jewels...

It doesn't seem to have anything to do with one opus?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Prize_in_Literature

However, putting out a book of the best of the best would mean he had to make a conscious attempt at getting the prize. It would seem like a calculated effort, even if it succeeded.

Yes, he must have countless papers lying around, and countless ones that he didn't even keep, like the foto-rhetoric.