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Dylan's Nobel Nomination Sparks
Debate
By MATTIAS KAREN, Associated Press Writer
STOCKHOLM, Sweden - 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 — to be announced Thursday — tosses
out a familiar, but surprising, candidate: Bob Dylan.
HOLY SHIT! WHAT A FANTASTIC PUN!!
OH Mattias Karen! You wordsmith you! Wait, lemme try one! "The
answer my friend, is blowing in the winds...of STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN!"
LOL!
While many music critics
agree that Dylan is among the most profound songwriters in 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?
The answer, is no. I mean...maybe. Depending on how you listen to
it.
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."
Wait, the question is "tricky?" or the answer is
"tricky?" Speaking of which, what happened to that Ken Jennings guy?
Did he ever lose at Jeopardy? Anybody know?
"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 T.S. Eliot,
Lord Alfred Tennyson and John Keats.
But his greatest literary criticism, tentatively titled "DYLAN
RULEZ!!!" is due out in stores October 21st.
"But I think his is an art of
a mixed medium," Ricks said. "I think the question would not be
whether he deserves (the Nobel Prize) as an honor to his art. The
question would be whether his art can be described as literature."
Better yet, let's just give him the Nobel Prize for physics. I mean,
didn't Dylan also invent Double Metaphysiological Cephelohemotosis
Spray? I'm sorry, that was Julio Lugar Van Siezze!
It definitely can, said
Gordon Ball, an author and literature professor at the Virginia
Military Institute in Lexington, Va. — who has nominated Dylan every
year since 1996.
This is the same guy who's nominated Phish for the "Best Editing"
Academy Award since '79. Why do we
still give this guy a vote?!
"Poetry and music are
linked," Ball said. "And Dylan has helped strengthen that
relationship, like the troubadours of old."
"Poetry and music are linked," and
therefore Dylan should get a Nobel peace prize in literature. What?
What's not to get?! I mean, William Faulkner is "aight" if you're
into that whole "books is literature" crap.
The Nobel Prize in literature
is given out annually 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.
I'm still waiting for MC Hammer to get a nod. 2 Legit 2 Quit shook
up a generation.
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. The finalists, except for the
winner, are not revealed for 50 years.
Man, I can't WAIT to see who was nominated in the 1954 race this
year. I BET you it was that guy. Any takers?!
Speculation in the literary
world is that the 2004 winner will be a woman, something that has
not happened since 1996, when Polish poet Wislawa Szymborska was
honored.
And even she had a teste satchel.
Some names emerge time and
again, including Lebanese poet Ali Ahmad Said, also known as Adonis,
and several women, including Danish poet Inger Christensen,
novelists Margaret Atwood of Canada, Algerian Assia Djebar, American
Joyce Carol Oates and Britain's Doris Lessing.
More like Joyce Carol Oat...MEAL! Hahahaha, her stuff is soooo dry.
That's why that was a pun. Because oatmeal is dry also.
Ball said he first nominated
Dylan after the writer Allen Ginsberg urged him to do so. Ginsberg,
a Beat poet whose literary circle included Jack Kerouac and Neal
Cassady, nominated Dylan in 1996.
If Ginsberg jumped off a bridge, would you do that TOO, BALL?!
*Splashing sounds being heard from "Old Man's Bridge"*
"Dylan is a major American
bard and minstrel of the 20th century" who deserves the award for
his "mighty and universal powers," Ginsberg wrote in his nomination
letter, which Ball read to The Associated Press.
The sad thing is "bard" isn't even a word, it's a college. IN NEW
YORK no less. I rest my case...atop your face.
The literary value of Dylan's
texts are also supported by The Norton Introduction to Literature, a
textbook used in American high schools and universities, which
includes the lyrics to Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man."
The Norton Introduction to Literature is like a gateway prize to the
Nobel. Everybody knows that. Once he wins the Nobel, the only thing
left to do is melt it down, cut it with the Pulitzer, and
smoke it.
University of Virginia
professor Alison Booth, who co-edited the anthology, said she
doesn't "have any trouble at all considering (Dylan) for a literary
interpretation."
*Ripping a huge bong hit* "(Cough cough) No problem at all...you
want next?"
"Literature has historically
been defined very broadly," Booth said. "I don't think we're testing
some radical limits of literature by putting that in."
Booth said, referring to a pink frog she was holding, pointing to a
blender.
Still, most Nobel watchers
say it's unlikely the Swedish Academy — traditionally drawn to
novelists and poets who are often out of the mainstream — will
expand the scope of the prize to include songwriters.
Then again, most Nobel watchers also agree that Everybody Loves
Raymond is the funniest show on television. Which I for one,
whole-heartedly agree with. RAYMOND, YOU LOVEABLE FATHER! YOU'VE
DONE IT AGAIN!
In 1997, the prize went to
Italian playwright Dario Fo, whose works also need to be performed
to be fully appreciated, some say.
More like Dario FAUX! I mean what a phony THAT guy was, right?!
Ahahaha! Aah...ahaha. Ahh.
And when Winston Churchill
received it in 1953, for his historical and biographical writings,
the academy also cited his "brilliant oratory" skills.
Then the academy did a blowjob face. How effing rude. Though they
didn't call him the "vacuum" for nothing. Just check out this
carpet. STILLLL SPOTLESS!
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