BackBob Dylan wins literature Nobel and here’s what the pundits are saying
Bob Dylan winning the Nobel Literature Prize has surprised many
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New Delhi: Iconic American singer-musician-poet Bob Dylan has won the 2016 Nobel Prize in literature “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition." The 75-year-old Dylan was always considered a strong “outside candidate" for the prestigious award and until Thursday, as The Guardian notes, “his regular appearance in the betting odds was regarded as one of the longrunning jokes of the Nobels." Here’s a selection of the reactions worldwide to Dylan’s latest honour.
The New York Times’ Sewell Chan says, “The announcement, in Stockholm, came as something of a surprise. Although Mr. Dylan, 75, has been mentioned often as having an outside shot at the prize, his work does not fit into the traditional literary canons of novels, poetry and short stories that the prize has traditionally recognized." Chan refers to a 2013 Op-Ed essay in The New York Times arguing the case for Mr. Dylan’s getting the award. “His lyricism is exquisite; his concerns and subjects are demonstrably timeless; and few poets of any era have seen their work bear more influence."
Describing Dylan as “music’s own poet laureate", Jess Denham writes in The Independent, “Dylan’s career has spanned more than five decades, his poignant, powerful, fiery, heartbreaking and often witty way with words arguably sparking more admiration than his distinctive, gravelly drawl and proving that a skilful command of language really can change the world."
He further adds, “His influence still pervades genres from rock and pop to folk and soul, while his stunning lyrical ability remains the pinnacle, inspiring a host of singer-songwriters hoping to make some kind of impact of their own."
Also read: Why Bob Dylan deserves the Nobel Prize for literature
Describing Dylan as an informal historian of America’s troubles, BBC reports, “Much of his best-known work dates from the 1960s, when he became an informal historian of America’s troubles. Songs like Blowin’ in the Wind and The Times They are A-Changin’ became anthems of the anti-war and civil rights movements. His move away from traditional folk songwriting, paired with a controversial decision to “go electric" proved equally influential."
NPR’s Colin Dwyer writes, “The win comes as something of a shock. As usual, the Swedish Academy did not announce a shortlist of nominees — leaving the betting markets to their best guesses. And while Dylan has enjoyed perennial favor as an outside shot for the award, few expected that the musician would be the first to break the Americans’ long dry spell — not least because he made his career foremost on the stage, not the printed page."
Howl and Echoes , a popular blog post on music and art, writes, “An extremely influential and culturally significant figure throughout the 1960s, 1970s and beyond, his music has gone on to form one of the most important canonical catalogues in music history. It’s remarkable that a musician and poet, not an author, per se, has taken home this revered prize. Then again, Bob Dylan can easily be classified a poet first and musician second."
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