Bob Dylan and his Nobel Prize for Literature

[LuvTim]

Does anyone want to comment on Bob Dylan being awarded the Nobel? Are we surprised? Annoyed? Validated?

[buffyfan145]

I'm totally fine with it. I always thought Bob's music was more like poetry he put to music. As a writer I understand other authors and people in the literary world being upset but to me songwriting is a form of writing especially if it is published and a book of Bob's songs are going to be released soon.

[LuvTim]

I was fine with it, too, and for the same reasons you have stated, b. I'm a little surprised that it has been questioned publicly.
I am not a writer, so perhaps this is why it never occurred to me to be upset about it or to question whether it was appropriate. I just thought that it recognized the poetic nature of his work.
But I'm interested to read anyone's thoughts on it.

[NightMistBlue]

I think he deserves it; he revolutionized lyric writing. I haven't heard any criticism but I imagine it to be "music isn't literature," it's a different art form, etc. I don't think there's any doubt that Mr. Dylan is a poet and poetry is literature so ... everything is kosher, far as I can tell.

[LuvTim]

I've seen some sites reporting that Mr. Dylan will not return the Nobel Committee's calls, and has not acknowledged the honor at all.
Interesting. And so Dylan-esque, I think.
(Dylanian?) Lol...

[NightMistBlue]

He's acknowleged it on his web site now: http://bobdylan.com/books/the-lyrics-1961-2012/