The annual Nobel Prize Award Ceremony will be held tomorrow in Stockholm, Sweden. Like every 10th December, coinciding with Alfred Nobel’s death anniversary, the Swedish Academy presents the awards to the prize-winners. The ceremony takes place at the Stockholm Concert Hall, followed by a Nobel Banquet held at the Stockholm City Hall. The Nobel laureates get the chance to receive the prize from the King of Sweden. However, this year’s ceremony comes with an enormous controversy brought from the decision of the Academy to award Bob Dylan with the Nobel Literature Prize.
The 75-year-old American singer and songwriter was awarded with the Nobel Prize of Literature the 13th October this year, becoming the first musician in the history of the Awards to be given such prize. Dylan was named winner for “having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition”, explains the Academy. However, the decision has been a controversy itself since its announcement.
A debate with the characteristics of a melodramatic argument has resulted from the opinions of many critics and illustrious figures from the literary world positioning themselves for and against the distinction. Many authors in disagreement with the Swedish Academy’s choice argue that the election of Bob Dylan as the winner for the prize has reduced the integrity of the award. His works do not meet the requirements or artistic values expected in a poetic or narrative piece.
Well-bred famous figures have shared their concerns on social media platforms. Editor of The New York Time Book Review section, Pamela Paul tweeted: “Still processing Bob Dylan winning Nobel Prize in Literature. So many deserving novelists....” Because that is the main question, why electing Bob Dylan when having so many other authors awaiting to receive the prize? American author, Joan Picoult jokes about it saying: “I'm happy for Bob Dylan. #ButDoesThisMeanICanWinAGrammy?” Along the same lines, columnist for the Telegraph Tim Stanley complains under the headline “A world that gives Bob Dylan a Nobel Prize is a world that nominates Trump for president.” Appreciate the irony being now US elected-president.
Novelist Stephen King has also taken a place in this fight: “People complaining about his Nobel either don’t understand or it’s just a plain old case of sour grapes.” To increase the tension between both sides of the debate, King replies to literary author Gary Shteyngart’s complaints adding: “I’ve seen several literary writers who have turned their noses up at the Dylan thing, like Gary Shteyngart. Well, I’ve got news for you, Gary – There are a lot of deserving writers who have never gotten the Nobel prize. And Gary Shteyngart will probably be one of them.”
However, the controversy would not stop there. Bob Dylan has shown his disinterest for the award since the day he was given it. Firstly, it took the singer two weeks to reply to the Academy explaining that he was “speechless” about it. The nomination was announced on his official website as “winner of the Nobel prize in literature” – announcement that was removed the next day after being labelled “arrogant” by members of the Nobel Academy for his inappropriate silence. And secondly, he confesses to the organization not being able to attend to the ceremony to be held tomorrow due to “other [unknown] commitments”, nothing related to a concert or performance corresponding to his tour agenda.
What were the Academy’s aims behind the election of Bob Dylan as the winner for the award this year? They seem unclear but have definitely made people have a say and have gained spectators awaiting to stream the ceremony tomorrow.
댓글