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Bob Dylan Nobel Speech

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 9:10 pm
by Robert Tulip
https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes ... cture.html

Listen to this. Dylan explains how Moby Dick, All Quiet on the Western Front and The Odyssey influenced his writing. He is totally brilliant.


Re: Bob Dylan Nobel Speech

Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2017 6:02 pm
by DWill
That was worth waiting for. Artists like Dylan are able to absorb what they read, to feel it in their bones, as he clearly did. I read his Chronicles, Vol. 1 several years back when it came out and have wondered when Vol. 2 will be arriving. The thing that most impressed me about the book is exactly what comes through in his Nobel speech: that he doesn't distinguish between low and high as far as culture goes, or even care much about about what we'd call the talent of the artist. Everything was grist for his mill and he liked everything, from Vic Damone to Tiny Tim (whom he roomed with) to Frank Sinatra. He also has the wisdom to know that in his originality, he isn't original.

Re: Bob Dylan Nobel Speech

Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2017 6:47 pm
by Robert Tulip
A quick look at some of Dylan's genius theft is at http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ ... s-20110511

In his Nobel Speech, Dylan's discussion of Moby Dick reminded me of When the Ship Comes In. All Quiet on the Western Front made me think of Masters of War, and It's Alright Ma. The Odyssey reminded me of Mr Tambourine Man.

For him to take these wonderful iconic influences and share their great depths with a popular audience through his Nobel speech is a really sublime thing that will ripple out through the world, showing the inspired thinking that caused the Swedes to give the highest literature prize to this mere songwriter.

Re: Bob Dylan Nobel Speech

Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 5:30 am
by DWill
I'm not sure which books I connect with particular songs. "Tangled Up in Blue" is my favorite Dylan song and seems Odyssey-like. Dylan seems to tell us that the artistic accomplishment of the writers was his greatest inspiration, so that he, too, wanted to infuse his songs with similar depth of allusion and timelessness. The Swedes were on the money. They have awarded poets the prize before, the last being Wislawa Szymborska in 1996, so to go with Dylan really wasn't such a departure. Dylan's a bard, and the bardic figure is the progenitor of literary poets.