MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Bob Dylan wins Nobel Prize for Literature

jswinden · 10-23-2016, 11:05 AM

In prehistoric times, the era of human existence before the invention of a written language, humans were an oral/aural species as far as communication goes. Before literacy, humans typically remembered important information by wrapping it in poetic lyrics and singing it to a catchy tune. Ever wonder why you can remember the lyrics to songs you haven't heard in 30 years but cannot remember the name of the new guy at work? Words that are presented with a beat and/or rhyme and then sung seem to stick in our minds much better than just hearing, "Blah, blah, blah." It was a great technique for passing along lengthy bits of information in an oral/aural culture. But once literacy comes along, the age of minstrels was superseded by written information. The oldest writing of a newly literate culture tends to be highly poetic. They seem to be writing in the style in which they sang their information. Over time the poetic writing turns more into prose as they realize that prose is better adapted for relaying more complex ideas.

We are now several thousands of years removed from the Tigris and Euphrates River valley where the ancient Sumerians wrote on cuneiform clay tablets. In the western world, we seldom confuse poetry written to be read from lyrics written to be sung. One could argue that song lyrics can be published and thus be read. However, song lyrics were written to be sung and not read. Does publishing a book of song lyrics make them into literature that was meant to be read? I don't think so. I really don't think that song lyrics are in the same classification as poetry that was written to be read. There are some very good song lyrics, no doubt. But I would never consider the music industry's lyrics to be on the same literary level as the libraries of poetry produced by the great poets.

Shakespeare is still quoted often today, centuries after he died. Ask the average Millennial to quote the lyrics to a Dylan song and you will likely here, "Who?" And Dylan is still alive and touring with his band! In my opinion the Swedish Nobel committee got it wrong, as they often do. Dylan is not a great poet, just a drugged out old hippie from the 1960s singing to mostly his generation. We Baby Boomers are getting old. In 30 years we will be little more than a memory and 1960s will be all but forgotten by the grandchildren of the Millennials. I bet they will still be quoting Shakespeare then, but Dylan, well not so much...

10-23-2016, 11:05 AM	#168
jswinden Nameless Being	In prehistoric times, the era of human existence before the invention of a written language, humans were an oral/aural species as far as communication goes. Before literacy, humans typically remembered important information by wrapping it in poetic lyrics and singing it to a catchy tune. Ever wonder why you can remember the lyrics to songs you haven't heard in 30 years but cannot remember the name of the new guy at work? Words that are presented with a beat and/or rhyme and then sung seem to stick in our minds much better than just hearing, "Blah, blah, blah." It was a great technique for passing along lengthy bits of information in an oral/aural culture. But once literacy comes along, the age of minstrels was superseded by written information. The oldest writing of a newly literate culture tends to be highly poetic. They seem to be writing in the style in which they sang their information. Over time the poetic writing turns more into prose as they realize that prose is better adapted for relaying more complex ideas. We are now several thousands of years removed from the Tigris and Euphrates River valley where the ancient Sumerians wrote on cuneiform clay tablets. In the western world, we seldom confuse poetry written to be read from lyrics written to be sung. One could argue that song lyrics can be published and thus be read. However, song lyrics were written to be sung and not read. Does publishing a book of song lyrics make them into literature that was meant to be read? I don't think so. I really don't think that song lyrics are in the same classification as poetry that was written to be read. There are some very good song lyrics, no doubt. But I would never consider the music industry's lyrics to be on the same literary level as the libraries of poetry produced by the great poets. Shakespeare is still quoted often today, centuries after he died. Ask the average Millennial to quote the lyrics to a Dylan song and you will likely here, "Who?" And Dylan is still alive and touring with his band! In my opinion the Swedish Nobel committee got it wrong, as they often do. Dylan is not a great poet, just a drugged out old hippie from the 1960s singing to mostly his generation. We Baby Boomers are getting old. In 30 years we will be little more than a memory and 1960s will be all but forgotten by the grandchildren of the Millennials. I bet they will still be quoting Shakespeare then, but Dylan, well not so much...