Last week the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded , and as always, the list of favorites was very long, with Haruki Murakami holding a prominent position. However, almost everyone was certain, yet again, that the renowned and popular Japanese writer wouldn't win the prize. As we all know, he didn't, but then again, neither did any of the other writers on the shortlist.
Against all odds and quite unexpectedly, the Nobel Prize went to Bob Dylan , a brilliant musician, composer of some of the most popular lyrics in history, and a man who has filled stadiums, reaching millions of people across generations with his music. Unfortunately, he hasn't published a novel yet, and we fear he never will.
They'll forgive me, but Bob Dylan doesn't deserve a Nobel Prize in Literature
I've been thinking about it and pondering it for days, but with each passing moment, it becomes clearer to me that Bob Dylan doesn't deserve this 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature . It's not that I dislike the American musician or his music—quite the opposite, in fact, and I've even traveled hundreds of miles to see him perform—but I sincerely believe it's completely undeserved.
The Nobel Prizes are divided into different categories and surely we would not understand that they gave the Nobel Prize in Physics to Cristiano, for his legendary jumps that sometimes break some laws of physics. I know it is not similar to the award given to Bob Dylan, but as an exaggerated comparison it serves to see what I try to explain since last week to all who ask me about this topic.
I have a question for you that I've been asking myself these last few days: do you think that to honor or pay tribute to Dylan it was necessary to give him a Nobel Prize for Literature?
A cool musician who has never written a book
Perhaps I am a strange or different person, but these days I have only heard voices defending the award given to Bob Dylan, without stopping to think for a single moment that a Nobel Prize for Literature , the most desired prize for any writer and one that elevates them, has been awarded to a brilliant musician who has never written a book.
It is strange to me that no one has come out in defense of the writers, to claim for them a prize that belongs to them. I am also very surprised that no renowned writer and those who no longer need to earn the respect of anyone, has dared to criticize the Swedish Academy that is responsible for awarding the Nobel Prizes, because Bob Dylan does not have a single he criticizes, they give him an Award and he appreciates it, although this time we have not heard much from the American genius.
Bob Dylan before Haruki Murakami
I don't want to imagine how some of those many writers who have deserved to win a Nobel Prize in Literature for many years and many books must be feeling at home. Haruki Murakami , in my humble opinion, is one of them, and the Swedish Academy has long ignored him, preferring to give the award to a musician rather than one of the many brilliant writers who deserve it.
Honestly, the jury's reasons for awarding the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature to Bob Dylan seem insufficient to me, no matter how much I try to put them into perspective. Perhaps I would have understood better if they had created an honorary Nobel Prize or a Nobel Prize for Music to be awarded only this year if the intention was to pay tribute to Dylan.
So now what?
The perception some of us have of the Nobel Prize in Literature may have changed forever after Bob Dylan received it . Whoever wins next year, if a writer wins, will be the first to do so after Dylan. Furthermore, we wonder if we'll ever see more musicians receive a Nobel Prize, because whether we like it or not, there's no doubt that if the American musician deserves it, many others do too, thanks to what they've given us through their lyrics.
Now I sincerely believe that the Swedish Academy has gotten into a mess where it had no need to get involved and where it never should have gotten into. He has been lucky that yes, since the critical voices are very few, although I am convinced that with the passage of time they will be heard more. For now we have to wait for Bob Dylan to receive his award, which I am also very afraid that he will not like too much and is that a guy like him knows that he did not deserve this award, that it should have gone to a writer who signs one of the books on the table.
They will forgive me one more time, but I wish that now Bob Dylan would pick up the Nobel Prize in Literature and with his dark sunglasses and a lot of elegance reject it or give it to all the writers in the world who have a hard time to get to end of the month, and that every day they bet on putting letters together in search of a Nobel Prize in Literature that will elevate them forever. Unfortunately this will not happen and all or almost everyone will applaud to see a great musician receive a Nobel Prize for Literature.
Do you think Bob Dylan deserved to win a Nobel Prize in Literature, being one of the greatest musicians in history? Tell us your opinion in the comments section of this post, on our forum, or through our social media channels. We simply ask that you be honest and not join the general consensus that applauds the award given to the brilliant American musician.