When it comes to the awarding of something so prestigious as the Nobel Prize for Literature, there is no better source of commentary and reaction than Twitter. Here are the hottest takes on the hottest award of the year:
BREAKING 2016 #NobelPrize in Literature to Bob Dylan “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition” pic.twitter.com/XYkeJKRfhv
— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 13, 2016
There was lots of speculation on who might win this year. Dylan was a longshot, to say the least. As one of the most comprehensive analyses of the field put it, “Bob Dylan 100 percent is not going to win. Stop saying Bob Dylan should win the Nobel Prize.”
But the answer my friend, came in from Sweden. The answer came in from Sweden:
Bob Dylan Wins Nobel Prize in Literature (No, This Headline Is Not a Joke) https://t.co/xn5eQWUlxo pic.twitter.com/Tw0HUdBCWR
— Electric Literature (@ElectricLit) October 13, 2016
Dylan was recognized for “new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.”
Some speculated on other contenders:
https://twitter.com/michelledean/status/786526239754379265
*throws bob dylan records out window of small yet functional tokyo apartment. opens small bottle of beer*
it's fine. i'm fine.— Murakami Protagonist (@Murakami_Tweets) October 13, 2016
Springsteen is next.
— Matt Bucher (@mattbucher) October 13, 2016
Nobel Laureate Garth Brooks? Now that just sounds nice.
— Adam Maid (@adammaid) October 13, 2016
And Literature Twitter was up in arms:
It's like the Nobel committee looked at how stupidly insane 2016 has been and thought "We have to do our part!"
— Lincoln Michel (@TheLincoln) October 13, 2016
I didn't know there was a Nobel Prize for Making Three-Minute Songs Last Nine Minutes but here we are.
— Matt Frost (@mattfrost) October 13, 2016
I totally get the Nobel committee. Reading books is hard.
— Gary Shteyngart (@Shteyngart) October 13, 2016
It's almost as if awards are arbitrary.
— Isaac Fitzgerald (@IsaacFitzgerald) October 13, 2016
This feels like the lamest Nobel win since they gave it to Obama for not being Bush
— Hari Kunzru (@harikunzru) October 13, 2016
359 Dylan songs but none are about the boys being back in town
— Robert Wheel LLC (@BobbyBigWheel) October 13, 2016
Still processing Bob Dylan winning Nobel Prize in Literature. So many deserving novelists…. https://t.co/QuplHY4Fhl
— Pamela Paul (@PamelaPaulNYT) October 13, 2016
But others were okay with the choice:
From Orpheus to Faiz,song & poetry have been closely linked. Dylan is the brilliant inheritor of the bardic tradition.Great choice. #Nobel
— Salman Rushdie (@SalmanRushdie) October 13, 2016
Dylan's Nobel prize is a mighty thing, considering the fact that traveling songwriters were once treated like court jesters. A fine day.
— Jason Isbell (@JasonIsbell) October 13, 2016
Now this is singularly cool: https://t.co/6cU1Z9C6SC
— Erik Larson (@exlarson) October 13, 2016
Possibly the best defense of the win was made by just posting Dylan lyrics:
— Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) October 13, 2016
By now, Twitter is filled up with things about Trump. But if you want to catch up with the winner in real life:
On Saturday, October 22, Nobel Laureate in Literature Bob Dylan will play at the Chickasaw Nation's WinStar Casino in Thackerville, OK.
— Brian Ted Jones (@briantedjones) October 13, 2016
Congratulations Dylan!
-Michael Moats