The Internet proved predictably opinionated upon learning that Bob Dylan had been chosen as the 2016 laureate of the Nobel Prize in Literature. While some involved in the literary world praised the pick for being inclusive of the oral tradition in literature, others felt that to award the prize to a musician who has only a cursory career as an author of books was a slight to the American literary community, and that the much-deserved attention paid to a Nobel laureate could have been better served elsewhere. Others still expressed their concern for Philip Roth.
Here are some of the reactions from the Twittersphere:
— Vodka Turnip (@QueenMobs) October 13, 2016What a good 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
Asked about Nobel for Dylan: inspired & original choice. his haunting music & lyrics have always seemed, in the deepest sense, "literary."
— Joyce Carol Oates (@JoyceCarolOates) October 13, 2016
What a weird choice.Folks: Songwriting is writing, and Bob Dylan is one of the most influential writers in the last 100 years. It's a defensible Nobel pick.
— John Scalzi (@scalzi) 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
There is something very "Nobel Committee as high school teacher trying to be cool" about the choice but whatever
— Brandy Jensen (@BrandyLJensen) October 13, 2016
The Swedes are evil geniuses. Well Actually Twitter gonna be on and popping as soon as everyone finds their reading glasses.
— Saeed Jones (@theferocity) October 13, 2016
What a frustrating choice.You know what really needs to be celebrated more in our culture? Massively popular music!
— Lich King 💀 Michel (@TheLincoln) October 13, 2016
I totally get the Nobel committee. Reading books is hard.
— Gary Shteyngart (@Shteyngart) October 13, 2016
Gonna spend the day listening to Stevie Nicks and Joni Mitchell just to be a contrary asshole
— Emily Hughes 🍂✨🕯 (@emilyhughes) October 13, 2016
Poor Philip Roth.Dylan’s lyrics wonderful, but he’s famous. I’d rather have seen boost for Archipelago New Directons Melville House Dalkey Europa NYRB 5/n
— Hari Kunzru (@harikunzru) October 13, 2016
Never thought I'd say this but I feel kinda bad for Philip Roth.
— Maris Kreizman (@mariskreizman) October 13, 2016
[Philip Roth, smacking head]: It's ZUCKERMAN, not ZIMMERMAN.
— Jennifer Senior (@JenSeniorNY) October 13, 2016
Do we really need a Swedish committee to tell us how magnificent our artists Joyce Carol Oates and Philip Roth are?
— Dan Therriault (@dantherriault) October 13, 2016
