The Birdcage Archives

Friday, 31 March 2017

Bob Dylan [Finally] Collects His Nobel Prize

Hello Gentle Reader

It were to appear the shadow of Bob Dylan, is all but through in haunting me in the news. Since the announcement on October 13th, which stated Bob Dylan would be the Nobel Laureate in Literature for two-thousand and sixteen; Bob Dylan has been near to my thoughts— but not in a pleasing manner. First and foremost, I took to the blog, drafting a statement of viewpoints, in which I outlaid my complete disgust that (and I quote myself) a: “Singer,” a “Musician,” a “pop icon,”— would be chosen as the honored individual to receive the most prestigious literary prize in the world. Admittedly, I hissed and pissed at the announcement, and staked out my position on the matter, where in found Bob Dylan’s Nobel to be deplorable, abhorrent, unacceptable, disgraceful, and destructive to all future Nobel Laureates, and insulting to all prior laureates who had received the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Time does, however, calm one down. After seeing Patti Smith perform, one of Bob Dylan’s songs and falter slightly, I was struck with some empathy (more for Patti Smith), and have slowly learned to allow Dylan to slip from my mind; and his mistaken award has retreated along with him. I’ve learned to tolerate Bob Dylan, much like one tolerates a elusive pebble in their shoe. Now though, the Dylan Saga continues: from Nobel Nod, to Silence, to Snub, to Performance—it will now finally reach its final conclusion.

During the entire Bob Dylan saga criticism and controversy flew like a murder of crows. It first started with Bob Dylan receiving the Nobel nod; then came the criticism from a member of the Swedish Academy, who called Bob Dylan’s cold shoulder with regards to the announcement arrogant and rude; after which Bob Dylan broke his silence, but informed the Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy: Sara Danius, that he would not be able to attend the Nobel ceremony, due to prior engagements. Now though Gentle Reader, the Bob Dylan catastrophe is coming to its final and overdue conclusion.

Bob Dylan will be meeting with the Swedish Academy this weekend, in a intimate and small setting—with no media presence; where he will receive his Nobel Diploma and Nobel medal, as well as receive warm congratulations from the members of the Swedish Academy (in attendance) on receiving the prize.

In a blog post outlying this weekend’s events; Sara Danius also notes, there will be no Nobel Lecture to be delivered this weekend. It should be noted, it is a fine print aspect of the prize, in order to maintain the status, diploma and medal; Bob Dylan must present his Nobel lecture six months after the December 10th, or else the award is revoked. Danius did allude that a pre-recorded lecture will be submitted at a later date (and made it clear, this is not uncommon as both Elfiede Jelinek and Alice Munro had also sent pre-recorded lectures—though these lectures did take place on December 10th.)

Finally though Gentle Reader, it will end. The Bob Dylan catastrophe will end at long last, and the pebble will slide away in the shoe; out of sight and out of mind.

Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read

M. Mary

P.S. Gentle Reader, on her blog Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy Sara Danius, has uploaded two photos of herself wearing shirts designed to declare and support Bob Dylan and his Nobel nod. The shirts were designed by artist, Mu Wiesel. To see the photos, please see the following links provided:




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