Go to contents

Mixed reactions to Bob Dylan’s Nobel Prize: elated and concerned

Mixed reactions to Bob Dylan’s Nobel Prize: elated and concerned

Posted October. 15, 2016 07:22,   

Updated October. 15, 2016 07:36

한국어
The debate over American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan Bob Dylan’s (75, photo) Novel Prize for literature has continued.

British Indian novelist Salman Rushdie tweeted, “Dylan is the brilliant inheritor of the bardic tradition. Great choice.” Popular horror and fantasy writer Stephen King tweeted, “I am ecstatic that Bob Dylan has won the Nobel. A great and good thing in a (presidential election) season of sleaze and sadness.”

Unlike Rushdie and King, some authors criticized the awarding of the Nobel Prize for literature to Bob Dylan. In his tweet, American author Jason Pinter said, “If Bob Dylan can win the Nobel Prize for literature than I think @StephenKing should get elected to the Rock N’ Roll hall of fame.” American author Jodi Picoult also made a comment using the hashtag “ButDoesThisMeanICanWinAGrammy?”

Mixed reactions to Bob Dylan’s winning Nobel Prize are also noticed here in Korea. “Bob Dylan’s Nobel Prize is a fresh shock to the puritanism in literature," said Baek Da-heum, editor of literary magazine Axt. "However, writers, who have been dedicating to create literary works, can feel somewhat betrayed."

Dylan's autography "Chronicles: Volume One" has received positive reactions. On Friday, a day after he won the Nobel prize for literature, 150 copies of his book were sold at the Kyobo Book Center and 120 copies at on-line book store YES 24. MunhakSegyesa, the publisher of the book, received 2,000 orders of the book for the same day.

On the contrary, his winning of the prize did not make a huge impact on album sales. “His album was sold 10 copies in the morning of Oct. 14. One to two copies were sold per month before his winning the prize,” said Kim Hye-yeong, assistant manager of Hot tracks Gwanghwamun store. Reactions of the music source download market are not even better. According to music download site Genie, "Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door" was the most played song of Bob Dylan after the prize announcement and ranked 655th in the top chart and "Like a Rolling Stone" was ranked 2,019th.

"Dylan's songs seemed to have little power of influence as there are huge gaps between his generation and teenagers and the twenties, main digital music consumers," music critic SeoJeong MinGap said. "His lyrics are difficult to be understood as well.



임희윤기자 imi@donga.com · 김지영기자 kimjy@donga.com