good evening the award of the Nobel Prize for Literature to Bob Dylan caused
Prize for Literature to Bob Dylan caused
Prize for Literature to Bob Dylan caused considerable controversy and debate what
considerable controversy and debate what
considerable controversy and debate what Dylan accept the award should he have
Dylan accept the award should he have
Dylan accept the award should he have been in the first instance we know now
been in the first instance we know now
been in the first instance we know now [Music]
[Music]
[Music] he will accept the award after his own
he will accept the award after his own
he will accept the award after his own fashion the second and more interesting
fashion the second and more interesting
fashion the second and more interesting question remains open that debate about
question remains open that debate about
question remains open that debate about Dylan and the noble is not the principal
Dylan and the noble is not the principal
Dylan and the noble is not the principal topic of my talk this evening but it
topic of my talk this evening but it
topic of my talk this evening but it does provide us with a good beginning it
does provide us with a good beginning it
does provide us with a good beginning it has been said that Dylan is not a good
has been said that Dylan is not a good
has been said that Dylan is not a good enough writer to win the Nobel Prize
enough writer to win the Nobel Prize
enough writer to win the Nobel Prize that there are other many other better
that there are other many other better
that there are other many other better writers more deserving writers who
writers more deserving writers who
writers more deserving writers who should have been given the award and
should have been given the award and
should have been given the award and such value judgments are notoriously
such value judgments are notoriously
such value judgments are notoriously difficult to prove or disprove but I
difficult to prove or disprove but I
difficult to prove or disprove but I think it can be said demonstrably that
think it can be said demonstrably that
think it can be said demonstrably that Dylan even if he is not the great writer
Dylan even if he is not the great writer
Dylan even if he is not the great writer that some of his some people think he is
that some of his some people think he is
that some of his some people think he is is a very good writer and he’s certainly
is a very good writer and he’s certainly
is a very good writer and he’s certainly a better writer than many previous Nobel
a better writer than many previous Nobel
a better writer than many previous Nobel laureates others have said that awarding
laureates others have said that awarding
laureates others have said that awarding the Nobel Prize to Dylan was a sort of
the Nobel Prize to Dylan was a sort of
the Nobel Prize to Dylan was a sort of category error even a failure of decorum
category error even a failure of decorum
category error even a failure of decorum the Dylan is not a real writer that he
the Dylan is not a real writer that he
the Dylan is not a real writer that he is a songwriter a rock star and so
is a songwriter a rock star and so
is a songwriter a rock star and so somebody who does not belong in the
somebody who does not belong in the
somebody who does not belong in the domain of high culture
domain of high culture
domain of high culture in those and those upper slopes of mount
in those and those upper slopes of mount
in those and those upper slopes of mount parnassus home of the muses and those
parnassus home of the muses and those
parnassus home of the muses and those that the muses have favored um I can
that the muses have favored um I can
that the muses have favored um I can respect these arguments of some of them
respect these arguments of some of them
respect these arguments of some of them at any rate but ultimately I would
at any rate but ultimately I would
at any rate but ultimately I would reject them for me the decision to award
reject them for me the decision to award
reject them for me the decision to award Dylan the Nobel Prize was an appropriate
insightful and courageous one on the
insightful and courageous one on the part of the Swedish committee it is I
part of the Swedish committee it is I
part of the Swedish committee it is I think good for literature it’s good for
think good for literature it’s good for
think good for literature it’s good for the Nobel Prize and it’s good for it’s
the Nobel Prize and it’s good for it’s
the Nobel Prize and it’s good for it’s positive for literary study here in
positive for literary study here in
positive for literary study here in Portugal and elsewhere and I say this to
Portugal and elsewhere and I say this to
Portugal and elsewhere and I say this to you not a somebody who has been an
you not a somebody who has been an
you not a somebody who has been an admirer of delle Erbe Dylan a fan if you
admirer of delle Erbe Dylan a fan if you
admirer of delle Erbe Dylan a fan if you wish from the 1960s although that is the
wish from the 1960s although that is the
wish from the 1960s although that is the case but also as somebody who has been
case but also as somebody who has been
case but also as somebody who has been over many years by turns a student a
over many years by turns a student a
over many years by turns a student a scholar a teacher and a critic of
scholar a teacher and a critic of
scholar a teacher and a critic of literature as a veritable literary
literature as a veritable literary
literature as a veritable literary studies insider I think that that that
studies insider I think that that that
studies insider I think that that that that is important that that we we have
that is important that that we we have
that is important that that we we have to appreciate the Dylan is the one we
to appreciate the Dylan is the one we
to appreciate the Dylan is the one we are view of Dylan is here the view on
are view of Dylan is here the view on
are view of Dylan is here the view on point forward is precisely that the view
point forward is precisely that the view
point forward is precisely that the view of an insider that Dylan I 30 if the
of an insider that Dylan I 30 if the
of an insider that Dylan I 30 if the award I think is good for literary
award I think is good for literary
award I think is good for literary studies because it allows us to open up
studies because it allows us to open up
studies because it allows us to open up to go forward to go if you like higher I
to go forward to go if you like higher I
to go forward to go if you like higher I am
am
am ah that dylan’s deal I’m sorry I try and
ah that dylan’s deal I’m sorry I try and
ah that dylan’s deal I’m sorry I try and start that again that the award Dylan’s
start that again that the award Dylan’s
start that again that the award Dylan’s the award to Dylan is that text has gone
the award to Dylan is that text has gone
the award to Dylan is that text has gone out of my head they are the award has
out of my head they are the award has
out of my head they are the award has been one I think that as as I say has
been one I think that as as I say has
been one I think that as as I say has provoked controversy but foot for some
provoked controversy but foot for some
provoked controversy but foot for some people see it as the end of literary
people see it as the end of literary
people see it as the end of literary studies but i think i would i would see
studies but i think i would i would see
studies but i think i would i would see it almost as a new beginning are
it almost as a new beginning are
it almost as a new beginning are offering the prospect of a new beginning
offering the prospect of a new beginning
offering the prospect of a new beginning i have been involved in literary studies
i have been involved in literary studies
i have been involved in literary studies for as i say for for nearly 50 years i
for as i say for for nearly 50 years i
for as i say for for nearly 50 years i believe in literature I am I believe in
believe in literature I am I believe in
believe in literature I am I believe in literary values and I would it’s it’s
literary values and I would it’s it’s
literary values and I would it’s it’s really on that basis that I would like
really on that basis that I would like
really on that basis that I would like to see that I’m happy to see Bob Dylan
to see that I’m happy to see Bob Dylan
to see that I’m happy to see Bob Dylan get the word and for me and many of the
get the word and for me and many of the
get the word and for me and many of the criticisms that have been put forward
criticisms that have been put forward
criticisms that have been put forward above done enough that they the problem
above done enough that they the problem
above done enough that they the problem is with them is not so much that they
is with them is not so much that they
is with them is not so much that they are wrong but that they are beside the
are wrong but that they are beside the
are wrong but that they are beside the point the nobel prize for literature is
point the nobel prize for literature is
point the nobel prize for literature is not the literary equivalent of an
not the literary equivalent of an
not the literary equivalent of an Olympic gold medal or one of those
Olympic gold medal or one of those
Olympic gold medal or one of those oscars that argue awarded for a
oscars that argue awarded for a
oscars that argue awarded for a distinguished service to the industry
distinguished service to the industry
distinguished service to the industry rather what it is is something that I
rather what it is is something that I
rather what it is is something that I think it’s a prize for literature a
think it’s a prize for literature a
think it’s a prize for literature a prize that stimulates widens and deepens
prize that stimulates widens and deepens
prize that stimulates widens and deepens our conversation about literature it is
our conversation about literature it is
our conversation about literature it is it is the individual awarded is only
it is the individual awarded is only
it is the individual awarded is only really the occasion of the award it is
really the occasion of the award it is
really the occasion of the award it is if it were not that it would be
if it were not that it would be
if it were not that it would be difficult
difficult
difficult think to take seriously and given this
think to take seriously and given this
think to take seriously and given this Bob Dylan controversial challenging
Bob Dylan controversial challenging
Bob Dylan controversial challenging transgressive is um I think an eminently
transgressive is um I think an eminently
transgressive is um I think an eminently appropriate an amulet Lee proper person
appropriate an amulet Lee proper person
appropriate an amulet Lee proper person to receive that award um as I’ve said my
to receive that award um as I’ve said my
to receive that award um as I’ve said my involvement with literally studies goes
involvement with literally studies goes
involvement with literally studies goes back a very long way I am somebody who I
back a very long way I am somebody who I
back a very long way I am somebody who I would I would regard myself as something
would I would regard myself as something
would I would regard myself as something of a traditionalist as I say I believe
of a traditionalist as I say I believe
of a traditionalist as I say I believe in literature I believe in the
in literature I believe in the
in literature I believe in the centrality of literature to education
centrality of literature to education
centrality of literature to education and beyond that I believe in literary
and beyond that I believe in literary
and beyond that I believe in literary values that is to say I believe that
values that is to say I believe that
values that is to say I believe that literature is a thing in its own right
literature is a thing in its own right
literature is a thing in its own right having as Aristotle insisted they have
having as Aristotle insisted they have
having as Aristotle insisted they have its own standards of correctness
its own standards of correctness
its own standards of correctness standards which are not the same as
standards which are not the same as
standards which are not the same as those which apply in other arts or in
those which apply in other arts or in
those which apply in other arts or in other areas of human activity I also
other areas of human activity I also
other areas of human activity I also believe that literature is a that that
believe that literature is a that that
believe that literature is a that that some books are better than others that
some books are better than others that
some books are better than others that some literature is better more valuable
some literature is better more valuable
some literature is better more valuable more useful than others Datak Dillon is
more useful than others Datak Dillon is
more useful than others Datak Dillon is part of that although I believe those
part of that although I believe those
part of that although I believe those things I also recognize that if literary
things I also recognize that if literary
things I also recognize that if literary studies is to continue and I very much
studies is to continue and I very much
studies is to continue and I very much hope it does it must change we cannot
hope it does it must change we cannot
hope it does it must change we cannot continue at always doing the same thing
continue at always doing the same thing
continue at always doing the same thing we cannot become the curators and
we cannot become the curators and
we cannot become the curators and custodians of a fraction of canonical
custodians of a fraction of canonical
custodians of a fraction of canonical works are believing jealously guarding
works are believing jealously guarding
works are believing jealously guarding access to those upper slopes of mount
access to those upper slopes of mount
access to those upper slopes of mount parnassus if we do that we become like
parnassus if we do that we become like
parnassus if we do that we become like the figures Dante describes in the de
the figures Dante describes in the de
the figures Dante describes in the de vulgari eloquentia we will
vulgari eloquentia we will
vulgari eloquentia we will walking the streets like the blind
walking the streets like the blind
walking the streets like the blind seeing behind us what is in fact ahead
seeing behind us what is in fact ahead
seeing behind us what is in fact ahead of us maybe the question we should be
of us maybe the question we should be
of us maybe the question we should be asking is not who comes in who stays out
asking is not who comes in who stays out
asking is not who comes in who stays out who is permitted who is not but Chris
who is permitted who is not but Chris
who is permitted who is not but Chris custodiet Ipsos custodes who guards the
custodiet Ipsos custodes who guards the
custodiet Ipsos custodes who guards the Guardians I think we have to have that
Guardians I think we have to have that
Guardians I think we have to have that degree of self-consciousness about this
degree of self-consciousness about this
degree of self-consciousness about this if you like and Dante Dante is the
if you like and Dante Dante is the
if you like and Dante Dante is the bulgari eloquentia which are just
bulgari eloquentia which are just
bulgari eloquentia which are just referenced is a work that came at a time
referenced is a work that came at a time
referenced is a work that came at a time when a major paradigm shift a paradigm
when a major paradigm shift a paradigm
when a major paradigm shift a paradigm shift that produced the vernacular
shift that produced the vernacular
shift that produced the vernacular literature and the culture of the
literature and the culture of the
literature and the culture of the vernacular literary culture our
vernacular literary culture our
vernacular literary culture our literature our culture the shift that
literature our culture the shift that
literature our culture the shift that were looking at is not I think of the
were looking at is not I think of the
were looking at is not I think of the same order of magnitude but for sure the
same order of magnitude but for sure the
same order of magnitude but for sure the times they are a-changin and I think
times they are a-changin and I think
times they are a-changin and I think this is a positive and an exciting
this is a positive and an exciting
this is a positive and an exciting prospect literary studies in the 21st
prospect literary studies in the 21st
prospect literary studies in the 21st century must change with them we must be
century must change with them we must be
century must change with them we must be more open more less exclusive we must be
more open more less exclusive we must be
more open more less exclusive we must be prepared to allow many things in her
prepared to allow many things in her
prepared to allow many things in her previously perhaps been excluded we we
previously perhaps been excluded we we
previously perhaps been excluded we we must learn the perhaps to recognize that
must learn the perhaps to recognize that
must learn the perhaps to recognize that literature is no longer what we now what
literature is no longer what we now what
literature is no longer what we now what we used to think it was perhaps it was
we used to think it was perhaps it was
we used to think it was perhaps it was never what we used to think it was and
never what we used to think it was and
never what we used to think it was and and I think that we we go forward from
and I think that we we go forward from
and I think that we we go forward from there I’m not arguing for a move towards
there I’m not arguing for a move towards
there I’m not arguing for a move towards cultural studies and certainly not for a
cultural studies and certainly not for a
cultural studies and certainly not for a dumbing down I don’t teach Bob Dylan
dumbing down I don’t teach Bob Dylan
dumbing down I don’t teach Bob Dylan because he’s popular or because he’s
because he’s popular or because he’s
because he’s popular or because he’s easy in fact it’s very much to the
easy in fact it’s very much to the
easy in fact it’s very much to the country
country
country but the word highway is important in Bob
but the word highway is important in Bob
but the word highway is important in Bob Dylan’s work it’s a recurring motif or
Dylan’s work it’s a recurring motif or
Dylan’s work it’s a recurring motif or recurring theme it is an important item
recurring theme it is an important item
recurring theme it is an important item in the inventory of the furniture of his
in the inventory of the furniture of his
in the inventory of the furniture of his mind and it links Bob Dylan it grounds
mind and it links Bob Dylan it grounds
mind and it links Bob Dylan it grounds Dylan’s work in popular culture think of
Dylan’s work in popular culture think of
Dylan’s work in popular culture think of route 66 and in the quotidian life of
route 66 and in the quotidian life of
route 66 and in the quotidian life of the contemporary United States the
the contemporary United States the
the contemporary United States the highway is Karma’s coordinate with the
highway is Karma’s coordinate with the
highway is Karma’s coordinate with the street but Dylan’s highways are also
street but Dylan’s highways are also
street but Dylan’s highways are also high roads they lead to the height
high roads they lead to the height
high roads they lead to the height including to the heights of Parnassus
including to the heights of Parnassus
including to the heights of Parnassus and on occasion they allow for a fordyce
and on occasion they allow for a fordyce
and on occasion they allow for a fordyce transcendence will also need to remember
transcendence will also need to remember
transcendence will also need to remember that the old point in literary studies
that the old point in literary studies
that the old point in literary studies northrup price point that there can
northrup price point that there can
northrup price point that there can never bear is never any direct teaching
never bear is never any direct teaching
never bear is never any direct teaching or learning about literature literature
or learning about literature literature
or learning about literature literature is an objective knowledge not a
is an objective knowledge not a
is an objective knowledge not a subjective study what we teach is
subjective study what we teach is
subjective study what we teach is literary studies not William Shakespeare
literary studies not William Shakespeare
literary studies not William Shakespeare or TS Eliot or Bob Dylan and what I am
or TS Eliot or Bob Dylan and what I am
or TS Eliot or Bob Dylan and what I am arguing for is not really anything
arguing for is not really anything
arguing for is not really anything terribly you or shocking to some extent
terribly you or shocking to some extent
terribly you or shocking to some extent Dylan has been round in literary studies
Dylan has been round in literary studies
Dylan has been round in literary studies for a long time in 2004 Professor
for a long time in 2004 Professor
for a long time in 2004 Professor Richard Thomas a classicist the Harvard
Richard Thomas a classicist the Harvard
Richard Thomas a classicist the Harvard began teaching a seminar that but Dylan
began teaching a seminar that but Dylan
began teaching a seminar that but Dylan alongside homer and Virgil the eminent
alongside homer and Virgil the eminent
alongside homer and Virgil the eminent scholar critic professor Christopher
scholar critic professor Christopher
scholar critic professor Christopher rich Rick’s a longtime advocate of Dylan
rich Rick’s a longtime advocate of Dylan
rich Rick’s a longtime advocate of Dylan has produced a massive tome a massive
has produced a massive tome a massive
has produced a massive tome a massive scholarly tome called Bob Dylan’s
scholarly tome called Bob Dylan’s
scholarly tome called Bob Dylan’s visions of sins i could multiply
visions of sins i could multiply
visions of sins i could multiply examples but i’m going to move towards
examples but i’m going to move towards
examples but i’m going to move towards the end towards my conclusion with a by
the end towards my conclusion with a by
the end towards my conclusion with a by striking a personal note somebody asked
striking a personal note somebody asked
striking a personal note somebody asked me recently how when I first had Dylan’s
me recently how when I first had Dylan’s
me recently how when I first had Dylan’s songs in the 1960s as a teenager did I
songs in the 1960s as a teenager did I
songs in the 1960s as a teenager did I recognize
recognize
recognize his poetry but the answer is yes I did
his poetry but the answer is yes I did
his poetry but the answer is yes I did there were not like the other poetry on
there were not like the other poetry on
there were not like the other poetry on you or the other poetry I encountered
you or the other poetry I encountered
you or the other poetry I encountered but I did recognize them as poetry and
but I did recognize them as poetry and
but I did recognize them as poetry and this was I think particularly true of
this was I think particularly true of
this was I think particularly true of the that’s by the way Dylan’s one of
the that’s by the way Dylan’s one of
the that’s by the way Dylan’s one of dylan’s paintings from an exhibition
dylan’s paintings from an exhibition
dylan’s paintings from an exhibition high-waist Dylan’s highways that’s
high-waist Dylan’s highways that’s
high-waist Dylan’s highways that’s particularly true of the great songs
particularly true of the great songs
particularly true of the great songs that Dylan produced in 1965 1966 these
that Dylan produced in 1965 1966 these
that Dylan produced in 1965 1966 these albums bring it all back home highway 61
albums bring it all back home highway 61
albums bring it all back home highway 61 revisited blonde on blonde that would be
revisited blonde on blonde that would be
revisited blonde on blonde that would be my list of great Dylan songs you could
my list of great Dylan songs you could
my list of great Dylan songs you could make your own and the Irish literary
make your own and the Irish literary
make your own and the Irish literary critic Declan Teibert recalls that when
critic Declan Teibert recalls that when
critic Declan Teibert recalls that when he first heard these songs they sounded
he first heard these songs they sounded
he first heard these songs they sounded like a something coming in a message
like a something coming in a message
like a something coming in a message from another planet and I know exactly
from another planet and I know exactly
from another planet and I know exactly what he means I’d never heard anything
what he means I’d never heard anything
what he means I’d never heard anything like them before I don’t think I’ve ever
like them before I don’t think I’ve ever
like them before I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything like them since and that
heard anything like them since and that
heard anything like them since and that nor were they anything or were they very
nor were they anything or were they very
nor were they anything or were they very much like the poetry I knew but actually
much like the poetry I knew but actually
much like the poetry I knew but actually in a strange way I again to recognize
in a strange way I again to recognize
in a strange way I again to recognize that they did demand the same form and
that they did demand the same form and
that they did demand the same form and quality of attention that will have to
quality of attention that will have to
quality of attention that will have to be given to school poetry to Virgil and
be given to school poetry to Virgil and
be given to school poetry to Virgil and Shakespeare that attention was paid not
Shakespeare that attention was paid not
Shakespeare that attention was paid not in classrooms but listening to records
in classrooms but listening to records
in classrooms but listening to records with my friends in the front room of my
with my friends in the front room of my
with my friends in the front room of my mother’s house smoking a surreptitious
mother’s house smoking a surreptitious
mother’s house smoking a surreptitious cigarette drinking coffee and trying to
cigarette drinking coffee and trying to
cigarette drinking coffee and trying to work out what the hell these things were
work out what the hell these things were
work out what the hell these things were about later there were endless rambling
about later there were endless rambling
about later there were endless rambling debates in student bedsits and bars Bob
debates in student bedsits and bars Bob
debates in student bedsits and bars Bob Dylan taught me to read and not just to
Dylan taught me to read and not just to
Dylan taught me to read and not just to read Bob Dylan the need the urge to find
read Bob Dylan the need the urge to find
read Bob Dylan the need the urge to find a meaning in Bob Dylan sums put meaning
a meaning in Bob Dylan sums put meaning
a meaning in Bob Dylan sums put meaning into the world that is what literature
into the world that is what literature
into the world that is what literature can do
can do
can do that is sometimes what literary studies
that is sometimes what literary studies
that is sometimes what literary studies can do later I tried to pass this on to
can do later I tried to pass this on to
can do later I tried to pass this on to others that is what I do why do I do it
others that is what I do why do I do it
others that is what I do why do I do it well that’s not such an easy question
well that’s not such an easy question
well that’s not such an easy question Dylan Thomas the Welsh poet and some
Dylan Thomas the Welsh poet and some
Dylan Thomas the Welsh poet and some people say that the young Robert
people say that the young Robert
people say that the young Robert Zimmerman adopted the name Dylan as an
Zimmerman adopted the name Dylan as an
Zimmerman adopted the name Dylan as an act of homage to that poet Dylan Thomas
act of homage to that poet Dylan Thomas
act of homage to that poet Dylan Thomas wrote in the preface to his collected
wrote in the preface to his collected
wrote in the preface to his collected poems that he had he said he had heard
poems that he had he said he had heard
poems that he had he said he had heard of a shepherd who was asked why he in in
of a shepherd who was asked why he in in
of a shepherd who was asked why he in in furry sat in furry rings he made ritual
furry sat in furry rings he made ritual
furry sat in furry rings he made ritual observances to the moon to protect his
observances to the moon to protect his
observances to the moon to protect his flocks and the shepherd replied I’d be a
flocks and the shepherd replied I’d be a
flocks and the shepherd replied I’d be a damn fool if I didn’t I do what I do and
damn fool if I didn’t I do what I do and
damn fool if I didn’t I do what I do and I’d be a damn fool if I think
I’d be a damn fool if I think
I’d be a damn fool if I think [Applause]
”
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