The Nobel Prize is Now Far from Noble by Charles Taylor

I recall a John Lennon song “Isolation”, which contained a long litany of things that he did not believe in: “I don’t believe in…” Included in the “false gods” were the “Beatles” and “Zimmerman” – Bob Dylan’s real surname, a Jewish name. I also recall Lennon being quizzed in an interview about why he used the name “Zimmerman” and he snapped back “Because that’s his name.” He no doubt thought that even Dylan needed deconstruction.

Dylan does not deserve the Nobel Prize in literature. There is controversy enough about the quality of his music: the adequacy of the vocals, his croaking and voice only the fan boys could love. Dylan and the Beatles represented the progressive Left values of the 1960s, but by today’s standards their sentiments are badly dated.
By the standards of even contemporary writers, let alone the greats of Western civilisation, Dylan’s lyrics treated as poetry are nothing but average. The music carried the lyrics, but remove the music and one is left with little.

Finally, as Dylan himself sung, “the times they are a-changing”. He represented, along with the Beatles, one part of the 1960s revolt against Western civilisation. They both helped create a culture which in terms of popular music is now seen in the chaos of MTV. Hopefully though there is now the beginnings of a revolt against this progressive Left world view.
As for the Nobel Prize – well, it lost all credibility when the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to President Obama shortly after taking office, for no other reason that I can see beyond being non-white.