Sorry, Nobel Committee. Bob Dylan is a Not Taking Your Calls Right Now.
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By Thea Glassman October 17, 2016
If Bob Dylan is at all excited about winning a Nobel prize in literature, he’s playing it very close to the vest.
The 75-year-old musician has yet to respond to phone calls from the Nobel Committee, nor has he RSVP-ed to the prize winner’s banquet in Stockholm, the Guardian reports.
“Right now we are doing nothing. I have called and sent emails to his closest collaborator and received very friendly replies. For now, that is certainly enough,” Sara Danius, the academy’s secretary, told state radio SR today.
Danius added that there will not be hurt feelings if he chooses to skip out.
“If he doesn’t want to come, he won’t come. It will be a big party in any case and the honour belongs to him,” she said.
While Dylan has yet to publicly discuss his award, the general internet community has eagerly jumped on board to express some, often baffled, opinions of their own.
this recent bob dylan news has prompted at least 20 high school english teachers to wonder why they ever quit their college band
— mitski (@mitskileaks) October 14, 2016
If they don’t give the Nobel to Kendrick in 2030 there will be trouble
— Hari Kunzru (@harikunzru) October 13, 2016
I’m sorry but this is total bullshit (spare me the hate emails) https://t.co/P2RfykTNom
— Reza Aslan (@rezaaslan) October 13, 2016
Woke up to he news that #bobdylan won the @NobelPrize in literature. Few writers have seen their work have a greater influence. Let’s party
— David Korins (@DavidKorins) October 13, 2016
Dylan is the first American to win the award in literature since 1993. He is the first musician to win the award since 1901.
To Leonard Cohen, his friend and fellow songwriter, the honor is actually pretty unsurprising.
“I will comment on his receiving the Nobel Prize, which to me is like pinning a medal on Mount Everest for being the highest mountain,” he said.
Thea Glassman is an Associate Editor at the Forward. Reach her at glassman@forward.com or on Twitter at @theakglassman.
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