In fact, as early as 1996, Gordon Ball officially nominated Bob Dylan for the Nobel Prize in Literature on behalf of the campaign committee. He read Allen Ginsberg’s letter of recommendation to the media: " Although he is best known as a musician, it would be a huge mistake to ignore his extraordinary literary achievements. In fact, music and poetry are connected, and Mr. Dylan's work is extremely important. We restored this vital connection."

Ten years later, in 2006, Bob Dylan was nominated again for the Nobel Prize in Literature for his memoir "Like a Rolling Stone." The Nobel Prize Committee’s evaluation of Bob Dylan at that time was: “He integrated the form of poetry and thoughts on social issues into music. His songs passionately expressed his views on civil rights, world peace, environmental protection and attention to other serious global issues."

Bob Dylan has also won multiple awards including Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy Awards. When it won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature in 2008, the jury praised it for its "profound impact on popular music and American culture, as well as the extraordinary poetic power in lyric creation."

On October 13, local time in Stockholm, Sweden, the Swedish Academy awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature to the 75-year-old American musician and poet Bob Dylan in recognition of his "in the great United States." A new poetic expression was created in the song tradition.” Although Bob Dylan has been active in the music circle for more than 30 years, the lyrics he wrote are considered to be "like a poem when read aloud". Allen Ginsberg, the American poetry geek, once commented that " The best poet."

There is an interview report with a judge that explains this issue. I will paste the report for you.

In response to these issues, a media email interviewed Nobel Prize judge Horace Engeldower and asked him to decrypt the selection of this Nobel Prize.

Engdauer served as the permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy for 10 years. He resigned from the position in 2009 due to overwork, but he is still a member of the five core groups of the Nobel Prize Committee for Literature one. In the selection process for the Nobel Prize in Literature, his reading taste and selection are crucial. In Engeldower's opinion, Bob Dylan created some of the greatest poetry of our time.

Lyrics should be regarded as part of literature

Reporter: Is it an easy decision to award this year’s Nobel Prize for Literature to Bob Dylan?

Engeldower: It's easy and it's difficult. It's easy to say because the vast majority of members of the Swedish Academy support this decision. It is difficult because every selection for the Nobel Prize in Literature requires a comprehensive and thorough research on the candidates, and this preparation process takes several years. There was no random element in this decision.

Reporter: This year’s awards results have caused a lot of controversy. Many people question whether Bob Dylan deserves to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, whether lyrics should be considered literature, and whether Bob Dylan's lyrics meet the standards of great poetry. What do you think about this?

Engdauer: No matter what choice the Swedish Academy makes, it will almost always be controversial. In almost every year of my 19 years on the Nobel Prize Committee for Literature, the results sparked controversy or, worse, raised questions about the political and aesthetic nature of the results. Such strife is part of the dynamic of the Nobel Prize. Obviously, since we award the award to Bob Dylan, it means that we believe that lyrics should be regarded as part of literature, and we believe that Bob Dylan's lyrics embody the highest level of poetic expression.

His songs have a powerful language power

Reporter: Sarah Danuel, the current permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, compares Bob Dylan’s songs to Homer and Salvador. Compared to Fo's work, is this view generally shared by other members of the Swedish Academy?

Engel Doyle: That's one of the many things we're talking about - the similarities between Bob Dylan's art and old poetry. Like Bob Dylan's songs, these ancient poems were sung or chanted. I would also personally refer to Ovid here, especially the works he wrote after his exile, as they have similarities to Dylan's later work.

Reporter: By awarding Bob Dylan the Nobel Prize in Literature, the Swedish Academy recognized him as a great poet.

In your opinion, what is the most outstanding poetic quality in Bob Dylan’s work?

Engel Doyle: Bob Dylan has a very unique and authoritative poetic voice that is both determined and ironic, selfless and self-reflective. From a thematic perspective, his texts contain both keen observations of daily life and flashes of "spiritual vision" imagery. His vocabulary is vast and has a wonderful hybridity. He's a master of rhyme, which allows him to dispense with explanation, unify songs even when there's no easily understood logic, and each line tries to outdo the one before it. This gives his songs a powerful linguistic dynamic, which is enhanced by his unique vocal pronunciation. As a result, he created some of the greatest poetry we have today.

Literature should include non-fiction works

Reporter: By recognizing Bob Dylan, is the Swedish Academy sending a signal that "we are trying to broaden the understanding of literature?" definition"?

Engeldower: The Nobel Prize is an independent award, not a tool for literary politics. But this year's awards do send a message. Broadening the definition of literature is a topic that the Nobel Prize Committee for Literature has been discussing for some time - not only expanding the concept of poetry to include music and poetry, but also literature should include non-fiction works, as long as these works are in form and The creation has a literary quality.

Reporter: Before Bob Dylan won the award, no one in the United States had won the Nobel Prize for Literature for 23 years. You once criticized American writers as "too isolated and narrow-minded." This assessment caused a lot of dissatisfaction in the American literary circle. Many people believed that this assessment was too "Eurocentric." Is awarding the Nobel Prize to Dylan this year an acknowledgment of the American literary tradition, perhaps broadly speaking?

Engel Doyle: My criticism is mainly directed at the American literary system, not American writers. My starting point is that I think foreign literature, especially non-English literature, is extremely marginalized in the consciousness of American critics, publishers—and, unfortunately, American readers. Giving this award to Bob Dylan should at least show that the Swedish Academy is not anti-American. And when we acknowledge the dominance of American songwriting through Bob Dylan, we take a broader perspective.