Analysis of Controversy Amongst American Nobel Laureates vs. Non-Americans
For over a century, writers have been recognized for extraordinary global contributions in literature. In the words of Alfred Nobel, the Nobel Prize in Literature is an award "in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction” (All Nobel Prizes in Literature). It is supposedly nationality-blind, meaning it is awarded based entirely on literature rather than political background. However, there has been prolonged controversy over the nationalities of the winners especially over American winners. In an article titled “Why Don’t More Americans Win the Nobel Prize?” Ian Crouch lays out the argument that many have against American Literature Laureates.
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With hits such as Main Street (1920), Babbit (1922), Dodsworth (1929) and more. Lewis was awarded "for his vigorous and graphic art of description and his ability to create, with wit and humour, new types of characters" (All Nobel Prizes in Literature). This award was significant because he paved the way for many more American Laureates to follow him. It looked to be recognition from the Swedish Academy and in turn the rest of the world that officially accepted American writers to be at the same level as other parts of the world. However, Lewis’s victory also sparked controversy amongst the global community. Many critics were unhappy with an American Laureate in Literature because the United States was the land of science and technology. Many people believe the “Americans hog the scientific awards” (Schwarz). Some were concerned by this because they believe that the Nobel Prize should be a global award with diverse winners from countries all over the world rather than a select few. This was the beginning of Nobel Prize controversy surrounding American winners. In his Nobel Lecture, “The American Fear of Literature,” Lewis acknowledged the criticisms against American writers but was hopeful for the future: “the Americans are no longer a puerile backwoods clan, so inferior that they are afraid of criticism, but instead a nation come of age” (All Nobel …show more content…
First, it took nearly 30 years before they selected an American to win the Prize, then it seemed Americans were winning more than any other nationality. Today, it has been 22 years since an American has won the Prize. American Literature must change before American authors will win Nobel Prizes again. The American formula of detailed, realistic fiction and the portrayal of the American lifestyle is outdated. Factors such as the international popularity of the American movie industry and the diversification of the American people have changed what Europeans and the Swedish Academy are looking for from American writers. They expect to see innovation. Recent Laureates have followed new patterns and styles, for example 2015 winner, Svetlana Alexievich, an investigative journalist, was the first the Nobel Prize has ever seen of a nonfiction writer. It proves that over time, the Prize and requirements evolve, and if certain writers do not evolve their writing style with the times, they will lose their
A Pulitzer Prize is an award for an achievement in American journalism, literature, or music. Paul Gigot, chairman of the Pulitzer Prize board, described the award as a “proud and robust tradition”. How does one carry on this robust tradition? By mastery of skilled writing technique, one can be considered for the awarding of this prize. Since its creation in 1917, 13 have been awarded annually, one of which, in 1939, was given to Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings for her novel, The Yearling. Rawlings is an American author from Florida known for writing rural themed novels. Consequently, The Yearling is about a boy living on a farm who adopts an orphaned fawn. Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings procured a prestigious Pulitzer Prize for her effectual use of figurative language, sensory details, and syntax.
American literature reflects society by displaying the positive and negative sides to our country’s history. Throughout the year we have been shown all sides of the story, not just one side. We understand the situation more if we take into account the other stories that nobody ever hears about. American Literature deals with the topics of identity/memory, conformity and rebellion, society and struggle, and war. By taking a look at the 9/11 pictures as well as the memorial statue, The Crucible,The Harlem Renaissance, The Great Gatsby, and The Things They Carried, it is easy to see that all aspects of American Literature directly reflect society in many ways.
On December 10, 1950, in Stockholm, Sweden, one of the greatest literary minds of the twentieth century, William Faulkner, presented his acceptance speech for the Nobel Prize. If one reads in between the lines of this acceptance speech, they can detect a certain message – more of a cry or plead – aimed directly to adolescent authors and writers, and that message is to be the voice of your own generation; write about things with true importance. This also means that authors should include heart, soul, spirit, and raw, truthful emotion into their writing. “Love and honor and pity and pride and compassion and sacrifice” (Faulkner) should all be frequently embraced – it is the duty of authors to do so. If these young and adolescent authors ignore this message and duty, the already endangered state of literature will continue to diminish until its unfortunate extinction.
W.E.B. Du Bois is a world-renowned American sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, and author whose life goal was to educate African Americans and whites about the realities of race by posing and answering the question, “How does it feel to be a problem?” On the other hand, William Faulkner is an American writer whose specialty in Southern and American literature won him a Nobel Prize laureate from Oxford. Faulkner’s Southern literature illustrated the difficulties of being behind a societal veil, with special attention to gender and racial issues. Both of these authors have attempted to tackle the difficult questions regarding race and addressed some ties between race and economics. Du Bois focuses on the black narrative and Faulkner
Rudd’s (2009) essay evaluates Enid Blyton’s work offering a different perspective to account for the appeal and popularity of the author. This essay looks at the aspects raised by Rudd. How Blyton, Pullman and Ransom illustrate the different aspects of a good or a bad book. The way critics confer prestige on a book or author and the arising criticism. How the agenda of the committees affects the selection of prize-winners. Finally, looking at the factors involved in success.
Perkins, Geroge, and Barbara Perkins. The American Tradition in Literature. 12th ed. Vol. 2. New York: McGraw Hill, 2009. Print
Reuben, Paul P. PAL: Perspectives in American Literature- A Research and Reference Guide. Chapter 10: James Baldwin (1924-1987). 3 November 2011. April 2012 .
In Babbit and Main Street Sinclair Lewis repeataly shows his reactions to the new feeling of the 1920's. These times fueled him into writing his two most well known books in which he shows his fustration of selfish, Capitalistic, mid-western America.
This exposition will demonstrate that graduating students in Ontario ought to just study Canadian literature in a Grade 12 English course. While great writers exist in all societies, Ontario students ought to just study Canadian authors. Since we have to get more acquainted with our writing. Three explanations behind this are; the need to concentrate on our own Canadian society regardless of being encompassed by different societies, the need to advertise and create our scholars, and the need to empower more youthful Canadian authors.
Perkins George, Barbara. The American Tradition in Literature, 12th ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2009. Print
In American literature there have been or still are many good writers. John Steinbeck is one of those whose name is still towards the top of the list of great American authors. Steinbeck grew up during some tough times, he lived through the Great Depression, The Dust Bowl and World War II. These events only made him a stronger writer because of the horrendous outcome they had on America.
“Welcome all! This is a glorious day, as we are beyond excited to have world-class writer Tristan Teichmeier here at the Pulitzer Prize Convention to read off his most recent work of brilliance, an essay on the impact of critical, creative, and independent thinking. Now, without further ado, we introduce to you Tristan Teichmeier.”
Yasunari Kawabata was the first Japanese person to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. His style combined elements of classic Japanese prose with modern psychological narrative and exploration of human sexuality. Deeply influenced by the culture of his homeland, his writings capture the vivid and melancholy beauty and spirituality of Japan, while his own experiences and studies contributed to his assay into emotion.
History, current events, and social events have really influenced American Literature. Authors have been influenced by the world around them and that has reflected in their works. This can be seen throughout the many eras studied in this class. It can also be seen in all types of literature such as playwrights, fiction, non-fiction, and poems. It can also be seen in all of the different writing styles such as, realism, modernism, and post modernism. It is important that American Literature has been influenced this way because Authors have shown us their personal views and insight to situations one would not get out of a history textbook.
Not many people can say they have won a huge award, except for this author who won a nobel prize for a novel he wrote himself. The Stranger, by Albert Camus, with the genre of philosophical fiction is a very important book. Being published in 1942 was very influential. This novel shows that the world is a devoid of all rational meaning. In 1957, Camus was given the Nobel Prize for Literature because of his “important literary production, which was clear-sighted earnestness illuminates the problems of the human conscience in our times,” stated by the Nobel Prize Committee. Showing the great author Camus is. This book does a great job of displaying the realities of violence to the audience and how intense things can actually get.