Matt G Kushner wrote:
>
>Writing is a unique medium.  Would you give a "van Gogh Award to a
>photographer?  Does anyone know if Pryor even wrote his own material?
>This smacks of politics.

1) I would give a van Gogh award to a photographer, if the award were to
honor contributions in the visual arts. Would you want to seriously argue
that photographers are not visual artists? Remember, the Mark Twain Prize
honors American HUMOR, not just printed literature. You might consider
Twain ONLY a writer, but you would be slighting his contribution as a
standup comic and his acknowledged participation in and reliance on the
American oral tradition. Do you really think so little of Twain?

2) Who might have written Pryor's six gold albums? Who might have written
the best parts of _Blazing Saddles?_ How about _Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is
Calling?_ Who ELSE could have written his discourse on visiting Africa? Who
ELSE could have created the character of Mudbone? Have any ideas? If you
have any information that someone ghosted for Pryor, that would be a major
revelation. Pryor wrote much for other people, and influenced a whole
generation of actors, comics and writers. But this is the first time I have
heard anyone suggest that he did not write his own material. The consensus
among those who actually do the work on humor is that Pryor is one of the
most influential humorist of the late 20th century. He's not the only
influential one, and Vonnegut will certainly get his accolades (and already
has). This is an annual award for American humor, and it's about time Pryor
and humor got the respect they deserve. It will last a long time and many
great humorists will be so honored. So chill.

3) Define "politics" please.

Siva

Siva Vaidhyanathan
History Department
Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT 06459
(860) 685-2996