NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift has released her 11th studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department.”
But just how poetic is it? Is it even possible to close read lyrics like poems, divorced from their source material?
The Associated Press spoke to four experts to assess how Swift’s latest album stacks up to poetry.
Allison Adair, a professor who teaches poetry and other literary forms at Boston College, says yes.
“My personal opinion is that if someone writes poems and considers themself a poet, then they’re a poet,” she says. “And Swift has demonstrated that she takes it pretty seriously. She’s mentioned (Pablo) Neruda in her work before, she has an allusion to (William) Wordsworth, she cites Emily Dickinson as one of her influences.”
She also said her students told her Swift’s B-sides — not her radio singles — tend to be her most poetic, which is true of poets, too. “Their most well-known poems are the ones that people lock into the most, that are the clearest, and in a way, don’t always have the mystery of poetry.”
Dutch soccer club Vitesse docked points and relegated during probe of Russian ties to Abramovich
China Sees Wider High School Education Coverage
Nation to Promote Free HPV Vaccinations in More Regions
Olympic torch makes Acropolis overnight stop a week before handover to Paris organizers
China Wins Artistic Swimming Team Technical at FINA Worlds
China Focus: China Makes Historic Achievements in Human Rights Protection
Smart Health Care Hut Offers Residents Great Convenience in East China
Primary school teacher who was sacked by school for teaching nine
Hong Kong Palace Museum Holds Opening Ceremony