Splash Biography

It’s easy to brush off poetry as too difficult to understand, inaccessible, or simply uninteresting. This class introduces students to lyric poetry through the lyrics of popular musician Taylor Swift, connecting them to the lyric tradition throughout history. Whether you want to know more about college-level literary analysis, you’re a Swiftie or a poetry enthusiast, or just want to know what people could possibly like about “The Ancient Mariner,” join us for a fun little look into the humanities at Berkeley—no prior knowledge required!

Many people—students, teenagers, and even adults—often brush off poetry as too difficult to understand, inaccessible, or simply uninteresting. This class aims to introduce students to some fundamental elements of lyric poetry through the lyrics of popular musician Taylor Swift and connect them to the lyric tradition throughout history in the hopes of demystifying the study of poetry and giving students a new appreciation for poetics.

In high-school English class, the majority of teenagers will inevitably encounter William Shakespeare, arguably the most famous English writer and playwright of all time—but while they may read Romeo and Juliet or a few of his sonnets, it is rare that they are able to go deeper than just a surface-level introduction. This class is intended to provide interested high-schoolers with a bit of an insight into some Shakespeare texts that they may not have yet encountered, or perhaps to showcase them in a new, more accessible and engaging light.

Many people—students, teenagers, and even adults—often brush off poetry as too difficult to understand, inaccessible, or simply uninteresting. This class aims to introduce students to some fundamental elements of lyric poetry through the lyrics of popular musician Taylor Swift and connect them to the lyric tradition throughout history in the hopes of demystifying the study of poetry and giving students a new appreciation for poetics.