As readers, writers, and literature lovers, we have all had our lit-geek moments, whether it’s naming our dog after the protagonist in our favorite book or laughing at an obscure authorial reference in a movie. Some of the most rewarding moments, however, occur when we stumble across literature in decidedly non-literary places. The following is a random, by no means definitive, list of examples.
1) As I Lay Dying
This one’s a freebie. Yep, it’s a band. And a William Faulkner novel.
2) Myths of the Near Future
It’s a short story collection by J.G. Ballard, but it’s also the debut album name of the indie British band, Klaxons, as listed in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Bonus points: Track 1 of the album, “Atlantis to Interzone,” refers to both Atlantis, the mythical lost city, and Interzone, a short story collection by William S. Burroughs, while Track 7, “Gravity’s Rainbow,” is named after Thomas Pynchon’s postmodern novel of the same name.
3) Lorna Doone
An amazingly tasty, buttery shortbread cookie by Nabisco. Also a 1869 novel by Richard Doddridge Blackmore. The book’s full title is Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor. Who would have known?
4) Taylor Swift’s Love Story
Couldn’t resist this one. Sure, the whole song draws unabashed comparisons to William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, but did anyone else notice the subtle, one-time reference to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter? “Cause you were Romeo, I was a scarlet letter/And my daddy said stay away from Juliet”… Sorry for getting it stuck in your head.
5) The Beatles’ I Am the Walrus
The aforementioned walrus in this brilliant, famous, clearly acid-inspired song is a reference to the walrus in Lewis Carroll’s book Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There? Apparently, John Lennon didn’t realize that the walrus was a bad guy at the time, and he thought to himself, “Oh, shit, I picked the wrong guy. I should have said ‘I am the carpenter.’” Beatles fans around the world thank Lennon for his mistake.
6) Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
While we’re on the subject of Lewis Carroll, it seems fitting to mention that Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland have been influential enough to warrant a Wikipedia page entitled Works based on Alice in Wonderland. From a neurological condition called “Alice in Wonderland Syndrome” to Salvador Dalí’s illustrations based on Alice in Wonderland to Gwen Stefani’s Alice-inspired video for “What You Waiting For?” the unexpected references are endless.
Lit-geek-out and share your literary references in non-literary places with us and the world by leaving a comment or tweeting @blackclockmag.
by Chrysanthe Tan
a singer-songwriter, actor, violinist, poet, Pisces, and Star Wars enthusiast
