Genius — Search and understand the meaning of song lyrics, poetry, literature, and news

Genius contains complete lyrics and lines of canonized texts, and popular songs, poems, book chapters, stories, laws, and other genres. With Genius, users can peruse the texts organized by category (e.g., Rap, Rock, Lit, News, Pop, History, Screen, Law, and Meta, among others), or search for a particular artist, author, title, or lyric. When searching for a text, Genius will provide users with search results, and they can select the result that is most appropriate for their search. Once a result is selected, users can tap it and will be provided with the complete text. In the text, users can tap a line or lyric, and Genius will provide users with a specific interpretation or the meaning behind it. Users are able to share their results using messaging, email, Twitter, and Facebook. Genius also syncs with users’ music stored on their iPad, and Genius will analyze those lyrics as well. Plus, users can create their own personalized profile.

Instructional Ideas

1. Teachers can assign students a line or lyric to analyze. To do so, teachers can have students first read the line or lyric in context of the entire text or song. Next, teachers can have students write out their interpretation of the line or lyric. These interpretations can be shared with a partner or the whole class. Finally, teachers can have students enter the line or lyric into this app to investigate whether their interpretation was aligned or not aligned to the app’s interpretation.
2. Teachers can present students with a specific interpretation of a line or lyric using this app. Teachers can then assign students to find sources that either confirm or argue against the app’s interpretation of the line or lyric.
3. If teachers find a text or song that is not indexed in this app, they can have their students research specific lines or lyrics from the text to form their own interpretation(s). Next, teachers can parlay those interpretations into a class discussion by asking questions such as: (1) What do you think this line/lyric means? (2) What evidence do you have to support that interpretation? (3) Are there any other possible interpretations?

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