Dylan and Timrod and the creative process

An interesting little brouhaha or foofaraw or both I guess about Bob Dylan's latest album in which in his hundreds of lines in 10 songs, about 10 lines seem to be derived from/influenced by and in one or two instances almost directly lifted from a Confederate Poet from 150 year ago, Henry Timrod.

http://www.poemhunter.com/henry-timrod/poet-38056/

Obviously there is no copyright problem since Timrod's works are in the public domain. But some folk seem upset that Dylan, a songwriter and poet and not an academic, did not credit his sources of inspiration. Or that somehow there is something amiss with him using what exists to create something new.

Here are a couple of links if anyone is interested in reading a bit more about this:

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/15530551.htm

Or read Suzanne Vega's take on it:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/17/opinion/17vega.html?_r=1&oref=login

http://tinyurl.com/hhcfq

I think the practice of some authors of including "thanks" to other sources and people, even if not required by law, is a good one. Michener and Stephenson both do this -- as to many sci fi writers. But mostly it is a thanks for research or a subjective, reflective statement of who a major influence on the author was. Not required by law, but a right thing to do, Mr. Riolo's point notwithstanding.

Steve

-- 
Prof. Steven D. Jamar                               vox:  202-806-8017
Howard University School of Law                     fax:  202-806-8567
2900 Van Ness Street NW                   mailto:stevenjamar[_at_]gmail.com
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