Principles of Cyborg Criticism by A. I. Richards

[leo-elo]

Preface to Principles of Cyborg Criticism by A. I. Richards

This book was inspired by a brief conversation with Ted Underwood on Bluesky responding to a study that as Ted summarized it found that “non-expert readers prefer AI generated poetry to the classics” and cited famed New Critic I. A. Richards and the gulf between expert and non-expert readers. My punny playful response “AI Richards?” led him to elaborate with an idea that is at the heart of this generated book: “We should create it! A language model that is convinced no human readers really understand poetry.” Here’s a screenshot of the conversation.

But who needs a grant when you have NaNoGenMo? This idea sent me to Project Gutenberg, where I found a copy of his influential 1928 book The Principles of Literary Criticism (link). I uploaded it to ChatGPT 4o and started playing around with it and quickly came to understand that this system can only generate about 1400 words at a time, and that the work needed to be segmented for better processing. So I created a document for the opening materials, for each chapter, and for the appendices.

Here’s the primary prompt:

I am going to first upload a complete copy of a book by I. A. RIchards titled “The Principles of Literary Criticism” for you to analyze and draw from. I will then upload the preface and every chapter for you to generate a new version of each chapter from the perspective of A. I. Richards, a language model literary critic, patterned after I. A. Richards. This critic is convinced no human readers really understand poetry. Weave three arguments throughout each generated chapter: 1. Human writing is impossible to understand because there are endless contexts that can be brought to bear. 2. Computer generated writing is impossible to understand because the systems created don't have enough contexts to tap into. 3. Cyborg writing, in which humans create, train, and collaborate with computational systems is the path forward for literature and poetry. 4. Cyborg criticism in which humans and AI systems work together to interpret works of literature is the path forward for literary criticism. Keep the diction and style similar to the original text. Feel free to invent poems and poets for examples, or use the ones provided in the chapters but coming to the same conclusions. Don’t use section headers: keep the structure similar to the original.

After generating all the chapters and two appendices, I was still about 15,000 words away from the goal of 50,000 words, a constraint needed to meet a standard established by NaNoGenMo (National Novel Generation Month). So I started feeding it published excerpts and summaries from influential relevant scholarship in the field and generating new appendices for the book. I referenced N. Katherine Hayles (twice), Ted Underwood, Mark C. Marino, Scott Rettberg, Jill Walker Rettberg, Dene Grigar, Stuart Moulthrop, Loss Pequeño Glazier, Matthew Kirschenbaum, Anastasia Salter, John Murray, Safiya Umoja Noble, Donna Haraway, Manuel Portela, and myself. Upon nearing the 50,000 word mark, I had it generate a coda for the book and brought this to a close.

I have attached the transcript of my conversation with ChatGPT 4o, which will serve as the natural language programming record. ChatGPT Transcript.pdf

As for the usefulness or applicability of this AI generated book of criticism, I suppose it would have to be read and considered. I don’t expect it to be especially useful, though it might stimulate some amusement and even insight. As for putting it to the test and using it for scholarship, I’m reminded of the first fight scene in the Korean film Oldboy (2003), in which the protagonist thinks the following in narrative voiceover:

Dae-su Oh: Can 10 years' worth of imaginary training... be put to use?
Dae-su Oh: [Dae-su beats up his assailants] Apparently, it can.

Enjoy!

Leonardo Flores
November 28, 2024
Principles of Cyborg Criticism by A. I. Richards.pdf

[hugovk]

You can read the transcript of my conversation with ChatGPT 4o here, which will serve as the programming transcript: chatgpt.com/share/6748d42c-02a8-800e-b4fb-14ec08df5176.

I get a 404 for this page, please could you also post it somewhere else?

[leo-elo]

Done! I have attached a PDF of the transcript to the issue. Thanks! Leo

…

On Fri, Nov 29, 2024 at 7:22 AM Hugo van Kemenade ***@***.***> wrote: You can read the transcript of my conversation with ChatGPT 4o here, which will serve as the programming transcript: chatgpt.com/share/6748d42c-02a8-800e-b4fb-14ec08df5176. I get a 404 for this page, please could you also post it somewhere else? — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#27 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AR5IBNPT55NLLVG23KRDQWL2DBL7TAVCNFSM6AAAAABSV3FBGKVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZDKMBXG4YTCNZQHE> . You are receiving this because you modified the open/close state.Message ID: ***@***.***>

-- Leonardo Flores, PhD Professor and Chair Department of English <http://english.appstate.edu> Appalachian State University Blog: leonardoflores.net Twitter: @leo_elo_ole <https://twitter.com/leo_elo_ole> Facebook: facebook.com/leonardoflores

[leo-elo]

I have edited the initial comment and attached a PDF with the transcript.