James E. Dobson
@jeddobson.bsky.social
Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing at Dartmouth College. Author of The Birth of Computer Vision (Minnesota), Critical Digital Humanities (Illinois), and co-author of Moonbit (punctum) and Perceptron (punctum). American Literature, ML/AI/DH
I spent last year as Dartmouth College's Special Advisor to the Provost for AI. This was exciting, timely, and eye-opening work. Throughout the year, I learned from our faculty, students, alums, and staff about numerous opportunities and concerns related to the use of GenAI in teaching and research.
provost.dartmouth.edu
January 7, 2026 at 1:28 PM
I spent last year as Dartmouth College's Special Advisor to the Provost for AI. This was exciting, timely, and eye-opening work. Throughout the year, I learned from our faculty, students, alums, and staff about numerous opportunities and concerns related to the use of GenAI in teaching and research.
Reposted by James E. Dobson
Thanks for the review!
@triquarterlymag.bsky.social
@triquarterlymag.bsky.social
A Review of Disaster Tourism by Rena J. Mosteirin — TriQuarterly
The speaker does not posit any panaceas for the ills in our lives, but it does present a mirror in which we can all look into to question our relationship to safety, home, politics, and the environmen...
www.triquarterly.org
December 28, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Thanks for the review!
@triquarterlymag.bsky.social
@triquarterlymag.bsky.social
Reposted by James E. Dobson
Our special issue is out! "Automation by Design: Politics, Culture & Landscape in an Age of Machines That Learn"! Eds. Colette Perold, me, Gerardo Con Diaz. Authors: David Dunning, Christos Karampatsos, Polyxeni Malisova, Eliza Pertigkiozoglou, Jason Ludwig, Megan Wiessner, & Ranjodh Singh Dhaliwal
December 19, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Our special issue is out! "Automation by Design: Politics, Culture & Landscape in an Age of Machines That Learn"! Eds. Colette Perold, me, Gerardo Con Diaz. Authors: David Dunning, Christos Karampatsos, Polyxeni Malisova, Eliza Pertigkiozoglou, Jason Ludwig, Megan Wiessner, & Ranjodh Singh Dhaliwal
Reposted by James E. Dobson
Promises that tech will transform education are nothing new. What’s remarkable is how little they have changed and how consistently they have failed to deliver.
Four Frictions: or, How to Resist AI in Education - Public Books
We are calling for resistance to the AI industry’s ongoing capture of higher education.
www.publicbooks.org
December 20, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Promises that tech will transform education are nothing new. What’s remarkable is how little they have changed and how consistently they have failed to deliver.
Reposted by James E. Dobson
Get your #OpenAccess copy of James Dobson's & Rena Mosteirin's PERCEPTRON here: punctumbooks.com/titles/perce...
#AI #computing #inventions #neuroscience #cybernetics
#AI #computing #inventions #neuroscience #cybernetics
My section of Perceptron opens with a poem written by Frank Rosenblatt. It's one of the few non-technical writings he left after his early and tragic death. It's titled "Courage" and we have it because it was read at his memorial and by virtue of family connections, into the Congressional Record.
December 19, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Get your #OpenAccess copy of James Dobson's & Rena Mosteirin's PERCEPTRON here: punctumbooks.com/titles/perce...
#AI #computing #inventions #neuroscience #cybernetics
#AI #computing #inventions #neuroscience #cybernetics
Reposted by James E. Dobson
Today's releases!
-Ann Druyan's A Famous Broken Heart—now in PB!
"A modern Alice in a literary wonderland." —Carl Sagan
-Digital Theory with @mbfazi.bsky.social @leifw.bsky.social @3vilh0mer.bsky.social
that proposes a powerful conception of the digital
-Ann Druyan's A Famous Broken Heart—now in PB!
"A modern Alice in a literary wonderland." —Carl Sagan
-Digital Theory with @mbfazi.bsky.social @leifw.bsky.social @3vilh0mer.bsky.social
that proposes a powerful conception of the digital
December 9, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Today's releases!
-Ann Druyan's A Famous Broken Heart—now in PB!
"A modern Alice in a literary wonderland." —Carl Sagan
-Digital Theory with @mbfazi.bsky.social @leifw.bsky.social @3vilh0mer.bsky.social
that proposes a powerful conception of the digital
-Ann Druyan's A Famous Broken Heart—now in PB!
"A modern Alice in a literary wonderland." —Carl Sagan
-Digital Theory with @mbfazi.bsky.social @leifw.bsky.social @3vilh0mer.bsky.social
that proposes a powerful conception of the digital
My section of Perceptron opens with a poem written by Frank Rosenblatt. It's one of the few non-technical writings he left after his early and tragic death. It's titled "Courage" and we have it because it was read at his memorial and by virtue of family connections, into the Congressional Record.
December 19, 2025 at 3:59 PM
My section of Perceptron opens with a poem written by Frank Rosenblatt. It's one of the few non-technical writings he left after his early and tragic death. It's titled "Courage" and we have it because it was read at his memorial and by virtue of family connections, into the Congressional Record.
Reposted by James E. Dobson
got to talk literacy (and orality) and go deep on my book on
@ttsgpod.bsky.social with Jay Kang and co-guest Celine Nguyen - book stuff in the second half of an awesome conversation
open.spotify.com/episode/3P8l...
@ttsgpod.bsky.social with Jay Kang and co-guest Celine Nguyen - book stuff in the second half of an awesome conversation
open.spotify.com/episode/3P8l...
Spotify – Web Player
open.spotify.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:52 PM
got to talk literacy (and orality) and go deep on my book on
@ttsgpod.bsky.social with Jay Kang and co-guest Celine Nguyen - book stuff in the second half of an awesome conversation
open.spotify.com/episode/3P8l...
@ttsgpod.bsky.social with Jay Kang and co-guest Celine Nguyen - book stuff in the second half of an awesome conversation
open.spotify.com/episode/3P8l...
Reposted by James E. Dobson
I am pretty thrilled to announce the publication of Perceptron, a creative-critical reading of Frank Rosenblatt and his world-changing invention. I co-authored Perceptron with Rena J. Mosteirin @renamosteirin.bsky.social, my collaborator and partner in all things. punctumbooks.com/titles/perce...
December 17, 2025 at 7:10 PM
I am pretty thrilled to announce the publication of Perceptron, a creative-critical reading of Frank Rosenblatt and his world-changing invention. I co-authored Perceptron with Rena J. Mosteirin @renamosteirin.bsky.social, my collaborator and partner in all things. punctumbooks.com/titles/perce...
Reposted by James E. Dobson
Sarah Wasserman, assistant dean for faculty affairs, was named co-editor of the eminent Oxford Studies in American Literary History book series. The scholar of 20th- and 21st-century American literature will lead the series alongside @ericafretwell.bsky.social of the University of Albany.
Wasserman Appointed Co-Editor of Oxford’s American Literary History Series | Faculty of Arts and Sciences
The prestigious book series offers an expansive approach to American literary and cultural history.
fas.dartmouth.edu
December 16, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Sarah Wasserman, assistant dean for faculty affairs, was named co-editor of the eminent Oxford Studies in American Literary History book series. The scholar of 20th- and 21st-century American literature will lead the series alongside @ericafretwell.bsky.social of the University of Albany.
Reposted by James E. Dobson
The relative usages of "[adjective] reading" in Anglophone literary studies journals, 1920-2020. Made for my "Prac Crit" course next term, "[Adjective] Reading". Interactive version here: public.tableau.com/views/Adject...
![Line graph showing the history of different types of '[adjective] reading' in Anglophone literary studies from 1920-2020. The x-axis represents publication decades, while the y-axis shows the percent of '[adjective] reading' instances in literary studies journals as a 9-decade moving average. Multiple colored lines track various reading methodologies over time. 'Close reading' shows the most dramatic rise, peaking around 2010 at approximately 18% (33 times its 1920s usage). 'Original reading' dominated the 1920s at 7.6% but declined to 0.5% by the 2010s. Other notable methodologies include 'careful reading' (peaked 1960s), 'critical reading' (peaked 1980s), 'wide reading' (1920s), 'correct reading' (1930s), 'new reading' (1950s), 'feminist reading' (1990s), 'textual reading' (2000s), 'distant reading' (2010s), and 'nuanced reading' (2010s). Each labeled point includes the decade of peak usage, the percentage at peak, and the ratio compared to its lowest-usage decade. Data sourced from JSTOR across seven leading literary studies journals including PMLA, Critical Inquiry, New Literary History, ELH, Modern Language Review, Review of English Studies, and Modern Philology.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:llsfba2zryavs4uunglknwie/bafkreicyi6bsqxkrmjstwbyxfvis33j2wxatye2t2dh5fva5pk46xw6n7y@jpeg)
December 17, 2025 at 3:59 PM
The relative usages of "[adjective] reading" in Anglophone literary studies journals, 1920-2020. Made for my "Prac Crit" course next term, "[Adjective] Reading". Interactive version here: public.tableau.com/views/Adject...
Reposted by James E. Dobson
I am pretty thrilled to announce the publication of Perceptron, a creative-critical reading of Frank Rosenblatt and his world-changing invention. I co-authored Perceptron with Rena J. Mosteirin @renamosteirin.bsky.social, my collaborator and partner in all things. punctumbooks.com/titles/perce...
December 17, 2025 at 7:10 PM
I am pretty thrilled to announce the publication of Perceptron, a creative-critical reading of Frank Rosenblatt and his world-changing invention. I co-authored Perceptron with Rena J. Mosteirin @renamosteirin.bsky.social, my collaborator and partner in all things. punctumbooks.com/titles/perce...
Reposted by James E. Dobson
New article in #JCLS 4(1)! 🎉
Havrylash & @christofs.bsky.social introduce a method for evaluating measures of #distinctiveness ( #keyness ) using synthetically generated, fully controlled text data.
#CLS #TextAnalysis #Evaluation #NLP #NLG #LiteraryComputing #CCLS25
jcls.io/issue/118/in...
Havrylash & @christofs.bsky.social introduce a method for evaluating measures of #distinctiveness ( #keyness ) using synthetically generated, fully controlled text data.
#CLS #TextAnalysis #Evaluation #NLP #NLG #LiteraryComputing #CCLS25
jcls.io/issue/118/in...
Journal of Computational Literary Studies |
Issue: Issue: 1(4) (2025)
jcls.io
November 21, 2025 at 3:24 PM
New article in #JCLS 4(1)! 🎉
Havrylash & @christofs.bsky.social introduce a method for evaluating measures of #distinctiveness ( #keyness ) using synthetically generated, fully controlled text data.
#CLS #TextAnalysis #Evaluation #NLP #NLG #LiteraryComputing #CCLS25
jcls.io/issue/118/in...
Havrylash & @christofs.bsky.social introduce a method for evaluating measures of #distinctiveness ( #keyness ) using synthetically generated, fully controlled text data.
#CLS #TextAnalysis #Evaluation #NLP #NLG #LiteraryComputing #CCLS25
jcls.io/issue/118/in...
Theater of War Productions giving a dramatic reading of Hua Hsu’s "What Happens After A.I. Destroys College Writing?” along with with panel discussion.
What Happens After A.I. Destroys College Writing?
YouTube video by Columbia Journalism School
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Theater of War Productions giving a dramatic reading of Hua Hsu’s "What Happens After A.I. Destroys College Writing?” along with with panel discussion.
Reposted by James E. Dobson
Reposted by James E. Dobson
This recording captures my talk on “Genre and GenAI” at Sciences Po last week. This is work toward a formal and material critique of instruction-fine tuned models that present what I call the “instructional-conversational” genre. [INST]
La vidéo de la présentation de @jeddobson.bsky.social lors du séminaire du médialab est en ligne !
Une discussion autour des normes, idéologies et attentes intégrées dans les architectures linguistiques contemporaines.
A regarder dès maintenant sur Vimeo 👇
Une discussion autour des normes, idéologies et attentes intégrées dans les architectures linguistiques contemporaines.
A regarder dès maintenant sur Vimeo 👇
Genre and GenAI
Abstract : Instruction fine-tuned large language models that power contemporary chatbots should be understood as participating in what I call the instructional-conversational…
vimeo.com
October 21, 2025 at 11:30 AM
This recording captures my talk on “Genre and GenAI” at Sciences Po last week. This is work toward a formal and material critique of instruction-fine tuned models that present what I call the “instructional-conversational” genre. [INST]
Reposted by James E. Dobson
If you’re local stop by!
October 30, 2025 at 3:39 PM
If you’re local stop by!
Reposted by James E. Dobson
Can the human sciences exist w/out the human? Proposals for using AI as human research subjects suggest yes. But @mjcrockett.bsky.social and I respond with, ‘not so fast.’ In fact, silicon subjects say more about the problems of the research paradigm than the promises of AI. 🚨New article, thread 1/
AI Surrogates and illusions of generalizability in cognitive science
Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have generated enthusiasm for using AI simulations of human research participants to generate new know…
www.sciencedirect.com
October 21, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Can the human sciences exist w/out the human? Proposals for using AI as human research subjects suggest yes. But @mjcrockett.bsky.social and I respond with, ‘not so fast.’ In fact, silicon subjects say more about the problems of the research paradigm than the promises of AI. 🚨New article, thread 1/
Reposted by James E. Dobson
We write, the “conditions upon which AI tools are built inherently exclude the same people who are already underrepresented in CogSci… AI Surrogates perpetuate an illusion of generalizability where researchers believe these models represent a broader swathe of humanity than they actually do.” 5/
October 21, 2025 at 3:47 PM
We write, the “conditions upon which AI tools are built inherently exclude the same people who are already underrepresented in CogSci… AI Surrogates perpetuate an illusion of generalizability where researchers believe these models represent a broader swathe of humanity than they actually do.” 5/
Reposted by James E. Dobson
La vidéo de la présentation de @jeddobson.bsky.social lors du séminaire du médialab est en ligne !
Une discussion autour des normes, idéologies et attentes intégrées dans les architectures linguistiques contemporaines.
A regarder dès maintenant sur Vimeo 👇
Une discussion autour des normes, idéologies et attentes intégrées dans les architectures linguistiques contemporaines.
A regarder dès maintenant sur Vimeo 👇
Genre and GenAI
Abstract : Instruction fine-tuned large language models that power contemporary chatbots should be understood as participating in what I call the instructional-conversational…
vimeo.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:03 AM
La vidéo de la présentation de @jeddobson.bsky.social lors du séminaire du médialab est en ligne !
Une discussion autour des normes, idéologies et attentes intégrées dans les architectures linguistiques contemporaines.
A regarder dès maintenant sur Vimeo 👇
Une discussion autour des normes, idéologies et attentes intégrées dans les architectures linguistiques contemporaines.
A regarder dès maintenant sur Vimeo 👇
This recording captures my talk on “Genre and GenAI” at Sciences Po last week. This is work toward a formal and material critique of instruction-fine tuned models that present what I call the “instructional-conversational” genre. [INST]
La vidéo de la présentation de @jeddobson.bsky.social lors du séminaire du médialab est en ligne !
Une discussion autour des normes, idéologies et attentes intégrées dans les architectures linguistiques contemporaines.
A regarder dès maintenant sur Vimeo 👇
Une discussion autour des normes, idéologies et attentes intégrées dans les architectures linguistiques contemporaines.
A regarder dès maintenant sur Vimeo 👇
Genre and GenAI
Abstract : Instruction fine-tuned large language models that power contemporary chatbots should be understood as participating in what I call the instructional-conversational…
vimeo.com
October 21, 2025 at 11:30 AM
This recording captures my talk on “Genre and GenAI” at Sciences Po last week. This is work toward a formal and material critique of instruction-fine tuned models that present what I call the “instructional-conversational” genre. [INST]
Reposted by James E. Dobson
A book for our times, DISASTER TOURISM by Rena J. Mosteirin offers readers a gritty view of our darkening world, shifting perspectives and transporting us at a needfully dizzying pace.
Purchase your very own copy of DISASTER TOURISM today at boaeditions.org!
#PubWeek #BoaEditions#PoetryCollection
Purchase your very own copy of DISASTER TOURISM today at boaeditions.org!
#PubWeek #BoaEditions#PoetryCollection
October 16, 2025 at 6:00 PM
A book for our times, DISASTER TOURISM by Rena J. Mosteirin offers readers a gritty view of our darkening world, shifting perspectives and transporting us at a needfully dizzying pace.
Purchase your very own copy of DISASTER TOURISM today at boaeditions.org!
#PubWeek #BoaEditions#PoetryCollection
Purchase your very own copy of DISASTER TOURISM today at boaeditions.org!
#PubWeek #BoaEditions#PoetryCollection
"Your Father Came from a Movie" by @renamosteirin.bsky.social
from her brand new collection, Disaster Tourism. #poetry #poems
from her brand new collection, Disaster Tourism. #poetry #poems
Your Father Came from a Movie
Placing poetry at the crossroads of American life since 1910.
poetrysociety.org
October 15, 2025 at 4:48 PM
"Your Father Came from a Movie" by @renamosteirin.bsky.social
from her brand new collection, Disaster Tourism. #poetry #poems
from her brand new collection, Disaster Tourism. #poetry #poems
"Disaster Tourism" by @renamosteirin.bsky.social from her brand new collection, Disaster Tourism. #poetry #poems
Disaster Tourism
Placing poetry at the crossroads of American life since 1910.
poetrysociety.org
October 15, 2025 at 4:46 PM
"Disaster Tourism" by @renamosteirin.bsky.social from her brand new collection, Disaster Tourism. #poetry #poems