“In this class, there will be 1,200 books assigned – but students won’t read any of them.” Ever read a course description like this? Well, get ready…

That exact course description is what attracted students at Stanford University to take part in Professor Matthew L. Jockers’ new Literature Lab.

In the lab, students are using computer programs to “read” entire libraries in an effort to investigate the evolution of literary style.

Students write code designed to process the text of a book line-by-line and word-by-word. More specifically, students program code to ask questions such as:

• Is there really such a thing as a literary period?
• Can novelistic subgenres be detected?

In a recent blog, Mr. Jockers writes, “Our lab is based on the idea that any good question deserves to be pursued.”

But some critics worry this approach will take the human aspect out of the humanities.

Katie Trumpener, a professor at Yale University, agrees. She told the Chronicle of Higher Education, “When you treat novels as statics the results can be misleading…What constitutes a genre is more slippery than a crude numerical picture can portray.”

Is using computers to “read” and research novels beneficial to students – or anyone? Let us know what you think below.

Tags: curriculum, Stanford University, Yale University