Predicting a Bestseller: Computational Approaches to Publishing Trends

9 units · Undergraduate

Intermittent: 9 units Algorithms that predict the "success" of books are now commonly used in publishing (and also privately by writers and agents). The aim of the class is to use these tools to explore trends in fiction writing and publishing while also thinking critically about the limitations of implementing these tools in the literary marketplace (e.g., does it encourage homogeneity). We will use Jodie Archer and Matthew Jockers' The Bestseller Code: Anatomy of the Blockbuster Novel as our guide through this topic. We will close-read novels that both adhere to and depart from trends among bestsellers. Students will also gain a working familiarity with concepts in natural language processing and the programming language R. No previous programming experience is required. Prerequisites: 76-101 or 76-102 or ( 76-106 and 76-107 ) or ( 76-107 and 76-108 ) or ( 76-108 and 76-106 )