Between Despair and Parody

Despair and Hope

Models for Computer Generated Parody

This paper outlines two approaches to the construction of computer systems that generate prose in the style of a given author. The first involves using intuitive notions of stylistic trademarks to construct a grammar that characterizes a particular author—in this case, Ernest Hemingway. The second uses statistical methods for inferring a grammar from samples of an author’s work—in this instance...

Fisheries: hope or despair?

Recent work suggesting that fisheries depletions have turned the corner is misplaced because analysis was based largely on fisheries from better-managed developed-world fisheries. Some indicators of status show improvements in the minority of fisheries subjected to formal assessment. Other indicators, such as trophic level and catch time series, have been controversial. Nevertheless, several de...

Despair on disparities.

In this issue of Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, Sokka et al (see page 1666), by analysing the data from the Quantitative Standard Monitoring of Rheumatoid Arthritis (QUEST-RA) cohort, with over 6000 patients from 25 countries, warn us of possible disparities in the health of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This international team of researchers found a clear association between gross dom...

Beyond the "Holy See": Parody and Narrative Assemblage in "Cyclops"