The latest media mentions, quotes, profiles, and writings from Division of the Humanities faculty, students, staff, and alumni. Visit us on X, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook for more updates

AI makes racist decisions based on dialect
Science
Sharese King (Lingustics) led a study showing that large language models (LLMs), like GPT-4, still demonstrate hidden biases against speakers of African American English (AAE). Despite attempts to reduce overt racism, the research found that LLMs often associate AAE with negative stereotypes and are more likely to judge these speakers harshly in various scenarios. These findings call attention to the dangers of using biased AI in decision-making roles.

What the Right Gets Wrong About the Ancient History of Gender
TIME
In this op-ed, Sarah Nooter (Classics) argues that ancient Greek texts reveal a long tradition of diverse gender identities and sexualities, contradicting conservative claims that these ideas are new or "untraditional." She emphasizes that classical works by Plato, Sappho, and others offer historical precedent for understanding and accepting queer identities, challenging modern misconceptions about tradition and “wokeness.”

The valuable role video games play in the classroom
Scripps News
In this segment and news story, Patrick Jagoda (English Language and Literature), and Ashlyn Sparrow, game designer and assistant director of the UChicago Weston Game Lab, delve into the innovative games they have developed at the UChicago Weston Game Lab. They explore how these games, along with others like them, serve as powerful educational tools, helping students engage with and critically analyze pressing societal and political issues.

How housing shaped race in the 20th century
Crain's Chicago Business
This article focuses on Adrienne Brown (English Language and Literature) and her latest book, The Residential is Racial. Her work explores how 20th-century American policies and real estate practices treated "whiteness" as a coveted neighborhood asset, akin to amenities like parks or quality schools. Brown also delves into how Black authors, including Gwendolyn Brooks and James Baldwin, portrayed the restricted realities of Black real estate during the mid-20th century.

A Terrorist Plot Canceled the Show. But We Swifties Found Each Other on Cornelia Street.
The Free Press
Agnes Callard (Philosophy) recounts the emotional journey of Taylor Swift fans in Vienna, whose shared disappointment over canceled concerts transformed into a powerful moment of unity and collective expression. She explores the contrast between how different age groups, Swifties, and non-Swifties, experience emotions.

It’s Disney Girl vs Oasis Man Blokey nostalgia has nothing on girly glamour
UnHerd
Paula Harper (Music) contributed to this article on how today's pop music, driven by TikTok and social media, favors polished, commercial content over artistic experimentation—a reflection of the broader cultural shift explored in the article.

Literary exchange crafts cultural tapestry
ChinaDaily.COM.CN
Haun Saussy (East Asian Languages and Civilizations) was mentioned in this article about a U.S.-China symposium on literary scholarship that took place at the University of Houston, covering topics, including literature and art criticism, translation, and artificial intelligence and human writing.