Reading Groups

In Short: Ben Lerner's "The Hofmann Wobble" with Matilda Lin Berke

$45

1 Session

In stock

Tuesday, 6:30 pm EDT - 8:00 pm EDT July 7, 2026

Online via Zoom

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In “The Hofmann Wobble,” Ben Lerner explores the slippage between life and art—as well as truth and fiction—with an eye toward the construction of digital avatars and facts alike. As with most of Lerner’s writing, the main structural points of the story are drawn from fact, but the details are fiction, and they “wobble” throughout the piece. These narrative tricks provide a metatextual container for the themes of the text: revision, the creation of avatars, and the construction of truth. Perhaps the “truest” part is the concluding conversation between the author and ChatGPT, in which Lerner implicates and names both himself and the nature of his project.

Lerner’s incorporation of text generated by artificial intelligence (as well as his open disclosure of that technique) provides an interesting template for contemporary discourses on autofiction, AI, and general replications of thought/experience. In addition to discussing the themes of the short story at large, this course will navigate possibilities for human-machine hybridity while investigating the ethics and efficacy of large language model (LLM) usage in art.

Reading List:

“The Hoffman Wobble” by Ben Lerner (A copy of the story will be emailed upon registration.)

What to expect from this reading group: This course will specifically emphasize participation, as opinions on AI usage vary widely, and I’m interested in hearing your thoughts!

What to read in advance: Please read “The Hoffman Wobble.” A copy of the story will be emailed upon registration.

We offer a limited number of need-based scholarships for our Reading Groups and Writing Workshops, covering 50% of tuition. Applicants selected for scholarships will be notified one week prior to the first meeting. To apply for a scholarship, please fill out this form.

Pricing inclusive of sales tax if applicable. Please note: All virtual classes are recorded. Please click here for information about our recording policy.

Led by

Matilda Lin Berke

Matilda Lin Berke

Matilda Lin Berke is a New Yorker from Pasadena, California. She has written theory and criticism for publications including Purple Fashion Magazine, Mutt Art Review, the Brooklyn Rail, Filmmaker Magazine, Spike Art Magazine, and the Whitney Review. Her fiction has appeared in Byline and Forever Mag; her poetry has appeared in Grand Journal, Spectra Poets, the Adroit Journal, and Big Score Lit; you can find more information on her website. She also makes films and video art.

About this series

Reading Groups

Whether you’re looking to catch up on great novels or you’re interested in exploring a new writer or literary period, our reading groups offer high-level literary discussion led by experts in the field.

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