This workshop aims to stimulate the interdisciplinary discussion about the notion of pattern and the fasci-nation with this concept across different fields of knowledge. It brings together researchers and scholars from various disciplines to explore the epistemic, aesthetic and ideological affordances of this term in current knowledge production and (post)digital culture at large.

The term pattern is ubiquitous and undertheorized: it can suggest regularity as well as change, surface phenomena as well as deep structural connections. Obser-vations about the alluring ambiguity of “patterns” have been made in the social sciences, media studies, cognitive science, digital humanities, the history of science and knowledge and other fields. The purpose of this workshop is not to narrow this semantic diversity but to explore the conceptual and aesthetic affordances of pattern as a figure of knowledge. How does pattern function as a symbolic form, (proto)concept or meta-disciplinary shifter within and across disciplines, and what kinds of knowledge does it generate? How does the current fascination with patterns reflect (post)digital culture, and how can the conceptual history of the term in the natural and human sciences since the late 19^th century illuminate its current impact and transformations in the contexts of digital pattern recognition and AI?

The organizers and speakers warmly welcome participation of all researchers, scholars and artists with an interest in patterns and aim to explore possibilities for further collaboration on topics related to the allure of patterns.

Registration via: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=zcrxoIxhA0S5RXb7PWh05SDI9SGcXM5FsC9mdNotOaZURjRLRjc3R1IzQUNBUTY0WEJIM0JLNkE3Ty4u

PROGRAMME

Opening & welcome

09:30 - 09:45        Introduction to the workshop goals, agenda and participants

Fields

09:45 - 10:15        Hernan Mondani (Stockholm University): “Social Patterns as a Central Social Science Term: A Typology and Beyond”

10:15 - 10:45        Flora Lysen (Maastricht University): “Patterns in Mid-Twentieth Century Brain Wave Research”

10:45 - 11:15        Joint discussion

11:15 - 11:30        Break

Modes

11:30 - 12:00        Berkay Üstün  (Fenerbahçe University Istanbul): “William Gibson’s Pattern Recognition: Shapes and Power in Cyberspace”

12:00 - 12:30        Elki Boerdam (visual artist/image researcher): “Pattern Recognition, Murder Boards and Crazy Walls”

12:30 - 13:00        Joint discussion

13:00 - 14:00         Lunch break 

Metapatterns

14:00 - 14:30        Rens Bod (University of Amsterdam): “Patterns within Patterns”

14:30 - 15:00        Stephan Besser (University of Amsterdam): “Metapatterns and the Isomorphic Imagination” 

15:00 - 15:30        Joint discussion

15:30 - 16:00        Wrap-up and plans for future collaboration over coffee, tea and drinks