what is PATTeRN?
Though artistic opportunities at Purdue are not advertised on flashing billboards, it’s impossible to ignore the creativity buzzing on campus.
When I share that I go to Purdue University, people often ask if I am in engineering. The most common reaction to my response of being an English major is, understandably, surprise; in a sea of STEM, the humanities culture seems comparatively modest. Of course, there are also the STEM majors who came to campus with creative passions. For them, feeding such fascinations can seem impossible amidst a hectic courseload, questionable sleep habits, and the fact that some artistic classes are major specific.
Nonetheless, Purdue students display ingenuity every day. For example, Purdue’s rich music culture is growing rampantly, evidenced by the brand new facility for Purdue Bands and Orchestras, and the recent creation of a music major. From the everyday students who play the pianos on Third Street and near WALC to the more formal groups like K-pop dance teams, book clubs, or the Fiber Arts Club, there is a plethora of creative interests among the student body.
Of the many associations fueling the creative buzz at Purdue, PATTeRN (Performance, Art, Text, Technology Research Network) is the sole humanities-oriented research generator in the Honors College. Made possible by a donation from venture capitalist John Martinson, PATTeRN welcomes Honors students of any major who are interested in artistic expression and interdisciplinary research.
Through PATTeRN, students can attend public and private events, complete their scholarly project, and enjoy priority registration for relevant courses. PATTeRN course offerings examine exciting topics like manga and anime, printmaking, and American conspiracy theories. Along with courses, current projects within the research network include the STEAM lab Print Bay, with three vintage letterpresses beckoning fans of literature and design, technology, and historic innovation.
For students interested in completing their scholarly projects, there are PATTeRN 499 courses and self-directed pathways to be pursued under a mentor. The following are the most recent funded projects:
- The Politics of Everyday Life in Contemporary Puerto Rico, which examined the effects of Puerto Rico’s political status on Puerto Rican people with Dr. Nicole Fadellin
- USIPB (United States International Poster Biennale) Purdue Exhibition: from Curation to Promotion, where students curated a unique poster exhibition with Prof. Hyungjoo Kim
- Copying and Reading The Prick of Conscience in Late Medieval England, focused on studying a popular 9,000-plus-line poem with Dr. Michael Johnston
- Escaping Conspiracy Theories, a project involving students analyzing posts from those who left conspiracies like QAnon to create a deradicalization platform with Dr. Matthew Hannah
- Photomechanical Materials Research in Printmaking & Letterpress and Creative Research in Artist Books, where students are working digitally and in a lab to explore tonal imagery of various mediums with Prof. Jennifer Scheuer
- Japanese Illustration and Book Design, 19th and 20th Centuries, culminating in an exhibit of illustrated Japanese books and art with Dr. Pedro Bassoe
To access exciting projects and reap the most benefits from PATTeRN, students are encouraged to affiliate as Corroborators (core members who want to be aware of humanistic happenings in the Honors College) or Collaborators (lab members who want to participate in creative research projects). Both can attend private events and enjoy being a part of an engaging artistic community; however, Collaborators can complete their scholarly projects through PATTeRN and are eligible for research funds. The only requirements for both types of members are formal affiliation and attendance at one PATTeRN event per semester.
With flexible commitment levels, PATTeRN is breaking new ground in uniting any and all students sharing a passion for engaging with, creating, or simply appreciating the arts.
by Annie Bonnett
