What is a pattern?

The course offers an introduction to media theory with a focus on the notion of pattern (or Gestalt). During the 20th century, the notion of pattern has gradually taken on features that traditionally belonged, on the one hand, to abstract ideas (domain of philosophy) and, on the other, to image and form (domain of art and design, or aesthetics in general). In the last years, it happened that the notion of pattern cannibalised also information and data. With social media and data analytics (also used in military operations), the pattern becomes a multi-dimensional construct that describes large social phenomena (see pattern-of-life analysis). Originally a perceptual form, the pattern has become social.

The course follows the history of the notion in the disciplines of neuroscience, psychology, economics, computer science, art theory and design, spanning from the German school of Gestalttheorie (and its Prägnanz principles) to the techniques of pattern recognition and pattern generation in artificial intelligence. The course is also recommended to first-year students. In preparation students are invited to read William Gibson’s novel Pattern Recognition.

A certificate (Schein) is possible with credit in Media Philosophy. Students can a) make a project or a presentation in class and write a short essay of ca. 10 pages, or b) write an extensive essay of ca. 20 pages. All materials will be shared via Dropbox.