Laura and her group of students investigated the “makers” movement and the resulting "makerspaces" in Post-Industrial cities, including Muncie, Indiana. They explored the affect that Makerspaces have on the cultural identities of these cities, examining how these spaces cultivate direct, embodied community engagement, and the ways increased emphasis on community craft and collaborative space is especially important and beneficial in the wake of the withdrawal of the large-scale industry that sustained these cities in decades past. Students became critical researchers conducting oral history interviews, ethnographic observation, and engaging in grounded theory research in the creation of a cohesive narrative of makers' work in Muncie and beyond. The culmination of the collected stories and data resulted in the production of two print books — a compilation of oral histories and a collection of photo essays featuring the stories of Muncie makers. The group also created additional resources and tools from their resultant research, including a website chronicling their journeys to different cities and compiling information on Makerspaces in and around the Muncie area, an interactive map of all the Makerspaces within a 100 mile radius of Muncie with a corresponding graphical print map, as well as crafting a documentary video. The seminar's community partner was the Muncie Arts and Culture Council.
View the Seminar Facebook page and website to learn more about the project.
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Laura Romano, Assistant Teaching Professor of English |
| L-R, Front Row: Stressca Nathaniel, Tamera Sims, Jack Satter, Elizabeth Baum; Second Row: Mason Killebrew, Jessica Snow, Andrew (Drew) Catalano, Halie Wills, Sarah Morrow, Laura Romano, Darrin Sims, Elizabeth Riester, Hannah (Cali) Fehr |
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