Thing #5

I've been using flickr for a while now, but I had never really explored the creative commons section. I did a quick keyword search for "archives," and thought it was interesting how many photos there were of archives buildings. Of course, there are also photos of objects, and there are probably archives out there which use flickr to host photos from their collections, but I enjoyed looking at the buildings themselves.

Les Archives du Bauhaus in Berlin are housed in a building with a visually interesting design, as seen in this photo by flickr user dalbera. Caring enough to put effort into the design of an archives says something about the value placed on what's inside. I think it also helps establish the archives as part of the landscape and the community.

The second photo I selected, taken by flickr user acameronhuff, is of graffiti on one of the walls of the National Archives in Santiago, Chile. While graffiti could be viewed as disrespectful, I choose to look at it as a sign of integration; instead of being isolated and removed from the flow of city life, the National Archives are in the flow of activity and are subject to the same acts of vandalism as other urban buildings.

I will keep flickr's creative commons section in mind if I am ever looking for photographs to accompany my own writing or to use in a presentation.