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These blog entries represent the views of their authors, not necessarily those of the CWRL, the University of Texas at Austin, or any of its affiliated entities.

Square America

If you're interested in amateur photography or early twentieth century life in the U.S., check out this site Square America. Man smiling proudly while showing off his collection of guns The site consists of collections of photographs found at garage sales and flea markets of American life during the first three quarters of the twentieth century. Interestingly, there are two collections of photographs of what was on television: one of the TV coverage of JFK's death, another of women on TV (the person who took these liked to take photos of women in soap operas and movies). There's also a collection of biracial and homosexual couples in the 70's, one entirely of wedding photos, and one titled "Guns! Guns! Guns!" Black man and white woman, dressed in their underwear, laughing and playfully wrestling It's a great peek into the reality of everyday American life, as well as a look at homemade images of the major themes of American culture.

Comments

Found Art?

While I can definitely see the interest in these images as cultural history, I think their resurrection (through their recovery/re-placement on the site/re-naming - vernacular photography?) also effects an aesthetic reinvention. The snapshot gains artistic importance? Another example of how context affects arguments made through and about certain material. (Perhaps an interesting comparison to the high art montage on YouTube.) Is this an effect of the increasing visibility of the snapshot - something intimate that now has an audience?

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