Photorientalist.org is an independent public history website dedicated to the visual history of the Middle East from its 19th century beginnings until the 20th century before the digital age. The first images of the region were taken by European photographers and travelers shortly after the birth of photography in their own continent. Although these photographs offer valuable documentation of the people, landscapes, and archeological sites of the region, they were taken through a western lens reflecting a bias which came to be labeled as Orientalism. However, as the medium evolved it was taken over by indigenous photographers whose work stood out as more authentic than that of their predecessors.
The mission of photorientalist.org is to preserve and share its growing collection in order to raise awareness about the rich and diverse history of the Middle East and North Africa. While the region has often been portrayed as homogenous and primitive, photographs spanning two hundred years of history prove the contrary. Moreover, in order to explain the significance of the images in our collection, we contextualize the photographs with in-depth articles or personal narratives. The texts and photographs are featured in exhibitions focused on a range of topics including historical personalities and events, archeological sites and trails, and successful businesses and ventures.
In order to reach a wider audience and cover a broader range of topics, the website seeks to collaborate with other collectors who share the same passion by showcasing their images and the stories behind them. Submissions may be made in the form of scanned images and text which will be appropriately credited. The website’s success depends on these valuable contributions.
For submissions, please contact us at nschiller@photorientalist.org
Travelogues website was created within the broader project of Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation to promote Greek culture, and especially Greek literature, on a national and international level. This website aims to make known the graphic materials found in travel accounts of journeys to Greece and the eastern Mediterranean from the 15th century onwards, and thus contribute both to students' education and scientific research. An important part of the editions that constituted the data base of the website belongs to the Historical Library of the Foundation, currently under construction.
Travelogues will periodically be updated with material from major libraries in Greece, such as Gennadius Library and Benaki Museum Library. This material, already in process, spans the time from the 15th to the early 20th century. Of approximately 4500 images, 560 have already been incorporated in the website's collections. In the same sense, the bibliography shall be updated with the most recent research contributions. User feedback will be taken into consideration and the pertinent modifications will get reflected.
And see AWOL's round-up of Open Access Travel Literature.
Posts
Stumble It!
