Paper short abstract:

With photography as method and product I conduct an architectural anthropology of physical structures used by former occupational military in Berlin. Sites in various stages of repurposing and individuals with connections to the structures are photographed to examine how relationships to political structures change over time.

Paper long abstract:

A politically and culturally conscious approach to urban preservation must consider public memory and understand space as a cultural product. Using photography I create a visual text of these structures including portraiture of current and previously connected 'actors', to form an anthropological analysis of space and place for these specific political structures in Berlin. These structures are sites of collective memory and in their decay continue to be experienced in different ways across Berlin.

As the 20th anniversary of the end of Berlin's occupation nears (1994-2014), a comprehensive anthropology of these sites as dynamic cultural loci is culturally, historically, and fiscally relevant. Such analysis provides crucial information for the preservation and re-use of these structures and others across Europe.

Considering photographs as a textual form susceptible to bias and subjectivity, a conscious approach is vital. As data collection decisions affect textual products, maintaining detailed field journals to provide reflexive explanations regarding photographic decisions allow images to be seen and understood as negotiable ideas, open for further critique and analysis, rather than mere visual 'evidence'.

Methodologically, using photographs of the structure's current state as well as historical photographs in interview situations affect the quality of collected data. Connections between researcher and subjects occur over common knowledge and experience of the sites. Viewing current and historical photographs yields emotional responses that influence not only data gathered on how the subjects relate with the structures. The result is a visual anthropology and examination on how photographic representations influence memory to create anthropologic value.