Heuristic displays of photographic images inside the home: Greek family photographs as efficient agents of an appropriate past, proper present and inspired future
Résumé
This article deals with the meaning of particular family photographs that subjects use inside their homes as special objects from their family past. These objects usually decorate the interior of their homes or remain hidden in cupboards and chests. During the interviews, upon which the research for this article is based, the informants move and reposition these items from the already constructed object assemblages in order to produce a better display for the researcher. This rather occasional decision helps the informant to reconstruct and reconnect life projects and everyday lifestyles to the family past. In this article I will focus only on the ways in which the informants, through photographic images argue for a 'proper' present linked to a proper family past. Photographic images are used in everyday life in heuristic ways, entangled with values and desires in order to maintain the family legacy for posterity