This week we’re talking about real photo postcards. In 1903, Kodak released a camera that allowed people to print postcards from photographs they took themselves. Portable, easy to use, and relatively inexpensive, the postcard camera democratized—and deformalized—visual communication in many of the same ways that social media would 100 years later. Unlike mass-produced postcards, which tend to show standardized views of major landmarks, these small-batch souvenirs offer a personal, idiosyncratic look at what ordinary people cared about: vernacular architecture, college sports teams, candid family portraits, and much more. Join us for a look at some fun and fascinating messages from the past on this picture-perfect new #brattlecast.
Brattlecast #224 - The Kenyan Library
Today we’re talking about Ken’s recent visit to the McMillan Memorial Library in Nairobi, Kenya. The McMillan’s ongoing restoration is the subject of a recent documentary, How to Build a Library, which explores the space’s troubled colonial past and its rebirth as a vibrant, inclusive cultural hub following years of neglect. This inspiring transformation is led by writer Wanjiru Koinange and publisher Angela Wachuka—two Nairobi women with a passion for literature and a mission to empower underserved communities through art, storytelling, and equitable access to information. You can learn more about their organization, Book Bunk, and its projects here.