Oxford: Bodleian Library & Christ Church

self portrait in motion

Today's photography focus was on moving. That is a pretty appropriate theme since everything seemed to move me during today's tour of Oxford. In fact, we kept moving, pressing on from one great thing, object, scene, etc. to another. At the Bodleian Library, I saw the complexities of keeping history alive and well. Deep into our private tour library archives and catacombs,above one of the desks was a handmade collage, in almost a shrine, to the late Michael Jackson. Not twenty feet above this underground area, a shrine to the library's primary founder stands guard, forever in marble. The mixed metaphors of moving or even just me being moved or the delicate dance between the very, very old and the complexities of the modern world seem to be yet another running theme of these blogs.

the real white rabbit hole!

At Christ Church College & Library at Oxford, I was astounded by the number of things that caught my eye, not just the mere attention to detail in the way that traditions are carried out, but the fact that these traditions are so sacred and full of wonder -- it makes perfect sense that people continue in the foot steps of their predecessors. Much like Alice, I felt moved almost like falling down the rabbit hole, as we were immersed into the life and world of Lewis Carrol, the majesty of Alice in Wonderland relived in my head again and again. To see and feel the space that was the genesis for his creative process was surreal. I will always have a fond memory of my brief time at Oxford and the new bits of trivia I picked up here and there.