We live in a visual culture, and the words that we use automatically bring about images in our heads. Using a photosharing database such as flickr we can start to assemble a general consensus of what intimacy looks like.
That is not to argue that it is the correct definition, or the one that we want to work with, but we can map the collective understanding and hopefully search for any particularly startling or intriguing themes.
The process is simple, the images below represent the images that are found using the "most relevant" search, uploaded to flickr tagged with the word “intimacy.“
These pictures were not selected, but were what randomly appeared from the search. There are some surprising results. There are the predictable shots with sexual themes, but the repeated appearance of flowers is unexpected.
There are several images which I debate whether they accurately depict intimacy or not - these are the scenes of the individuals lost in a world going on around them, without acknowledgement of their existence. I imagine that the argument is that it is intimate as it is this view to a unguarded emotional state, however for me these images more accurately depict alienation - the exact opposite of intimacy. Perhaps there is an intimacy in revealing one's alienation?... I don't know.
As for the guy in the office - I have no idea.
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