Ok, might as well jump right in:

Lately, I’ve gotten really interested in the ways in which electricity is depicted in 19th century American and British lit. I’ve been particularly interested in the electromagnetic telegraph and its symbioitic relationship with the nervous system metaphor. Marie informed me about the Capitol’s telegraphic history, which got me really interested. Hmm, I wonder if I could somehow do a reading of the building itself….

So I decided to do some exploring (specifically, trying to find more information on the intersection between the technological history and the history of the Capitol) and I found this link. Oh, the wonders of google. Talks about the history of the telegraph and the Capitol, and specifically brings an example of a piece of artwork that’s in the Capitol.

Here’s the article:

http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/art/artifact/Painting_33_00019.htm

And here’s a close up of the painting, entitled Telegraph by Constantino Brumidi:

http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/art/common/image/Painting_33_00019.htm

Weird stuff! I’m especially intrigued by the Europa myth and how Brumidi tailored it for an American myth. Don’t know what to make of it yet, but it could be useful.