1. AGAINST ALL
SORTS OF SOCIAL
WRONGS:
THE FSA Photos of
Gordon Parks
Adrienne Phelps Coco
BHCC
June 18th, 2012
2. Our Goals for Today:
THE SKINNY
Identify key concepts about the relationship between the
Roosevelt administration and the African American
community.
FOR THE TOOLKIT
Learn to “read” photographs as historical evidence.
CONNECT THE DOTS
Craft your own argument about the Great Depression by
analyzing the photographs of Gordon Parks.
4. "I saw that the camera could be a
weapon against poverty, against
racism, against all sorts of social
wrongs. I knew at that point I had
to have a camera.”
Gordon Parks (1999)
8. Journal Assignment:
Find a documentary photograph in a newspaper
of your choice.
What’s happening in the photograph? What
details do you see that make you think this?
What insights into American culture in 2012
does the photograph give you?
How would the photo be a good source for
future historians?
9. Image List:
• Slide One:
• Gordon Parks, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
• Slide Three:
• Gordon Parks, “Self Portrait,” Startribune.com, 1945.
• Shaft Poster, IMDB.com, 1971.
• Slide Five:
• Ralph Lauren Ad, 2009.
• L. Wallack, “Double Portrait: Barber and Client,” from the American Museum of
Photography, 1885.
• “The Giant Baby,” from the American Museum of Photograph, c. 1865.
• Slide Six:
• Gordon Parks, “Mrs. Ella Watson, a government charwoman, with three grandchildren
and her adopted daughter.” Library of Congress Prints and Photographs, 1942.
• Slide Seven:
• Gordon Parks, “American Gothic, Washington D.C.” Corcoran Gallery of Art, 1942.
• Grant Wood, “American Gothic,” 1930.
Editor's Notes
Pedagogy: Lendol Calder’s Uncoverage: Toward a Signature Pedagogy for the History Survey --- teaching students how to interpret primary documents.
Model, Fillipa Hamilton. SPHERICAL CAMERA ANALOGY
What’s going on in this photo? What do you see that makes you think that? GRANT WOOD. How is this different than the original American Gothic? BACK TO QUOTE: I saw that the camera could be a weapon against poverty, against racism, against all sorts of social wrongs. What arguments about race and poverty during the depression is Parks making here? Do you think he’s effective? Is this a good tactic? Why or why not?
