Working with the Gordon Parks photo assigned to you, start by reading the biography of Gordon Parks on the Gordon Parks Foundation website

https://www.gordonparksfoundation.org/gordon-parks/biography

and the resource given below for that photo. Write down on paper the three main points from the biography and three main points from the resource. Take a photo of your notes and attach it to your final post. You may use other sources as well as long as you credit those sources.

Write two paragraphs in response to the photograph:

Paragraph 1: Describe the photo.

  • What is the subject matter of the photograph?
  • What are the main characteristics of the composition? Use at least two terms from the Week 1: Composition Review page.

Paragraph 2: What is the meaning of the photo?

  • Put the photo into context. When and where was the photo taken? Take this beyond the year and the location. What were the important events of the time that we need to know about to understand the photograph? Who are the people in the photo and what is their significance? What was Parks’ intention when he took that photo? What ideas and/or feelings does the photo convey?

Photo 1 – Diana Florissant, Darius Freeman, Lorena Gonzalez

Resources:

American Gothic by Grant Wood.

https://www.gordonparksfoundation.org/gordon-parks/photography-archive/washington-d-c-and-ella-watson-1942

From A Choice of Weapons:

P. 230

Photo 2- Egly Hoyos, Jennifer Humala

Resource:

https://www.gordonparksfoundation.org/gordon-parks/photography-archive/harlem-gang-leader-1948

Photo 3 – Chris Jean-Baptiste, Dominique Joseph

Resource

https://www.gordonparksfoundation.org/gordon-parks/photography-archive/invisible-man-1952

Photo 4 – Thalia Lloyd-Frontani, Ecquase Onaghise

Resource

https://www.vogue.com/article/gordon-parks-photography-fashion-jack-shainman-gallery

https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/gordon-parks-fashion-photographer-the-gordon-parks-foundation/UAJSPtL5fwxKIA?hl=en

Photo 5 – Daniel Rodriguez, Milan Rodriguez

Resource

https://www.gordonparksfoundation.org/gordon-parks/photography-archive/black-muslims-1963