Gordon Parks (1912-2006) was a seminal photographer of the last century. His mostly black and white photography captured and illustrated the stories of the impoverished, the Civil Rights Movement, blue-collar workers, children, artists and fashionistas. In the 1940s, Parks became the first African American staff photographer and writer for the most prominent publication of the time, Life Magazine. A man who did not believe in limits, Parks added author, screenplay writer, composer and film director to his credits. He famously directed the original Shaft and subsequent sequel as well as authored the book The Learning Tree. His works continue to be far-reaching and iconic.
Impoverished boy – Rio de Janeiro El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz – Malcolm X American Gothic.
Beggar Woman and Child, 1950
https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.170986.html
More of his images can be found at: https://www.nga.gov/collection-search-result.html?artobj_credit=Corcoran%20Collection%20(The%20Gordon%20Parks%20Collection)
Watch the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_NP_aM3f34
The Hidden Power of Gordon Parks. And take 20 notes while you watch the video. Open up the transcript as well and pause to write down the 20 interesting facts. You must include an explanation or description for the Three Step Process: Familiar Scene, Shake Up Expectations and Empathy.
