ASSIGNMENTS

I think that photography, and art in general, has a very big influence on impacting the minds and hearts of the masses. Gordon Parks's photos teach us that photography serves a much greater power than to look visually appealing on an Instagram feed or desktop wallpaper. The images tell us a story, we are able to see and feel the emotions and moods of the subjects being portrayed. It can be much more impactful than the stark, dry writing of a newspaper article. The viewer is placed directly in the scene, instead of looking in on it from an outside perspective.

Through photography, Parks was able to portray an image of America to the world that had never been seen before, from a perspective that had also never been seen before. His identity as a black man allowed him to portray an image of black America that was totally new to the readers of LIFE magazine and the American public. His photography depicted the struggles and triumphs of the common people. He used the camera as a weapon to show and raise attention to the injustice that black people face on a daily basis. One image that stuck out to me specifically, is the photo of the woman holding a mop in front of the American flag. The title suggests she is a cleaner for government offices. To me, the message is clear, this woman is working to serve a country that doesn't serve her. But this message is not blatant, it comes across as a feeling that you can see in the woman's face. I find this to be a super impactful thing, that can only be brought to light by a photographer who can identify with his subjects.

It is also clear that Parks had a very close and trusting relationship with his subjects, which I think significantly impacted the way he photographed them. It can sometimes be hard to photograph people, as they are often self-conscious about their appearance and worried about how they are perceived. But I think that through spending time with them and really getting to know his subjects, Parks was able to break down some of their walls and really capture the true essence of who they are. Additionally, he chose to photograph his subjects in a way that contradicted the expectations of whom the person should be. For example, in his photo essay for LIFE "Harlem Gang Leader," he humanized the supposedly scary 'gangster' and portrayed him as a caring guy going about his normal human business. This is one of the many ways that photography can make a real social impact.