1] what you see in the photograph [simple and objective] - an African American woman is holding a mop and a broom in front of an American flag.
2] what the photo looks like its saying to you [your initial analysis] - America isn't always what it seems and certainly wasn't back then. The photo shows the real life of the underdogs behind the flag, the true working class.
3] comparisons and contrasts to grant wood's "american gothic" - They both show similar portrait styles, neither look very happy, and they are both holding tools. In Wood's photo the people are well dressed, in front of a nice farm house, and show that if you work hard, you can be successful. Meanwhile, Gordon's photo shows a black woman in work clothes, in front of a flag, and shows that no matter how hard you work segregation and discrimination will in some cases prevent you from getting any farther.
4] what you think the the photograph really means [your interpretation] - I think it shows life of regular people doing everyday things, but posed in a really different and contrivercial way.
5] whether or not you think that it is a successful photograph - I think it is successful in showing the everyday people in a different way.
1 comment:
your insight are very keen. i'd be interested to know what you think about how someone might remake this photo today? what specific forms of prejudice exist today?
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