Compare and contrast photographs using Gordon Parks
American Gothic
and Margaret Bourke-White's
In the Time of the Louisville Flood.
Discuss the American Dream. What do students think it means? Let students raise their hand and write down a variety of answers on the blackboard. Ask questions such as; what group or groups of people are allowed to participate in it? Are there some groups who aren't allowed? Are there some groups who have more rights than others?
Then hand out copies of Bourke-White's
In the Time of the Louisville Flood,
and Gordon Parks
, American Gothic,
both
available online. Let the students explore them at their desk. Then starting with Bourke-White's photo ask them
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· How many people are in the photo?
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· What expressions do the people have on their faces?
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· What looms in the background?
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· Does it remind them of any current weather catastrophes?
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· Are there any white people in line?
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· Why are the people in line?
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· In what way does the billboard behind them mock or make fun of the American Dream?
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· What do they think was the point Bourke-White was trying to make when she took this photo?
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After spending quality time looking and writing about
In the time of The Louisville flood
, hand out
American Gothic
, along with a copy of Grant Wood's
American Gothic
. Ask similar questions such as:
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· Who is in this photo?
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· How old do you think she is?
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· What is her job?
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· What does it mean that there is an American flag in the background?
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· What is the expression on her face?
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· In what way is the painting similar to the photo?
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· In what way is it different?
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· Is the woman in the photo posing?
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· What point do you think Gordon Parks is making with American gothic?
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· How are the two photos similar? How are they different?