This is a sad week, isn't it? Gordon Parks has deep roots in St. Paul. My great respect for him stems from working on Twin Cities Public Television's Literature & Life documentary, produced by Daniel Bergen. Watching this interview footage, learning how he overcame his obstacles and was empowered by his camera - who could not be moved? The notion that a camera is a weapon is powerful and irrisistable. I like to believe his spirit provides fuel for the videoblogging movement:
"You don't need the gun, the knife, to do it. You can do it with your pen or your computer, you can do it with a paint brush and so forth. You can be heard, and heard a lot longer and a lot stronger, if you use the right weapons. And those are the weapons that I have chosen."
This bit of interview details how he came to photograph Ella Watson for his famous photograph, American Gothic.
Posted by Minnesota Stories on March 8, 2006 02:59 AM
