Skip to main content Smithsonian Institution

Catalog Data

Producer:
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution  Search this
CC-M Productions  Search this
Sitter:
Gordon Parks, 30 Nov 1912 - 7 Mar 2006  Search this
Interviewer:
Marc Pachter  Search this
Medium:
Video recording
Dimensions:
Duration: 01 hr., 12 min.
Type:
Time-Based Media
Date:
June 25, 1991
Description:
The Smithsonian Institutions’ Deputy Assistant Secretary for External Affairs Marc Pachter interviews Gordon Parks as part of the National Portrait Gallery’s education series, Living Self-Portraits. As a photographer, artist, poet, director, and composer, Gordon Parks transformed American perspectives through his keen interest in the human condition, capturing poverty and racial struggles in his work. His successes include several photographic essays in Life magazine, fashion editorials in Vogue, a successful writing career, becoming the first African American director in Hollywood, and being a man who sees the individual for what they are, themselves. Pachter and Parks delve into his past focusing on how his struggles and courageous family with admirable morals shaped his future. Coming from a large but broken family, Parks was homeless by the age of 15. Regardless of his circumstances, Parks saw a future for himself and knew that he was meant to use his creativity to serve the public. The conversation between Pachter and Parks examines the growth and development that occurred throughout Park’s life and how he became one of the greatest documentary photographers of the twentieth century.
Recorded on June 25, 1991
Full transcript available upon request from NPGResearch@si.edu. Please include the Object Number in your request. Please allow 3-5 business days for processing.
Topic:
Gordon Parks: Male  Search this
Gordon Parks: Literature\Writer  Search this
Gordon Parks: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Composer  Search this
Gordon Parks: Society and Social Change\Reformer\Social reformer  Search this
Gordon Parks: Literature\Writer\Poet  Search this
Gordon Parks: Visual Arts\Artist\Photographer  Search this
Gordon Parks: Journalism and Media\Journalist  Search this
Gordon Parks: Performing Arts\Performing arts director\Film director  Search this
Gordon Parks: Performing Arts\Filmmaker  Search this
Gordon Parks: Visual Arts\Artist\Photographer\Fashion photographer  Search this
Gordon Parks: Society and Social Change\Reformer\Activist\Civil rights activist  Search this
Gordon Parks: Literature\Writer\Novelist  Search this
Gordon Parks: Literature\Editor  Search this
Gordon Parks: Literature\Writer\Screenwriter  Search this
Gordon Parks: Society and Social Change\Founder  Search this
Gordon Parks: Performing Arts\Performing arts director\Television director  Search this
Portrait  Search this
Credit Line:
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution: Audio/Visual Special Collection
Object number:
AV.1991.EDU.1
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
Copyright:
© 1991 NPG, SI
See more items in:
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location:
Currently not on view
Data Source:
National Portrait Gallery
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4c133a13c-13f1-4f7e-99e5-e4268513c87c
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:npg_AV.1991.EDU.1