Pattern Break

In the attached photo of Gordon Parks’, American Gothic, Parks uses the separation of pattern as social commentary. Perhaps it is Park’s intention to illustrate the fact that the African-American woman can never be homogenous with the “American Dream” a lofty, social ideal represented by the flag, which hangs above her and continues up and into infinity.

The first pattern immediately recognizable is a pattern of stars due to stark contrast. The white stars on a black square are the brightest part of the picture. The stars bleed out the top left of the frame and feel as if they continue beyond the boarder and elevate beyond women in the foreground and up to infinity.

A second pattern is the pattern of gray and white stripes. The stripes also bleed through the top of the frame and into infinity. The straightness of the stripes combined with Park’s composition make the stripes appear as a window of bars in the background. The woman is imprisoned by the American Flag. The box of stars and a third pattern of tools disrupt the pattern of bars.

Although the woman in the photograph is strong, upright and centered in the photograph, she is grouped with the tools. Her expression is flat, her gaze is in no particular direction not out to the viewer nor at the other objects in the photo. She is inanimate. She does not hold a tool to imply use; in fact the shadow cast over her left arm makes her appear armless. To Parks the woman is just one of several tools used to clean up a “mess.” The woman, broom, and mop break the pattern created by the stripes of the flag.

Parks further separates the woman from the background by depth of field and light. The background is soft and a very dark shadow on the right side of the woman makes her appear to only have half of a face. She is very androgynous, although she is in a dress her lack of feminine physicality and narrow masculine, sharp facial features allow that she can be easily confused for a man in a dress. Parks uses pattern break to make a compelling social-political statement.

Director Changa

“The Black Fellini”