Who was Flavio da Silva?

A boy in a Rio favela he photographed

Gordon Parks Quiz: American Gothic Photo and Life Magazine

This Gordon Parks quiz follows the self-taught photographer, writer and filmmaker from Kansas. Play an interactive set of 10 questions on the Farm Security Administration, his American Gothic photo of Ella Watson, Life magazine, Harlem and Flavio, The Learning Tree, Shaft, Essence magazine and his many talents.

Start Gordon Parks Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

State
Which state did Gordon Parks grow up in?
Learn
How did Parks learn photography?
FSA
Which agency did he photograph for in 1942?
Gothic
Who appears in his photo American Gothic, Washington, D.C.?
Life
Which magazine hired him as its first Black staff photographer?
Flavio
Who was Flavio da Silva?
Film
Which 1969 film did he direct from his own novel?
Shaft
Which 1971 detective film did he direct?
Magazine
Which magazine did he help found?
Skills
Which other art did Parks pursue?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which state did Gordon Parks grow up in?
Answer: Kansas
He was born in Fort Scott in 1912.
Q2: How did Parks learn photography?
Answer: He taught himself
He bought a camera at a pawnshop.
Q3: Which agency did he photograph for in 1942?
Answer: Farm Security Administration
Roy Stryker ran the project.
Q4: Who appears in his photo American Gothic, Washington, D.C.?
Answer: Ella Watson, a government cleaner
She holds a mop and broom.
Q5: Which magazine hired him as its first Black staff photographer?
Answer: Life
He joined in 1948.
Q6: Who was Flavio da Silva?
Answer: A boy in a Rio favela he photographed
The story led to donations for his care.
Q7: Which 1969 film did he direct from his own novel?
Answer: The Learning Tree
It was a milestone for Hollywood.
Q8: Which 1971 detective film did he direct?
Answer: Shaft
Its theme song won an Oscar.
Q9: Which magazine did he help found?
Answer: Essence
It launched in 1970.
Q10: Which other art did Parks pursue?
Answer: Music composition
He also wrote poetry and memoirs.

Gordon Parks Quiz – American Gothic Photo and Life Magazine

Gordon Parks was born in Fort Scott, Kansas, in 1912 and taught himself photography with a pawnshop camera. In 1942 he joined the Farm Security Administration photography project.

That year he photographed Ella Watson, a government cleaner, holding a mop and broom before a flag, a picture called American Gothic, Washington, D.C. In 1948 he became Life magazine's first Black staff photographer.

His photo essays covered Harlem, fashion and a sick boy named Flavio in Rio de Janeiro. He directed The Learning Tree in 1969 and Shaft in 1971, helped found Essence magazine and composed music.

What This Quiz Teaches

Art fans will enjoy these questions.

Where he grew up
How he learned
Which photos are famous
Which films he made
What else he created

Did You Know?

The Learning Tree was based on his own novel.
He photographed civil rights leaders like Malcolm X.
He wrote several memoirs.
His foundation supports young artists.
He received the National Medal of Arts.