How does an image become “iconic?” And when it does, will its meaning change? Host Vincent Brown explores these questions as he zooms in on one of the most well-known photos from September 11: “Raising the Flag at Ground Zero.” Photographer Thomas E. Franklin talks about the instant he captured the actions of the firefighters and the experience of watching his work become a cultural phenomenon.
This program is made possible by viewers like you. Support your local PBS station: https://www.pbs.org/donate
Subscribe to the PBS channel for more clips: https://www.youtube.com/PBS/
Enjoy full episodes of your favorite PBS shows anytime, anywhere with the free PBS Video App: https://to.pbs.org/2QbtzhR
FOLLOW THE BIGGER PICTURE:
https://www.instagram.com/biggerpicturepbs/
FOLLOW US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PBS/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PBS/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PBS/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pbs
Shop: https://shop.pbs.org/
#BiggerPicturePBS #911 #Photography
ABOUT THE SERIES:
Images can tell powerful stories. One iconic photograph can symbolize an entire era. But if we expand the frame and examine the moment in which it was taken, a very different story can emerge. In this series of documentary shorts, Harvard University historian Dr. Vincent Brown meets with curators, photographers and other experts to challenge common assumptions about iconic American images.
THE BIGGER PICTURE is a co-production of Timestamp Media LLC and The WNET Group, in association with Harvard University’s History Design Studio at the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research, and Vision Maker Media.
Major funding for THE BIGGER PICTURE was provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Additional funding was provided by the Anderson Family Charitable Fund, the Tamara L. Harris Foundation, the William Talbott Hillman Foundation, the Philip and Edith Leonian Foundation and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Additional funding for the digital production of THE BIGGER PICTURE was provided by Chasing the Dream – a public media initiative from The WNET Group, reporting on poverty, opportunity, and justice in America, and supported by The JPB Foundation, The Peter G. Peterson and Joan Ganz Cooney Fund and Sue and Edgar Wachenheim, III.
source
Interesting
Devastating
I was in the 7 grade when it happened I remember going to school on that day
We sure paid for our addiction to oil.
Orchestrated event.
It shows America's obsession with a flag, and propaganda.
It’s crazy how the same photo taken from a different angle doesn’t send nearly the same message.
It's absolutely embarrassing that there are firemen today who call 911 a scam knowing how many vitamin died trying to save people
Anybody interview the firefighters pictured for their thoughts?
As a military spouse I knew this was war as soon as I heard it on the radio!
because it matched the victorious Rosenfeld WWII photo, that's why it was so important and why it was so archetypal. it was familiar and powerful
And yet the casualty pales in comparison to the US's illegitimate attacks on multiple nations, specially considering most had nothing to do with the attacks.
US funded and sponsored terrorists go rogue and attack US, you know how the saying goes, what you sow is what you reap
sadly at the end it was civilians of multiple countries, US included, that paid the price….. But Hey, oil was cheap for a while so 👍👍
One aspect of this image that my wife and I noticed last night is that the flag(even through it is going up) is at half-mast. It just another layer of how an image can work on a deeper psychological level.
If you're enjoying The Bigger Picture, make sure to follow our Instagram account (https://bit.ly/3cTZTFL) where we release extra content, behind the scenes footage, and provide updates on upcoming episodes.
This photo was in our local paper– this photo has been cropped, and removes a fourth firefighter lower in the photo, with his back to the camera, saluting the flag. It was much more powerful than this photo. I'm so frustrated that this shot is the only one that is shown.
It may be twenty-one years later, but it feels like yesterday…💔
If
If Adaora Udoji really would like to make changes at PBS he would boldly show the new Film "Uncle Tom" and raise funds for the station instead of the usual liberal nonsense.There was a time The programs on PBS reached out to every American but this has all changed due to the political climate at the station.
Gg
Subcultured sent me here and I’m glad
I think the reason why it was so popular is because of the time and positioning of the men who were rising the flag and the flag it self. The pole being at this and angle along with the flag almost representing the aftermath and the symbolism of the flag almost saying you know it got knocked down but its getting back up. It needed to be uplifting it needed to respark the nation so having the shot at a different angles wont sell it because the viewer or the person whos reading the newspaper wont get that uplifting feel. So having the wide shot with the men below rising the pole up and the flag into this angle the photo being captured at this perfect timing works because it needs to show that we are not out we will rebuild and recover. The men all dirty the background showing the destruction of the event and then this image being the aftermath shot.
What's the tune towards the end?
I’m seeing the Iwo Jima memorial. That’s the image that comes to mind and why this is so impressive.
5:12 I'm glad other pictures were shown. I finally have a picture that is much more relatable to me in feeling and in message.