Chairs, Rose Bowl Parade--Pasadena, California 1956

Robert Frank made this gelatin silver print, "Chairs, Rose Bowl Parade--Pasadena, California," sometime in the mid-20th century. The image is a black and white photograph, apparently taken through a window. Frank, a Swiss immigrant, is known for his outsider perspective on American society. This photograph, with its rows of empty chairs awaiting the Rose Parade, speaks volumes about the rituals of American culture. The chairs, elevated on crates, suggest a reserved space, a commodity in high demand for this annual spectacle. We might consider how the Rose Parade, an event celebrated since 1890, reflects the social and economic structures of its time. Research into the parade's history and the city of Pasadena could reveal insights into the values and power dynamics at play in this slice of American life. Frank's photograph encourages us to consider how cultural events, like the Rose Parade, are framed and consumed within a specific social context.