Jerry Berndt: Beautiful America

Jerry Berndt (born 1944) documented the period between 1968 and 1980 in America like no other photographer. Personally involved in the anti-Vietnam War activities of the 1960s, Berndt combines photojournalism with documentary, conceptual and street photography to create a unique view of America's social constitution during these decisive years. Berndt consistently placed himself near political conflict, systematically portraying the spectrum of America's people and cityscapes, including the middle and working classes, as well as the inhabitants of America's often ignored ghettos. In the early 1970s, Berndt withdrew from political protest and worked for newspapers, imbuing his pictures with a timelessness beyond current events. His work from this period shows how Americans expressed themselves culturally and socially, while also exposing the foundation of America's changeable urban infrastructure. This book visualizes an important, uneasy period of transition in America's recent history, and highlights the literal and ironic aspects of its beauty.
A gorgeous book that's hard to explain but is highly worth reading from an author who doesn't get nearly enough attention for her brilliance.--Roxane Gay
Frustrated by how little she could discover about her Aunt Constance, Green, a visual artist, has confected a life for her in a pastiche of a mid-century family scrapbook.--New Yorker
The gritty portraits of Beautiful America sum up the irony of this country's origin spotlighting the thick layer of dirt covering America's infamous reputation; an empire built on stolen land, the labor of enslaved Black people, and the abuse of white privilege for unruly power.--Peter Kougias "Musee "