Documentary Photography of the American Counterculture

Originally published in 1971, Tulsa is a fundamental work of documentary photography and the American counterculture. Through 64 black-and-white images, Larry Clark portrays the life of Midwestern youth in the sixties, showing scenes of violence, drug use, and relationships marked by marginality. Considered a direct and unfiltered testimony, the book sparked controversy for its rawness and honesty and has become a reference for understanding the social and cultural changes of the era.

Far from the ideal of American suburbs, Clark reveals the hidden life behind the facades: weapons, drugs, and sex are part of the daily life of a group of young people who, at first glance, would seem ordinary. The work, strongly autobiographical, documents for three years the experiences of his circle of friends, offering an unprecedented “inside” perspective until then. While photographers like Robert Frank explored the United States as external observers, Clark provides an internal view that combines the style of documentary with the visual narrative of classic photo essays, but with an intimacy and rawness that would influence later generations.

The influence of Tulsa has been decisive in contemporary photography, along with the work of authors such as Nan Goldin, and it is considered a milestone within the so-called intimate photography.

Author Biography

Larry Clark (Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1943) is a photographer and filmmaker. Known for his provocative and realistic work, he has explored themes such as adolescence, violence, and drug addiction in American society. Tulsa is his first published work and one of the most influential within the genre.