No medium can capture the reality of human history much like the documentary, and few names in the historical filmmaking industry are as memorable as that of cinematographer Ken Burns. With the premiere of Burns’ newest documentary, ‘Leonardo da Vinci,’ November 18-19, 2024 on PBS, now is the perfect time to review and celebrate the life and work of such an influential thinker.
The Civil War. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1990.
Born July 29, 1953 into an academic family, Burns grew up surrounded by scholarship. When his mother was taken by breast cancer in his youth, he had made it his life’s work to “attempt to make people long gone come back alive,” a desire that manifested in his career in nonfiction filmmaking. His debut feature documentary, Brooklyn Bridge, led to other notable films and miniseries like The Civil War, which broadcasted for five consecutive nights and garnered at least 39 million viewers, making it the most-watched program ever to air on PBS.
Baseball: An Illustrated History. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1994.
The method of slow zooming and panning across still images was Burns‘ signature style, now dubbed the ‘Ken Burns effect‘ for his extensive use of the technique in his films. Burns combined these images with modern cinematography, music, narration, insights from authors, and contemporary quote readings to fully immerse the viewer in the time period. The haunting tension of the Civil War and the singing triumph of America’s favorite past time are underlined by simple musical leitmotifs and melodies, making for rich, dynamic viewings that fuel the mind and engage the emotions.
The War: An Intimate History 1941-1945. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2007.
In his prime, Burns has released more than forty documentaries, covering multiple wars including World War II and the Vietnam War, historical events like Prohibition, the Jazz era, and The Dust Bowl, and biographical portraits of seminal figures such as Thomas Jefferson, Mark Twain, and Muhammad Ali, now with Leonardo da Vinci to add to the collection. To explore our complete selection of Ken Burns books and memorabilia, click here.
