Friday, March 23, 2012
Fight the Power!
Choose one director we've studied over the past year and a half and discuss his influence on Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing. I want you to discuss this in 2 paragraphs. In your third paragraph, I want to hear your reaction to this film, especially the ending. What do you think Lee is trying to say? Did you like it? How did the film make you feel?
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“Do the Right Thing” is a 1989 drama directed by Spike Lee about the race relations in Brooklyn, centered at a local Italian pizzeria on the hottest day of the summer. Spike Lee clearly has taken inspiration for the technical and creative aspects of the film from many directors, but I think that the most prominent influence is from director Stanley Kubrick. Even on the surface the similarities are striking: “Do the Right Thing” was considered quite the controversial film upon release, and Kubrick, the director of “Lolita”, “Dr. Strangelove”, and “A Clockwork Orange”, among others, was not strange to stirring controversy with his films. Spike Lee is not afraid to use close-ups in “Do the Right Thing” in order to create tension and provoke anger, but he also knows when to distance the viewer from what it happening on screen with the use of wide-shots. Kubrick is often famous for alternating between wide-shots and close-ups and even extreme close-ups. Both directors use these tactics to create moods and tones. In “Dr. Strangelove” there are three central locations where all the scenes occur – the war room, the fighter plane, and the military base; in the war room Kubrick uses wide shots to create an eerie, open feeling; in the fighter plane he uses intense close-ups to convey the intensity and gravity of the situation; in the military base he uses shaky, hand-held camera to convey the chaos of the situation; one exception is the extreme, low angle close up of General Ripper to create a monster like image. Lee often uses close-ups in the pizzeria where the tension is highest and wide-shots on the street, while Mookie is delivering pizza, where things are more calmed.
ReplyDeleteBoth directors also use colors as heavy symbolism, and as a means of character development. “Do the Right Thing” is saturated with warm colors – reds, oranges, yellows, browns. The day is supposed to be the hottest of the year, and the colors help to convey that heat, which in turn help to convey the escalating racial tensions. In “The Shinning” Kubrick uses cool colors – grey, dark blue, icy white – to convey the coldness, as well as the lack of affection between the father and his wife and son. Lee stylizes the film effectively – the film is meant to be gritty, real life, real people, real dialogue, but there is still a very distinct style to it, from the painted red walls, to the “Love” and “Hate” brass knuckles that Radio wears (both setting and costumes). Neither directors shy away from violence either, whether it is the killing of Radio and the burning of Sal’s pizzeria in “Do the Right Thing”, or brutal beating of the older woman and attempted suicide of Alex in “A Clockwork Orange”; both directors also have heavy political undertones that do not even attempt to be subtle (which is more of a compliment than anything).
I don’t think that the film takes a firm stand as to whether it is anti or pro violence. The ending is left relatively ambiguous – it sort of left to decide as to Mookie’s intentions of throwing the trash can threw the window of the pizzeria. The action probably saved Sal’s life, so it could be argued that that is the reason as to why Mookie did it, but he also just witnessed the police murder one of his friends, so it could have been out of anger. Lee is basically just filming realism, saying this is how it is, this is what happened, and the audience can judge any character and their actions however they want. I liked the film, but I feel that if Lee is taking a stance on pro-violence than it cheapens the message; you wouldn’t want a war film to be pro-war, so why would you want a film on the racism and violence in the city to be pro-violence. However, despite the violence I do think that the film is a hopeful message, with Mookie and Sal, despite the violence of the previous night, are able to reconcile (albeit cautiously reconcile).
Spike Lee’s 1989 comedy/drama, “Do the Right Thing,” was clearly inspired by the great Woody Allen. Although Allen’s films can be considered contextually lighter and less controversial, the films share several cinematic similarities. The most recognized relation is the stylized dialogue. For example, Allen’s “Annie Hall” is spoken as a stream of consciousness where the dialogue quickly moves from one thing to the next. “Do the Right Thing” is spoken in a similar manner, as each character flawlessly reacts to one another in a very natural and unrehearsed way. This critical aspect of each film creates an extremely strong sense of realism. With this, the characters in both directors films’ evoke this realism, as they are gritty, quirky, and unglamorized. Both films allow viewers to make connections between the characters onscreen and the people they interact with daily. This is tactically used by Lee and Allen to grant the viewer the power to connect with the film and find meaning in relation to their own lives.
ReplyDeleteSound is used in both films to create verisimilitude and make the viewer comfortable and familiar. In “Do the Right Thing,” Public Enemy’s music is recurring, to not only do this for the audience but to help establish mood. Although from a completely opposite genre, Gershwin is similarly used in Woody Allen’s “Manhattan.” Setting also plays an imperative cinematic role in both movies. Allen’s films often take place in iconic American cities such as New York and San Francisco. His films, “Annie Hall” and “Manhattan” serve as homages for his favorite place, NYC. “Do the Right Thing” was also shot in the city, which can be seen as an emblem for that time period and the social change America was enduring. Both directors often focus on socio-cultural issues and explore ideas of human relationships. The context of Lee’s film centers around race relations in the 80’s during the time of an altering nation and world. This relates to Allen’s films, as his often focus on a changing culture as well- one that he wishes would go back to the way it used to be. As aforementioned, Allen touches on these subjects in a much more comical and implicit way, but both directors succeed in making their films relevant and powerful.
“Do the Right Thing” can be taken as a political piece that is pro-violence, saying that self-defense is an appropriate and natural response to oppression. However, I do not take it that way. I think Lee, especially in the final scene, is advocating for non-violence, showing that it is most important to act civil even in times of such oppression. The violent uproar at the end of the film is Lee’s way of showing what not to do, and the destruction that can be caused when people fail to see each other as equals. It is one of the most powerful and thought-provoking race-relations films I have ever seen and really enjoyed it.
Spike Lee once stated that he was heavily influenced by a man who preceded him at NYU, Martin Scorsese, and in “Do the Right Thing” this influence is clear. Both this film and Scorsese’s early successes, namely Mean Streets and Taxi Driver, are set in New York, with the city, whether it be the condensed heat or inescapable scum, motivating the characters to resort to violence. However, in both the case of Travis shooting the pimp and Mookie throwing the garbage can, this violence was for a greater good.
ReplyDeleteBoth men knew the city well, and were thus able to portray it as they saw it in their films, through the manipulation of light and shot type. Just as Scorsese used dark lighting to imply Travis’ digression into insanity, Lee used bright, hot lighting to intensify the conflict. The lighting, although different, also contributed to verisimilitude in both cases, giving the audience the impression that they could see Mookie or Travis if they were in New York. This realism is enhanced further by the seemingly effortless acting and the directors’ decision to actually film on the streets of New York. Although the cinematography of Do the Right Thing is much more stylized than typical Scorsese films, there are still similarities with both directors take a cue from the shadows and dutch angles of German Expressionism, while also employing low angled closeups of the characters, especially in instances of frustration and mental anguish. Both men also produced films that were essentially plotless, so as to place more emphasis on the social aspects of the films: racism and the problems of isolation, both of which are byproducts of America and New York.
Lee made it clear in Do the Right Thing that there are no heros and villains or clearcut answers on this hot day in Brooklyn, or in regards to racism in general. I thus feel that the violence is extremely appropriate, as it shows how suspicion and all of the preexisting notions we have fuel intolerance and aggression, but not at the fault of the people involved. Buggin’ Out start the protest because he is used to being intentionally looked down upon, and thus looks for it. Sal, due to his own preconceptions and racial fears, responds with aggression, which causes Radio Raheem and then the police to do so as well. But it is not anyone’s fault, it is simply hard to do the right thing when no one knows exactly what the right thing is, something I thought Lee portrayed perfectly.
“Do the Right Thing” is an American comedy-drama written, produced and directed by Spike Lee. The film explores race relations, as tempers run high in a mostly black neighborhood in Brooklyn. As Alex mentioned previously, there is no question that as a student of film, Lee, was exposed to many directing styles which ultimately contributed to his style as a filmmaker. While this is no doubt an unorthodox choice, I would argue that Lee was certainly influenced to an extent by films directed by Martin Scorsese.
ReplyDeleteLike Scorsese, Lee attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and both directors earned an MFA in film. As a result, it seems likely that both directors had similar educations. On a basic level, both filmmakers capture the essence of areas of New York City. In many cases, Scorsese and Lee specifically capture the lives of Italian-Americans and African-Americans, respectively. Yet both filmmakers also show the racial tensions and feelings that their characters experience in New York. In “Taxi Driver”, Travis has a vehement disgust for the black people he sees engaging in immoral activities on the streets. One could argue that Buggin’ Out, Lee’s antagonistic character in “Do the Right Thing” has similar feelings of dislike for white people, although admittedly for different reasons. These tensions often culminate in violence. Both directors often rely on popular music within their films. Scorsese often uses non-diegetic soundtracks in his films. For instance, in “Mean Streets”, the soundtrack is primarily rock based which creates an intense atmosphere throughout the scene. Like Scorsese, Lee also relies on music to convey a particular tone in “Do the Right Thing”. However, Lee utilizes the diegetic music of N.W.A.’s song “Fight the Power” to incite the audience and implicitly urge them to stand up against oppressive forces.
When I first viewed “Do the Right Thing”, the ending was unbearably tense for me. At first, I was furious that the cop refused to stop strangling Radio Raheem, but at the same time I felt sympathy for Sal when Mookie threw the trash can into Sal’s Pizzeria. Prior to reading analyses of the ending of the film, I just assumed that Mookie was showing his unity with the black people in his neighborhood rather than Sal. However, I think it is interesting to consider that Mookie did it as a way to protect Sal. I loved what Alex said regarding how Lee was just filming realism. I never considered that interpretation, however, I feel as though it is pretty accurate. “Do the Right Thing” has been one of my favorite films since I watched it last year. His ability to make the audience feel, be it the hot temperature or the blazing tensions, is what solidifies his role as a great filmmaker in my eyes.
In the making of his 1989 drama “Do the Right Thing”, it is apparent that Spike Lee drew inspiration from countless directors that came before him. This is no wonder considering his film education received at New York University. The film pulls together a series of brilliant techniques that sort of bend the “rules” of filmmaking, much like those used by Italian director and screenwriter Federico Fellini. “Do the Right Thing” can be paralleled to Fellini’s “Amarcord” as both films seem to reveal something about each director himself. While Lee’s film is the ultimate example of his passion for exploring urban life and race relations through film, we as the audience feel connected to characters such as Mookie, played by Lee, and can sense that the director created a piece of his own experiences and put it on the screen. Similarly, “Amarcord” or “I remember” is Fellini’s nostalgic interpretation of his own past. Thus, both directors hold their own experiences close to heart.
ReplyDeleteStylistically, similarities between the two directors are identifiable as well. Most notably is perhaps the use of documentary realism. With shots of characters looking directly into the cameras they perform monologues or offer opinions, the directors push beyond neorealism as if to connect the audience to their characters for extreme effects in conveying emotions and ideas. One might call it “breaking the fourth wall”.
While watching “Do the Right Thing” I think we all felt the heat. Many of the more “relieving” scenes were interrupted by white, adult males such as the fire hydrant scene where the white man’s car is soaked as the neighborhood plays in their homemade sprinkler or the instance where the white man on the bike is confronted by neighborhood teens. This only contributed to the tension felt between races. I believe that Lee intended to capture a realistic day in the life that would exaggerate racial tension enough to draw the public’s attention to it. In one interview, Lee stated that only white viewers ever asked the question “did Mookie do the right thing?”. I find myself wondering the same thing and that was most likely another reaction Lee was going for. Ultimately I empathized with Sal the most as he did nothing wrong in my eyes. He was proud of his Italian heritage just as Buggin’ Out and Radio Raheem were (outstandingly) proud to be African American. I think that’s what makes this film so interesting to study- the different interpretations and lessons taken from it and how they differ from person to person, regardless of race.
“Do the Right Thing” is a 1989 drama directed by Spike Lee, who is also a character in the film. The film is based around racial issues, but Lee takes a different approach than other directors in this film, as the cinematography, and story line are very unique. As a result of this, the director Woody Allen influenced Lee. As a director, Woody has produced many films that make it easy for the audience to connect to and understand because they are very personal and seem like reality, not rehearsed. They both are able to create this feeling of realism. I feel that Allen was successful in creating this world of realism for the audience because he used real life situations in a way that was raw and true to form. Lee does the same as he shows the real racial issues and how they were dealt with.
ReplyDeleteOne of Allen’s films that I feel exemplifies his style that Lee was then influenced by is “Annie Hall.” One thing that I did notice about “Do the Right Thing” and “Annie Hall” is that Woody Allen and Spike Lee both direct and make an appearance in their own films. Not only do they make an appearance, they are the main characters in the film.
I enjoyed this film a lot. The cinematography in this film is amazing! The close ups that were used, as well as the dutch angles added to the film as though it was another character. The camera angles and positions were used to help express the story to the audience. Lee was trying to show his audiences what the real world is like. Even though some may argue that this film may be pro –violence, I do not think that that what was Lee was promoting at all. I think he was just showing what could, and does happen, but by him adding the ending I think it shows that you have to keep moving on in life and not to harp on the past. Even though Mookie just had to deal with watching his friend die, he realizes that the rest of the world is still living and that reality hit for him that he has to sustain his family.
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ReplyDeleteSpike Lee’s film Do the Right Thing, filmed in 1989 is a controversial film displaying the racial issues in a small Brooklyn neighborhood. Lee was not afraid to use harsh language and graphics to get his point across and besides they matched perfectly with his harsh style of cinematography. Lee shocks the audience with stark close ups and brilliantly bright colors. His style of cinematography seems to have a number of different influences ranging from Martin Scorsese to Woody Allen, but the one movie that I find the similarity with is Rebel without a cause. The use of cinematography and mise-en-scene to create meaning throughout the film is something that both films utilize. The color red especially is used in both films to portray the harshness of the characters realities and also their passion for what they stand for. The African- Americans standing firm in their beliefs for equality in Do the Right Thing and the children yearning passionately for the love support of their parents.
ReplyDeleteSpike Lee seems to use a common thread in all of his films and that is controversy. He likes to speak on all issues of race and cultural prejudices. However what he did in Do the Right Thing was unlike anything he had done before. The takes place through the course of one of the hottest days in Brooklyn. Both the setting and the plot are centered on Sal’s Pizzeria. As the day goes on and the temperature increases the agitation increases, the hostility, heightens, and the intensity increases. Lee also incorporates extreme angles such as the extreme low angles used on Radio Raheem portraying the power and respect he has from the entire community. The angles are also found in shot with Sal as he yells and screams at everyone who bothers him, especially Radio Raheem. Rebel without a cause incorporates these extreme angles as well. For example when Jim is viewed in a high angle looking over his parents are viewed at a low angle looking up at Jim. The use of the extreme angles, also portray the controversial aspects in the films. Having the African American rebel looking down at the White entrepreneur in Do the Right Thing, then have the mischievous son looking down at the worried parents in Rebel Without a Cause, are parallels.
I felt radically empowered while and after watching Do the Right Thing. It is a film that makes you either want to get and be part of the cause, or get up and fight against it. The implicit message is clear however it any be overlooked by the explicit message, which showcases the violence between races. However the issue is more than just that because, as depicted in the beginning, for and extent of time they were able to live in peace. The hostility and the fragility of the topic on mixing cultures and races is what the message was about. Lee shocks the audience, then heed and energetic because of the harsh effects used.
"Do The Right Thing" is a 1989 controversial drama directed by Spike Lee. "Do The Right Thing" is a film displaying all of the racial issues of the United States, but in the closed frame of Brooklyn, NY. Spike Lee uses many aspects to convey his message, such as strong language, violent actions, and obscure camera angles. Spike Lee was influenced by many directors before him, one that I find to be more influential than the rest is Nicholas Ray. Nicholas Ray directed the classic film, "Rebel Without A Cause", in 1955. Ray and Lee's films share similar characteristics.
ReplyDelete"Rebel Without A Cause" in a way was about the same thing that "Do The Right Thing" was about. Both films were about kids rebelling against the system and society. Lee was heavily influenced by the youth and how the youth can change aspects of society. This can be contributed to the films that Lee had grew up on and studied excessively. Spike Lee was also influenced by Nicholas Ray's use of obscure and abstract camera angles that both used to convey the disruption in the social normalcy. Also, Lee used violent actions to create the plot of the story, which can be seen as another area influenced by the action of "Rebel Without A Cause".
In all honesty, I didn't know how to react to the ending of this film. In a way, I knew the carnage and destruction that came at the end was going to come eventually, but not at the magnitude at which it did. I was shocked and in awe. Even though the ending was sad, it created an extremely beautiful message.