More will be said about this later, but victoria e. The purpose of this comparative analysis is to consider to what extent the films succeeded in. The litany of names has become one of the signature rhetorical tropes of the twentyteens. If annie hall is the example how to do things right, anything else is its. Spike lees 20yearold masterpiece depicts the racial tensions in the bedfordstuyvesant neighborhood of brooklyn, new york, but the film has aged well. Do the right thing is one of the best films made by writer, director, producer, and star spike lee in 1989, which explored the issue of biasness and discrimination of the africanamerican area of new york city called brooklyn. Jul 07, 2012 the best single source analysis of do the right thing is ed guerreros bfi modern classics book bfi, palgrave, macmillan, 2001, especially its coverage of the films many allusions to real political events, to lees other works, and to the broader field of black cinema and black politics. Linde, who is trying to read a book but doesnt seem able to concentrate. Director spike lees movie do the right thing, in u. Therefore, as a viewer, it is important to be openminded about the messages spike lee sends. In many situations, life forces to make a simple choice, a or b. Spike lees do the right thing do the right thing is a film directed by and starring spike lee.
The concentration and emphasis on characters certain physical attributes with the use of. Its music, for instance, is a threepart tapestry that vividly conveys three kinds of consciousness in the edstuy mix. Do the right thing was an eye opening movie that brought across many controversial topics that are important to address. Do the right thing genre analysis sharina black huffman.
Some find it too militant, others find it the work of a middleclass director. In my opinion, this score by bill lee ranks right up there with the greats. Johnson and others published baltimore 2015, black lives matter and the prescience of spike lees do. Film notes do the right thing university at albany. The sound and fury of fight the power in do the right thing. The opening scene of spike lees, do the right thing, begins with a closeup of golden alarm clock with a microphone in the bottom of the shot. It zooms out to close up of his face, continues to zoom out more until we get a high angle shot of the studios window facing the street. The best single source analysis of do the right thing is ed guerreros bfi modern classics book bfi, palgrave, macmillan, 2001, especially its coverage of the films many allusions to real political events, to lees other works, and to the broader field of black cinema and black politics.
These scenes are familiar in the america of spike lees do the right thing 1989, in which a crowd, witnessing the death of radio raheem bill nunn, chants the names of the fallen as well as the sites of clashes between the police and civilians. Spike tackled treacherous turmoil such as caucasian police officers killing african american males eric garner, mike brown, race riots. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on litcharts. In do the right thing, the subject is not simply a race riot, but the tragic dynamic of racism, racial tension, and miscommunication, seen in microcosm. Do the right thing presentation by johnny preston on prezi. Original score is both unerringly beautiful and unexpectedly timeless. The act opens on the same room, this time only occupied by mrs. The music that was placed into scenes perfectly completed the message it intended to get across in three basic categories of. As it reverberates around the room when one watches it, one can feel that the track, indelible in music and film history, is a call to arms. Do the right thing spike lees 1989 film, do the right thing is able to effectively explore the problem of racial conflict in america by skillfully manipulating cinematic devices such as staging, narrative, cinematography, editing and sound. While not as polished as a dayanddate release, this catalog title features outstanding color saturation, excellent detail, clear dialog, and a great surroundsound demo scene in the third act right before all hell breaks loose. The film do the right thing lee, 1989 presents a day in the life of the inhabitants of a neighborhood in brooklyn, new york in 1989. Do the right thing analysis magnificat marymount commons. Analysis of the spike lees movie do the right thing essay 533 words 3 pages.
Analysis of the spike lees movie do the right thing for my shot analysis i chose a shot from the spike lee movie do the right thing. Songs in the key of cinema is a biweekly look at the use of songs in film and how that music fits within the context of the film as a whole and a place where well cover the moments in cinema that were music to our eyes and ears twentyfive years ago, bedstuy erupted in animosity, the kinds that had been quietly building up without much fanfare. About the only thing sure to call forth more ridicule on the floor of congress than a serious reference to the constitution is a serious reference to the bible as the word of god. These scenes are familiar, too, nearly three decades later, after the death of michael brown in ferguson, missouri and walter scott in north charleston, south carolina. The film is a virtuoso act of creation, a movie at once realistic and symbolic, lighthearted and tragic, funny and savage. Toward the end of do the right thing, after raheems asphyxiation by baton, the crowd starts to invoke the dead, first tentatively, then as a chant. A commercial success that has received a number of accolades such as an academy award for best original screenplay, do the right thing tells the story of the growing. The film do the right thing begins with a saxophone renditions of lift every voice and sing the films title shows on the line let us march on until victory is won. It has little to do with archetypes and set themes like the western or the film noir. Interpreting musical traditions in do the right thing, in film quarterly berkeley, winter 1993. Do the right thing is arguably spike lees finest film.
Johnsons polyphony and cultural expression seems the definitive work on lees use of music. For my film analysis, i chose the 1989 movie do the right thing. The film do the right thing, written, directed and produced by spike lee, focuses on a single day of the lives of racially diverse people who live and work in a lower class neighborhood in brooklyn new york. Public enemys fight the power opens spike lees seminal film do the right things, a track whose lyrics demand that these issues of racism and inequality in contemporary america be addressed. Like the precise predictions of a prophet, spike lees academy awardnominated screenplay for his 1989 riveting race analysis do the right thing appears like a verbatim adaptation of our current turbulent news headlines 26 years later. In the film do the right thing, the italian pizzeria owner sal isnt really racist.
May 12, 2014 there were different types of sound at work on, do the right thing. Of course, it was not nominated for an academy award as best picture that award went to driving miss daisy, which has a view of race in america that is rotated just 180 degrees from lees. Dec 06, 2015 do the right thing deleted scene chicken parmesan 1989 a spike lee joint movie hd duration. In this paper i will analyze an extract from spike lees do the right thing 1989 that. Lees crowd has memorized their liston which raheem is just the latest itemjust as well and as thoroughly as contemporary viewers can tick through the likes of trayvon martin, laquan mcdonald, sandra bland, and philando castile.
Though it seems kind of incredible from todays perspective, all of the buzz surrounding the film at the time of its release involved the question of whether it might provoke riots and racial violence. Do the right thing is one of the best films made by writer, director, producer, and star spike lee in 1989, which explored the issue of biasness and discrimination. The first selected scene begins with a record being played that brings in the sound of conga drums while the camera fades to the next scene where we find a group of puerto rican men who fit a perceived ethnic puerto rican image while. Multiple links are listed since a different versions exist and b many scripts posted become unavailable over time.
Jul 03, 2009 spike lees 20yearold masterpiece depicts the racial tensions in the bedfordstuyvesant neighborhood of brooklyn, new york, but the film has aged well. With its driving, high tempo beat, and its powerful lyrics knocking down americas favorite cultural heroes, thus putting an afrocentric stamp on the american culture. This book is for all film lovers not just do the right thing fans. An annotated text of the version delivered by gregory. Spike lees do the right thing is the most controversial film of the year, and it only opens today. Do the right thing by spike lee 1989 on june 30, 1989, spike lees comedydrama do the right thing debuted in movie theaters all over america. Music is very often a significant way in which meaning is created in spike lees films and this is. Spike tackled treacherous turmoil such as caucasian police officers killing african american males eric. Sounds to date, the most coherent articles written about do the right thing have examined its relationship to various musical styles. Pdf baltimore 2015, black lives matter and the prescience of. Spike lees do the right thing and issue of racisim essays. Behind all the stories was the concern that the film would ignite the very kind of violence it was. The views expressed in these essays are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the library of congress.
Spike lee and do the right thing analysis essay 1508. In the film do the right thing by spike lee, cinematography and sound serve as critical components to emphasize the racial tensions between the various characters. That means, of course, that many congressmen cannot do the right thing, since they do not know or do not want to know what the right thing is. In do the right thing, music has a huge impact on the storyline. Director spike lee appeared on the cover of newsweek, and oprah and nightline each devoted an entire show to the film. For starters, lee consistently rams together the conflicting ideologies of malcolm x violence as selfdefense and when necessary and martin luther king, jr. In many respects both crash and do the right thing henceforth dtrt fall within the same film. Do the right thing analysis of scenes the first selected scene begins with a record being played that brings in the sound of conga drums while the camera fades to the next scene where we find a group of puerto rican men who fit a perceived ethnic puerto rican image while the salsa music of ruben blades is heard loud. However, this ordinary day takes place on one of the hottest days of the summer. The movie is available on youtube, dvd, and on demand. In spike lees do the right thing, the story follows members of the bed stuy neighborhood in brooklyn, new york. What sound design elements are at work in spike lees do the right thing. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in a dolls house, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Jul 14, 2016 and even a nearly 30yearold film like do the right thing feels less like a stylized day in the life turned tragic and more like the eric garner story three decades before its time.
Already this film is using sound, in this case music, to set a tone for an equality and protest theme. Do the right thing foundation for economic education. Still, he doesnt treat afroamerican overall like he treats whites. A yearning for closure explains some critics oppositional readings of the ending of do the right thing. Teach your students to analyze literature like litcharts does. While not as polished as a dayanddate release, this catalog title features outstanding color saturation, excellent detail, clear dialog, and a great surround sound demo scene in the third act right before all hell breaks loose. Instantly, do the right thing was a cause celebre, more breathlessly and fearfully awaited than any american film of its time. And even a nearly 30yearold film like do the right thing feels less like a stylized day in the life turned tragic and more like the eric garner story three decades before its time.
These sounds shaped various scenes and overall feel of the movie. Characters characters relevant to plot and action within do the right thing radio raheem buggin out mookie da. Do the right thing offers an ambiguous and unsatisfying conclusion that directs viewers to consider the unchanging state of racism in contemporary america. Spike lees third lm, do the right thing, was released. Thats especially true in the case of his 1989 masterpiece, do the right thing. He sported a shirt that recognized his town of bedfordstuyvesant, he was always playing a radical song that questioned authority, and he always expressed his love for others he cared about, such as when he tells mookie that he respects him. This film highlights the dynamics of a modern urban neighborhood through a cast of distinct personalities. It was released in 1989 to some controversy due to its racial tension. In this climactic sequence from do the right thing spike lee, 1989, the. Public enemys fight the power opens and pervades spike lees highly recognized 1989 film do the right thing. The racially charged atmosphere of the town is evident from the start of the plot, with tensions rapidly increasing as disputes between different racial groups emerge. This video has been uploaded for educational purposes. The last scenes of do the right thing call to my mind. The music that was placed into scenes perfectly completed the message it intended to get across in three basic categories of sound dialogue, sound effects, and music.
That means, of course, that many congressmen cannot do the right thing, since they do not know or. It features da mayor and mother sister reacting to the hellacious events of the previous night. In our lives, we are confronted with situations and decisions that have to be made. Songs in the key of cinema is a biweekly look at the use of songs in film and how that music fits within the context of the film as a whole and a place where well cover the moments in cinema that were music to our eyes and ears.
Those who might suspect that audiovision is merely an updated summary of these. Music music is the main use of sound in the movie diegetic vs. In cinematic terms, its skillfully handled resistance to traditional narrative closure is a central reason for its commanding and longlived impact. Do the right thing deleted scene chicken parmesan 1989 a spike lee joint movie hd duration.
Do the right thing spike lee film analysis senses of cinema. Pdf downloads of all 1297 litcharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. The film do the right thing, written, directed and produced by spike lee. Analysis of spike lees do the right thing essay 1420. This article is not precisely about courage, but courage to do do the right thing even if that might tarnish or decimate personal aspirations or goals. Then using a handheld maybe a crane moves to extreme close up of senor love daddys mouth. Radio raheem was the most prideful of anyone elses beliefs.
Doing the right thing in the summer of 2004, hurricane charley roared out of the gulf of mexico and swept across florida to the atlantic ocean. The pre production and production notes are a added bonus. Do the right thing essay example introduction the daunting issue of racial discrimination or xenophobia is well articulated in the film do the right thing. Do the right thing the current the criterion collection. Analysis of spike lees do the right thing essay 1420 words. Feb 06, 2015 like the precise predictions of a prophet, spike lees academy awardnominated screenplay for his 1989 riveting race analysis do the right thing appears like a verbatim adaptation of our current turbulent news headlines 26 years later.
Teacher editions with classroom activities for all 1297 titles we cover. Spike lee did a good job incorporating so many different ideas into the movie, each character represented something important and not one person was a waste to the movie. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Jan 29, 2016 do the right thing has such penetrative power because it portrays its realities without drawing conclusions for the viewer. Do the right thing essay examples download free or order. This is the second shot following the climactic riot scene. Forming a critical sense of race with spike lees do the. Then the film begins playing fight the power by public enemy, a song played continuously throughout the film. The 1989 movie do the right thing is the subject of the analysis and criticism. The purpose of the assignment was to analyze its cultural context. Instant downloads of all 1297 litchart pdfs including young goodman brown. Do the right thing was the finest, the most controversial, most discussed and most important film of 1989. The amazing thing is that this music isnt fifty or sixty years old.
Do the right thing scene analysis essay 6 words bartleby. The movie builds on the foundation laid by other preceding movies such as crash, the power of one, catch a fire and many others. Jan 22, 20 public enemys fight the power opens and pervades spike lees highly recognized 1989 film do the right thing. The song that plays immediately throughout the film is public enemys aggressive song fight the power. Love and hate in do the right thing introduction to film. Nondiegetic sounds in the film public enemys song fight the power is the theme of the movie diegetic nondiegetic mookie smashing the window with the chair senor love daddys voice over the radio radio reheem uses. They do open the door to thought and dialogue, which is a far more constructive contribution for a movie to make than simply adding to the pile of skindeep polemics already produced by the culture industry.
What is the meaning of the ending of do the right thing. Director spike lee dives headfirst into a maelstrom of racial and social ills, using as his springboard the hottest day of the year on one block in brooklyn, ny. Sharina black huffman intro to film genre analysis do the right thing the drama film has everything to do with the individual and their relationships. The song itself asserts a strong resistance to authority and establishment. Atticus finchs closing argument in the trial of tom robinson, from harper lees classic novel to kill a mockingbird 1960.
Jul 30, 2014 throughout the entire film, each character tries to do the right thing, leading to the downfall of the community because of the wide variety of what the people recognize as right. Do the right thing is a 1989 american comedydrama film produced, written, and directed by. Do the right thing do the right thing 1989 produced, written, and directed by spike lee is a day in the life of a brooklyn neighborhood and the racial tensions contained within. This film was written, produced, and directed by spike lee. In fact, i believe that doing what is right has many connotations, and some may even argue that, there is no right thing to do. Like most of spikes lees films, do the right thing challenges viewers.