Sequence Running Time: 1:28:45 – 1:33:45
The 1989 film Do the Right Thing directed by Spike Lee, was ambitiously released in a country that was in a period marked by growing racial tensions and violence. It captures the prominent past and present social and political issues regarding racism and equality in an impoverished neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. The film showcases the racial and class boundaries which were intensifying in the 1980’s. During the 1980’s riots broke out as a result of the increase in the hostility between races, primarily between blacks and whites, connected to the many police brutality incidents which existed because of racial violence. The controversial film takes the issue of racism on directly, accomplishing its goal of provoking discussion and debate in order to face the racial inequalities of the world. It challenges the audience by leaving issues open, rather than determining what is right or wrong. Lee wants the audience to formulate their own response and truly make them think critically about the issues introduced. Spike Lee uses mise-en-scene to increase the tension in the film. Every intricate cinematic detail influences the meaning and impact of the scene.
Accompanied with the dialogue and mannerisms in the film, Lee manipulates the camera in order to heighten the tension between characters. Lee alters the camera angle in order to portray the shifting power dynamics of characters throughout the scene. When Radio Raheem, Buggin’ Out, and Smiley bust through the doors of Sal’s Pizzeria the camera is tilted in a low shot creating the effect of everyone else in the restaurant looking up at the visitors. The low shot emphasizes the fact that Radio Raheem, Buggin’ Out, and Smiley hold all the power in the scene. Previously, before they entered, the camera was held at a medium shot to signify the slight equality that was the original atmosphere of the pizzeria. The camera shifts to a high angle of Sal, making it appear that Sal is looking up to them, once again emphasizing the power they have at the moment a product of their desire to express themselves. The scene suggests the obvious racial tensions between Sal and Radio Raheem. Lee creates this power struggle between Radio and the other characters multiple times. The camera then moves to a medium shot of Radio and Buggin’ Out which is slightly tilted to the side as well as at a low angle again. In a medium shot camera moves to all the other people in the room to gauge their reactions. When the camera focuses on Radio by himself, after his radio was smashed by Sal, he fills up the entire screen increasing the power he has which was intensified by his anger. The different camera angles display the distortion between the relationships in the film.
The use of sound through music, sound effects, and dialogue in the film emphasizes the escalating conflict. Music, specifically the repeated song “Fight the Power” is a symbol of the emotions of Raheem and those that desire a change in society. “Fight the Power” in the film was used to set the tone for equality as well as a form of protest. The song itself is about empowering African-Americans and bringing racial issues to attention. “Fight the Power” was a song that was in the background at many points in the movie, but was louder every time Radio was on screen. Before the camera even shifts to Radio when he enters the pizzeria, we hear the song blasting from the boom box signaling that he has entered. The repetition of the “Fight the Power” is a consistent reminder of the inequalities of society, and specifically in the community the film takes place in. The song added to Radio’s intimidation factor, strengthening him. It is also evident in the film that when the radio is smashed and the blaring music is terminated, Radio Raheem soon dies. The constant yelling and cursing throughout the scene represents the steady tension of the film that increases as the volume of tones rises. Derogatory language is used at times throughout the to highlight the controversy and divide between race and the relationships between different characters. Directly after Sal strikes the boom box with his bat a period of silence is induced giving the audience time for reflection on what just happened and what is the “right thing to do” in the moment. When Sal brings out his baseball bat and uses a racial slur, everyone begins yelling the same time creating a sense of chaos in scene which does not stop until the violence of the riot is over. The various sound effects of the scene set the mood for the increasing violence. The different sounds do not form a harmony, rather they contrast quite distinctly, overwhelming the viewers contributing to the accumulating havoc of the scene. The combination of multiple people yelling with loud music and sound effects of the fight create a realistic film. The realistic elements of sound combine to emphasize the conflict and a theme of protest for equality, addressing the social issues directly.
Spike Lee’s fast paced editing also contributes to the increasing conflict of the film. When Radio Raheem, Buggin’ Out, and Smiley enter the restaurant the editing is manipulated to seem like a continuous shot. It almost seems like the camera is switching to different point of views of the characters, zooming in on the various character’s reactions and facial expressions to the events that are unfolding around them. The impact of the continuous shot allows the camera to tell a consistent story, permitting all scenes to flow together smoothly. At times, it appears as if the camera is wobbly and shaking almost like the view camera is supposed to be in the point of view of a character demonstrating what each character is looking at from their position in the scene. The shakiness of the camera is almost like the scene is being filmed with a handheld camera, permitting the constant movement. An example of this is after Radio, Buggin’ Out, and Smiley enter the camera zooms out in an unsteady way, appearing that it’s a point of view of a person. When the chaos erupts after the smashing of the boom box, the camera seems to be all over the place the edits fast pace contributing to the pandemonium of the scene. The unstable camera movement is significant because it accentuates the emotional imbalance in the characters it is focused on and creates a sense of visual chaos.
There are many symbols in Do the Right Thing that are used to represent and demonstrate racism and inequality in the American society. Radio Raheem is a symbol for the voice of a minority standing up for equality. Radio Raheem’s boom box with its large dominating size and loud persistent volume is a symbol for the power of protest and expression. The blaring boom box plays a large part in this scene as the primary object used to protest. The “Wall of Fame” in Sal’s Pizzeria is the main source of the racial tension in the film and is what drives the movement for equality in the neighborhood. Radio and Buggin’ Out, members of the neighborhood and regular customers want African-Americans to be featured on the “Wall of Fame”, not just Italians. The character Smiley serves as a symbol in the film as well. Smiley’s mental disability and stutter inhibits him from speaking his mind and proclaiming his own opinion. Smileys inability to share his frustration represents the difficulty of people in society to make a change. When Smiley joins Radio and Buggin’ Out in the protest at Sal’s Pizzeria, his inability to express himself is symbolic to silent protesting as well as the failure of many people in society to stand up for themselves and what they believe in.
Love and hate is a significant theme in the movie, evident throughout the community. Love can be seen between Tina and Mookie, Mother-Sister and her love for the community, compassion from “Da Mayor”. Love is also apparent between Sal and his sons and between Sal and his beloved establishment, Sal’s Pizzeria. Hate is evident in the racism, violence, and tragic murder of Raheem. Radio Raheem also wears brass knuckles that say “Love Hate”. Previously in the film, Raheem argued that when it seems like hate is winning the battle, love can come around and knock out the hate, giving Raheem a softer side. This film brings awareness to the love and hate, and wants people to really consider the unfortunate magnitude of the hate and violence that persists in society.
The film ends with two quotes: one from Martin Luther King arguing the idea that violence in any circumstances and should never be tolerated, and one from Malcom X claiming that violence when used in the form of self-defense, is not considered violence. The inclusion of these quotes by Spike Lee forces the audience to form their own opinion prompting discussion following the film. The film starts with “DJ Señor Love Daddy” exclaiming that it’s going to be a very hot day and comes full circle ending the same way, the neighborhood returning to a normal day waking up to “DJ Señor Love Daddy” reminding everyone of the heat. The significance of the fact that everything went back to normal represents the lack of change in society, how everything seems to move on without establishing justice. Lee brilliantly includes this cyclical ending to bring awareness to the fact that the issue of racism need to be addressed and resolved immediately.
Many of these social issues addressed in the film provoke the discourse of the same issues in real life. The entire film also inspires discussion about why things happened the way they did. Some claim that Sal has a genuine care and love for the community, because this is where he built his livelihood, but was just pushed to his limits forcing his reaction to Radio Raheem and Buggin’ Out. Others say if Sal wouldn’t have smashed the boom box then none of the brutality would have occurred. Many people question why Radio was killed, and why Mookie threw the trashcan. This is where the title of the film is significant; did the characters “do the right thing”? It forces the thought of what really is considered the “right thing” in society. The film explores the effects of prejudice and demonstrates how under pressure from other forces violence can emerge, always without a positive outcome.