Race Representation & Naturalism in Do the Right Thing (1989)

dvdbeaver.com

Do the Right Thing (1989); written, directed and produced by Spike Lee, is a film in which inner city racism is shed light upon, as the film, after all, is dedicated in memory to an actual event (what a surprise) that took place in New York at the time. There are various types of cinematography displayed in the film, and they are representation and naturalism. The film’s organizational structure is race representation in particular. Corrigan & White (2009) speaks about this representation in the text in the quote below.

“[...] the aesthetic sense, whereby we may speak of representation of African-Americans in the films of Spike Lee versus those of Gone with the Wind [...]” (). Unlike many other films of its time, this movie proudly and controversially represented African-American characters. Martin Lawrence’s crew was one of the groups represented in the film, which they represents the loud-mouthed, obnoxious, “hip-hop” type of the new school kids of these days; Spike Lee, who is a part of the typically unmotivated, non-ambitious, irresponsible, young black father image of these days; and the old school crew of yesteryear, which Mother-sister and the Da Mayor represent. Mother-sister is old and sits in her window all day moaning about the clowns of the neighborhood, in particular, the Da Mayor who reminds her of her ex husband ironically enough.  Da Major, who still wears suits like it was the 1950s, walks around drunk, but holds moral standards of the old days and demands respect from the kids living there, being that he is the old man. 

ghettogethablog.com

The film represents the sad, disgusting history and present issues in this country: racism. Many people do not want to hear about it, but it is there, and the movie portrays it realistically, which brings us to our next element of cinematography in the film: Mise-en-Scene. Naturalism is a part of the Mise-en-Scene concept, and the term is used in the film. What’s realistic about the movie is the discrimination, violence, hatred and racism the film depicts. The course text defines Naturalism. “If mise-en-scene is about the arrangement of space and the objects in it, as we have suggested, the naturalism in the mise-en-scene means that how a place looks is the way it is supposed to look” (86).

last.fm

The Italian white guys hate the blacks, they spit disgusting racial slurs and a black man was killed in the end of the film, causing a riot. Just prior to the typically racial-charged death of a black man, there was a protest in formation. All of this is real as it has happened in this country, and it is because of these events that I am able to rightfully write about them today. African-Americans were wrongfully beaten, attacked, killed and stripped of their RIGHTS all because of the color of their skin, and even though this film is comedic, it is a darn shame and a blasphemy. Anyone who says the cops were the only "bad guys" in the film are just as blind as those who say "Racism is over, I mean look, we have a black president. Get over it."

silveremulsion.com

Yes, the heat made everyone irritable, but racism is deeply rooted in one, and no heat can make a person so disgustingly hateful; one is taught that from one's surroundings, being weak-minded. Radio Raheem walked around the city carrying a radio with Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power” on repeat; if anyone has ever listened to the song they would know the song deals with Civil Rights, unjust racism, discrimination and violence in the black community. The message of the song was about rising above it all and becoming one as people, equal as so-called “citizens” of the U.S. of White Supremacists’ A. 

drnorth.wordpress.com

Some people complained and thought what Radio Raheem did was disrespectful and thus he was warranted a racial attack for it (i.e., an “N-word” tirade from Sal). Did Raheem spreading the message warrant his death? Did that warrant Raheem’s beating prior? Can we say Rodney King, Emmett Till, Martin Luther King, Jr., Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (who interviewed Spike Lee about the film ironically), and Chicago Torture Squad in the 1970s-1990s? Raheem had every right to walk into that racism-slurred-filled restaurant and blast his message, as “I hate [insert N-word here]” was NOT any better of a tune. Oh, or was it? “Show some respect for our restaurant” my foot. Show some respect for African-Americans is more like it.

Works Cited:

Corrigan, Timothy, and Patricia White. Film Experience: an Introduction. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Bedford/St. Martins, 2009. Print.

Lee, Spike, perf. Do the Right Thing. Narr. Samuel L. Jackson. 1989. Universal Pictures, 1989. DVD.