The Use of Story Telling Devices in ‘Do the Right Thing’
Do the Right Thing was written, directed and produced by Spike Lee in 1989. The film is a narration of events that take place when living in the neighbourhood of Brooklyn for a day. The producer has utilized several story-telling devices to convey messages to the audience. The film was produced 1in 1989. It describes the racial and ethnic tension that prevailed in the United States in 1980. The flare of brutality and murder against African Americans during the 1980s inspired the producer to film on the topic.
Literary Elements
The producer used different literary elements to convey different messages to the audiences about the racial groups dwelling in the black-dominated neighbourhood in Brooklyn, New York.
Characters
Mookie (Spike Lee) plays the role of a black man who his youthful years work at Famous Pizzeria owned by an Italian American named Sal. Sal, is an Italian American running a business in a blacks-dominated neighbourhood. He has been loved and hated by many. Mookie makes tremendous efforts to moderate Sal (Danny Aiello) owns the Pizzeria where Mookie works. He runs the business with the help of his sons. Buggin’ Out (Giancarlo Esposito) is an ally of Mookie. In the film, he rebels against the Pizzeria following the realization that its wall of fame conspicuously lacks black people despite being located in the black’s neighbourhood. Radio Raheem (Bill Nunn) is a resident in the of the Pizzeria’s community who comes out fiercely with his boom box in the boycott against Sal’s eatery. Sal runs the eatery with two of his sons; Vito (Richard Edson) is an excellent ally of Mookie while Pino (John Turturro) has racist tendencies against the African Americans. The producer has used the different characters to bring out the racial differences and how the variations affect social interactions among the inhabitants of the low class, mainly black neighbourhood in Brooklyn.
Lighting
Lee uses high-key lighting in most scenes of the film to portray the heat of the day due to the tension caused by heightened tension among members of the various races. The costumes are brightly coloured to reflect the warmth of the day. Further, the shot of Mookie as his walks through the crowded streets, there is variation in the lighting intensity. The producer used bright lighting and heat to portray the discomfort and sensitivity among residents of the town. Towards the end of the film, dim light reflects the relief attained after a day of heat, violence and brutality.
Themes
Love & Hate
The producer uses the theme of love and hates to portray the tensed relationship and situation between the different races dwelling in the Brooklyn town in New York. The film, Do the Right Things narrates the events of a day on a hot day at Brooklyn, New York. According to Jacobs (2015), in the Brooklyn neighbourhood are inhabitants of diverse racial backgrounds including Hispanics, white Asians and African Americans. However, the environment in the town is tense and racially charged due to frequent interracial conflicts. Throughout the film, there are several scenes where love is overshadowed by the presence of hate and conflict.
For instance, a group of black teens are resentful of the emergence of Asian owned businesses that appear to be successful at a time when the black youth are struggling to eke out a living due to high unemployment rates among the black race. Buggin’ Out is particularly angered by the absence of African Americans on Sal’s restaurant despite the business being situated at the heart of a black neighbourhood (Jacobs, 2015). The music Radio Raheem’s boom box played at the restaurant angered Sal. However, regardless of the hatred, there are scenes of compassion and love among the various races. The producer has used the different characters and the themes to pass across a message on the state of love and hatred in Brooklyn, which is purely on racial lines.
Music
The producer has used music to give the film a particular tone. For instance, Radio Raheem plays the Public Enemy’s Fight for Power song. The director has used the song in the film to describe the power of the black people. The song stirs the peace of the white listeners. When Raheem enters the Famous Pizzeria playing the music, Sal is agitated. Music has played a significant role in describing the events and mood in the racially diverse society.
Iconography
The producer has used iconography severally to reveal the stereotypes in society with diverse ethnicity and racial groups. The characters of Italian American race are seen in the film dressed in tank tops and crosses. In contrast, Radio Raheem is dressed in medallion necklaces believed to be an African attire and playing rap music on his boom box. Puerto Rican characters are portrayed in the film speaking Spanish and playing Salsa music while enjoying from the stoop of residence building. The producers convey the messages that the people acknowledge their racial and social variations, and they understand that such differences could fuel violence and brutality.
Violence
The film reaches its climax when the police viciously murder an African American. The murder ignites anger among other African Americans who come out to express their anger and discontentment with the killings. During the riots, there are several violent scenes and destruction of property. The producer has used violence to depict the danger that occurs where interracial conflict and tensions are let unresolved.
Conclusion
The producer utilizes a combination of character, themes and other literary elements to depict the state of ethnicity and racism in the United Stat5fes in the 1980s. Through the film, the producer has passed across the message that failures to address social and racial disparities may have dire consequences.
References
Valdez, W. (2016) Do the Right Thing Analysis. Magnificat, A Journal of Undergraduate nonfiction.
Jacobs, B. (2015) Love and Hate in Do the Right Thing