Q&A on the Movie “Do the Right thing” by Spike Lee

2/4/2008

Q: Why do you think Spike Lee's "Do The Right Thing" started out with a woman dancing with an angry face? Describe the first few minutes of the movie in your blog and what you think. You may also include what you think is going to happen.

A: Usually, the opening of a movie is to uncover or imply the theme. The song of the dance is particularly African-American rap style. In the lyrics, the sentence “fight the power” appeared several times, which indicates its identity of central idea. Then think of the woman dancing with an angry face. Dancing means that she agrees the idea of the song, and she is probably angry with the “power”. It is noticeable that the woman is an African American. Thus the opening can be summarized as an African woman dance with an African song with the idea of fighting the power. From the dimension of history, I think the power is the superiority of whites. The movie will contain some events in which the African Americans searched their identity in their daily life.

2/5/2008

Q: Why do they call "Da mayor" the "mayor"? Whose neighborhood is this? Is it racist for Sal (the pizzeria owner) to display only photographs of Italian-Americans on the wall of his restaurant? Why does "da mayor" call everyone "Doctor"? What purpose does "Radio Raheem" serve in the narrative?

A: The story takes place in a diverse neighborhood which has a large proportion of African Americans. The reason that mayor got his name is probably that he has been an active existence in the neighborhood for a long time. I can see from the movie that he talks in a major’s tone---- Intonation, appellative and especially the attitude. He is in the illusion of putting himself into a special identity, which is that he is not affected by the surroundings. Even when sweeping the floor out sides Sal’s pizza restaurant, he says with pride---you’ll see the cleanest floor in the States! As he is in such a deep awareness of his identity of major, his immunity of environment influence is rather strength to apply images to the people. It is why he calls everyone “doctor”, doctor is an occupation which holds high repute in the society. A major will surly contact with doctors frequently. The reason that he calls people doctor is not that he want to praise them, vice verse, in this way does he gain the satisfaction of his identity.

In Sal’s pizza restaurant, there is a wall of honor, or, indeed, the wall of Italian-Americans. I do not agree with the perspective consider the wall to be a practice of racism. Firstly, what is more common for a person to feel proud about his nationality? The restaurant is operated by Italian-American; it goes without saying that they hanged the pictures of their national heroes on the wall. There may be some aspects of discrimination; nevertheless, the possibility is lowered by Sal’s attitude towards Mookie. Sal does not show any uneven treatment when dealing with the argument between his son and Mookie.

The “Radio Raheem” serves as a narrator who delivers his work according to the situation with an ironic sense of humor.