Do The Right Thing Essay Example

does not align with the race they desire to represent. Lighting is implemented to distinguish between the old and new sections of the town, while the decor features houses in dark, rusty reds and browns to emphasize the theme of heat as the sun shines down. Additionally, the neon lights on the pizzerias make them distinct from other shops, which could suggest that they are isolated and possibly not from the area.

The shop across the street, run by Koreans, stands out with its modern and bright decor, setting them apart from the rest of the community. The use of lighting in the scene accentuates this distinction when the Korean man pulls his wife away from the rioting crowd, indicating their desire to remain separate from the community. This scene can be interpreted by the audience as a reflection of white people's unwillingness to integrate into black communities, ultimately leading to the attack on Sal's at the end.

By utilizing background placement and color, the audience is made aware that not even other outsiders will come to the aid of the Italians in their battle against the community. The houses are surrounded by railings, emphasizing the people's insecurity towards both their surroundings and themselves. The black color of the railings highlights the community's need to constantly assert their racial identity.

Through the use of mise en scene, Spike Lee visually conveys messages throughout the film. For instance, when Da Mayor leads Sal, Vito, and Pino away from the riots and destruction of their restaurant and into the front garden of a house, Lee zooms in on the black railings, then retreats as the three Italians are shut inside

the yard. This separation is due to their skin color and shows how Lee references community throughout the film.

The film highlights the importance of the town as a whole attacking Sal's, rather than just a few individuals. The physical proximity of the houses reinforces the idea of a tightly-knit community that relies on one another for assistance. This sense of community is prevalent throughout the film, particularly during the riot scene that takes place both inside and outside of Sal's.

Sal's storefront presents a contrast between the warmth of the street, representing welcome ness through the presence of fire and sun, and the coldness of the air-conditioned interior, which feels unwelcoming. The use of mise en scene highlights both security and danger. The setting allows Sal to stand behind a protective bar, conveying his sense of protection. However, once the scene shifts outside, he is left with nothing to shield him in the empty space in front of him.

The scene takes place outside and partly inside Sal's. Perhaps, no one wants to enter and be recognized as helping Sal, which demonstrates that the rioters depend on each other and none of them want to be separated from the group's security. This is evident when a young child yells "fight fight" while they are outside, making it accessible to the entire community. Once outside, Sal loses hope of avoiding retaliation from the community. Sal's location is across from the Koreans, signifying that these two establishments, despite not being owned by black people, are situated in the same area of the community. The rioters perceive them as different, although they do not seem to destroy the

Koreans' store.

Throughout the riot scene, sound is significant in maintaining the chaos and highlighting people's perceptions of one another. The angry shouts of the crowd continue throughout the scene, constituting part of the diegetic sound and expressing their fury. At the beginning of the scene, the community expresses their views about Radio Raheem's death verbally.

As a community, they demonstrate respect by waiting for each other to speak during conversation. However, in this particular instance, sound is utilized to express contempt and hatred towards Sal. Their statements display an accumulation of animosity towards those responsible for Radio Raheem's demise, such as the remark "Murder just like Micheal Stuart", stemming from previous racist incidents. Their frustration is reflected in the comment "Dam its not even safe in our own neighborhood." Although the authorities are absent, the remaining Italians are targeted due to their whiteness. The purpose of utilizing sound is to convey the tension felt in the moment and involve the audience by lowering the volume.

The constant shouting contributes to the feeling of tension building up and the possibility of a spark triggering the situation. The lack of respect shown towards Da Mayor and the Italians indicates that they are ready to react to Radio Raheem's death. When the riot erupts, various sounds can be heard. Mookie calmly throws the trash can, revealing his determination and lack of regret towards his actions. In contrast, the audience can see how he is focused on his task.

During the riot scene in the film, when Mookie throws the trash can through Sal's pizzeria window, he shouts "hate" as a tribute to Radio Raheem's earlier speech about love and

hate. The police then arrive with a hose to disperse the crowd and urge them to go home. In response, Mookie states "This is our home," justifying their actions. The use of sound by Mother Sister captures the essence of the riot and expresses the emotions felt about racial discrimination. However, Da Mayor intervenes when Mother Sister becomes caught up in the violence and prevents her from acting recklessly. The riot is portrayed through fast-moving colors, breaking sounds, and screams of terror, with Mother Sister showing willingness to resort to violence as she chants "Burn it down, Burn it down."

As she throws her hand up into the air, the audience sees her body language surrendering to the crowd. However, she later regrets this as she shouts "no, no...". Da Mayor's comforting presence feels like a rescue from being overwhelmed by the riot.

Through the use of sound, the Italians showcase their varied emotions. Sal's shouts reveal his ignorance of the community's sentiments, while his response before Mookie throws the trash can implies no remorse over his actions. Consequently, the crowd becomes angry and resentful towards Sal.

During the riot, Pino mutters "fucking niggers" revealing the underlying negative sentiment towards African Americans held by the Italians. His utterance is quiet, indicating his fear of the community. The minimal non-diegetic sound in the scene aims to immerse the audience into the riot, as if they are present and experiencing both groups' emotions. The scene concludes with Smiley walking amidst the wreckage of Sal's while "Fight the Power" plays, showcasing Radio Raheem's spirit and noting his cause worth fighting for. Smiley adds a picture of influential black figures to

the wall, aligning with the film's recurrent theme and lyrics of challenging the oppression faced by black people at the hands of white individuals.

The playing of this song indicates that the community has risen against oppression and sought justice for the death of Radio Raheem. The mood of the scene centers on the release of tension and riot of the day on the Italians, who are not black. The use of white costumes for Mookie and Da Mayor symbolizes hope for the community, while also showcasing that there is no good or evil; it depends on how each person's problems are perceived. Through speech, it is apparent that the community lacks respect for the Italians, making it difficult for them to speak and earn respect. The intentional selection of single sentences or words conveys meaning and emotional depth within the community.

The audience is left with many questions and emotions when the ending features "fight the Power" playing.