Do the Right Thing,
the 1989 Spike Lee masterpiece, dealt with the racial tension in a community in
Brooklyn, NY. All the racial tension culminates
with a sad tragedy on the hottest day of the summer so far. The production crew used several techniques
to show how hot it was during the heat wave.
For one, they were able to show how hot it was by heat waves moving up
the frame in several shots. Secondly,
the production crews used a lot of oranges and reds in order to further more
show the heat. These are colors often associated with heat and being hot.
Music
was also used to demonstrate the racial tensions. Radio Raheem walks around the community the
entire movie blasting Fight the Power,
by Public Enemy, from his boom box. A
sound often associated with racial equality among African Americans. Then there is the Hispanic group of guys who
are upset with Radio Raheems music, so they blast Puerto Rican music even
louder than Radio Raheems boom box. Then
theres Sal, the Italian-American pizza shop owner, who plays Frank Sinatra in
his pizzeria. The music gives us an
audio clue to the racial divide of the community.
Spike
Lee not only tackles the racial divides in the United States at the time, but
also divides between the old and young.
The group of young kids gave Da Mayor a hard time for no reason at
all. This is indicative of modern day
young population losing respect for elders. Then the group of three middle aged men had a
problem with Radio Raheems music. There
is a growing divide between the young and old, and Spike Lee tackles this as
well.
