A film blog for students of my classes at Santa Clara University. Use this blog to discuss the films we are studying, classic films, current releases or production issues you encounter while making your own films.
Monday, June 02, 2014
Do the Right Thing
Why were the late 80s and early 90s a perfect time for a filmmaker like Spike Lee to rise to fame?
8 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Many historians cite the late 1980's and early 1990's as some of the most tumultuous, controversial, and racially charged periods of times in the United States since the 1960's. In 1992, for instance, a series of riots erupted in LA following the acquittal of the four LAPD officers who were on trial for assaulting and using excessive force on Rodney King. Lasting nearly a week, thousands were arrested and injured during the riots, with $1billion worth in damage and theft and 53 deaths.
In addition to the Rodney King Riots, there were several other race-related trials that gained national publicity, including the 1989 Central Park Joggers case and the 1994 OJ Simpson trial. Without a doubt, the image of boiling tensions between White and Black Americans was very visible throughout American media in the late 80's and early 90's. Because of this, the brutally honest, race-related content of Spike Lee's films allowed him to rise to fame during this period of time.
Lee's Do the Right Thing (1989), tells the story of a neighborhood's simmering racial tension, which eventually erupts, causing tragedy on the hottest day of the summer. Without a doubt, the storyline of this film was easily relatable to audiences who were familiar with a racially-tense atmosphere that existed in the United States during the time of the film's release.
The controversy stirred up by the film was also an easy way for Spike Lee to gain notoriety. In a time during which news medias had a great deal of success in depicting tense, race-relations, I'm sure they loved covering the content of Do The Right Thing.
Inner-city African Americans in the United States in the 80s and 90s often experienced alienation and poor living conditions. Many felt ignored as white American politicians dismissed their struggles and blamed these issues on factors outside of their control. Police brutality and riots were real issues in American society, and were accurately depicted in Spike Lee’s film Do The Right Thing. I feel that this film was successful because it was released in a time when people could relate to the issues being portrayed and were also more open to receiving these harsh realities than in the past. The incorporation of hip hop music was also significant in that it represented the popular music of the African American community of the time. This kind of music was often used by marginalized African Americans to voice their opinions and convey the injustice they have experienced throughout their life, which is an important theme within this film. Do The Right Thing came out in a time when audiences had the ability to have a dialogue about racism in America. Films often portray recent events in society because it is easily relatable to audiences and therefore resonates emotionally very successfully. Do The Right Thing raised controversy when it was released, showing that the issue portrayed was relevant to audience members of any race. This film was also nominated for multiple Academy Awards, showing that audiences and filmmakers were ready to deal with these important societal issues during this time period as well as launching Spike Lee’s career.
In my opinion, the late 80s and early 90s was a perfect time for Spike Lee to rise to fame because of the racial tensions that occurred during this period of time. Earlier in the 60s to late 70s, blacks were either represented in film as the suave Sidney Poitier types or soul brothers in blaxploitation films. Though represented, neither side explored the truth of what it meant to be black in America at the time, and ultimately, did not address the structural issues of society in a constructive way. As noted before, the early 90s saw the Rodney King riots, as well as other racially charged conflicts and I think a lot of Black Americans were fed up with the constriction and prejudices of society. Especially young black Americans who were growing up in a drastically changing world. Spike Lee rose to fame at the perfect time because he dealt with a lot of racial issues that were real and was able to capture real emotion especially in films such as Do the Right Thing. The dialogue confronting racial tension was crucial and I think Lee's tendency to do so was one of the reasons he became so successful. Especially as he embodied the concerns of a new generation finding their place in society. Lastly, I think it was also a great transition from the days blaxploitation films into serious racial dialogue.
The late 80s and early 90s was a great time for Spike Lee to rise to fame because his release of Do The Right Thing due to its highlight of racial tension that had not been addressed in earlier films. Although blacks were represented in film in the 60s and 70s, it didn't have much to do with the controversy in general. Lee did something that had not been done before in that he was able to shed light on racial tensions in America and at the same time empathize with all the participants. Instead of choosing a side to take a stance with in the film, he did it in a way that looked with a sense of sadness and tragedy that represents many in one particular situation which in this case is the hottest day in Brooklyn. He shows realism in the film by using music, humor, and color and allows for people to understand all the different characters feelings which was a very important element in film in that era.
The late 80s and early 90s were a gritty time for racially charged issues in our society, especially with race riots happening as a result of general distrust and uproar over the incident with Rodney King and the LAPD. At the same time, the United States and the American public seemed to be finally beginning to learn from the past prejudices and began to become more open to dialogue about race relations in the US. Thus, Spike Tee's Do The Right Thing was able to rise to fame because many people could relate and were interested in continuing the positive progression. In addition, with the emergence of hip-hop culture and the lyrics associated with those songs, people were become my aware of issues no only within the black community, but with continuing race issues as well. Again, all the events, combined with the Spike's movie, Do the Right Thing, allowed for an open dialogue to flow, thus pushing race back into the conversation.
The late 80s and early 90s were a great time for directors like Spike Lee to rise to fame because of what was happening in society at the time. The film Do The Right Thing had a lot of racial tension throughout the movie, and this was depicted from actual events and where our society was at the time. One major example that bridges these two together is the Rodney King riots. These conflicts that arose through police brutality against african americans took the stage and allowed directors like Spike Lee to really focus on the not so subliminal messages that were being conveyed.
The beginning of the 80's were a dramatic step back and in a way ignoring the racial problems that were occurring. And as the 80's progressed into the 90's, racial issues and tensions rose and reached a peak with the Rodney King riots in LA. Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing candidly took hold on the issues that society was too afraid to cover head on. There was no masks or heavy symbolism in the film. Racial tensions boil on the hottest day of year. Everything builds up until there must be confrontation and a choice must be made. The audience is left wondering if the right thing was done. At the end of the film, there are two contradicting quotes about violence. So, audiences are forced to think for themselves about the racial issues facing society at the time. Spike Lee came at a time when racial tensions could not be ignored any longer. So his film was able to hold audiences attention and make them acknowledge issues that have been building up for a few years.
The 1980's and 1990's were a time in which new grounds were being made, but also history was tending to repeat itself. Technology, pop culture and the youth movement was getting stronger; with the polarity of MTV and celebrity influences. However in terms of history repeating itself, the civil right movement seen in the 1960s was reoccurring in the early 1990s in Los Angeles (Rodney King). The late 80s and 90s seemed to break free of the more conservative Reagan administration. Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing was a very edgy and very real life depiction of racial tension in New York City. Other films in the 80s/90s, like Spike Lee's, were able to creatively depict through stories and characters, the current social issues, whether it be about race, socio-economic status, sexuality, or political standpoints of the world or nation at the time.
8 comments:
Many historians cite the late 1980's and early 1990's as some of the most tumultuous, controversial, and racially charged periods of times in the United States since the 1960's. In 1992, for instance, a series of riots erupted in LA following the acquittal of the four LAPD officers who were on trial for assaulting and using excessive force on Rodney King. Lasting nearly a week, thousands were arrested and injured during the riots, with $1billion worth in damage and theft and 53 deaths.
In addition to the Rodney King Riots, there were several other race-related trials that gained national publicity, including the 1989 Central Park Joggers case and the 1994 OJ Simpson trial. Without a doubt, the image of boiling tensions between White and Black Americans was very visible throughout American media in the late 80's and early 90's. Because of this, the brutally honest, race-related content of Spike Lee's films allowed him to rise to fame during this period of time.
Lee's Do the Right Thing (1989), tells the story of a neighborhood's simmering racial tension, which eventually erupts, causing tragedy on the hottest day of the summer. Without a doubt, the storyline of this film was easily relatable to audiences who were familiar with a racially-tense atmosphere that existed in the United States during the time of the film's release.
The controversy stirred up by the film was also an easy way for Spike Lee to gain notoriety. In a time during which news medias had a great deal of success in depicting tense, race-relations, I'm sure they loved covering the content of Do The Right Thing.
Inner-city African Americans in the United States in the 80s and 90s often experienced alienation and poor living conditions. Many felt ignored as white American politicians dismissed their struggles and blamed these issues on factors outside of their control. Police brutality and riots were real issues in American society, and were accurately depicted in Spike Lee’s film Do The Right Thing. I feel that this film was successful because it was released in a time when people could relate to the issues being portrayed and were also more open to receiving these harsh realities than in the past. The incorporation of hip hop music was also significant in that it represented the popular music of the African American community of the time. This kind of music was often used by marginalized African Americans to voice their opinions and convey the injustice they have experienced throughout their life, which is an important theme within this film. Do The Right Thing came out in a time when audiences had the ability to have a dialogue about racism in America. Films often portray recent events in society because it is easily relatable to audiences and therefore resonates emotionally very successfully. Do The Right Thing raised controversy when it was released, showing that the issue portrayed was relevant to audience members of any race. This film was also nominated for multiple Academy Awards, showing that audiences and filmmakers were ready to deal with these important societal issues during this time period as well as launching Spike Lee’s career.
In my opinion, the late 80s and early 90s was a perfect time for Spike Lee to rise to fame because of the racial tensions that occurred during this period of time. Earlier in the 60s to late 70s, blacks were either represented in film as the suave Sidney Poitier types or soul brothers in blaxploitation films. Though represented, neither side explored the truth of what it meant to be black in America at the time, and ultimately, did not address the structural issues of society in a constructive way. As noted before, the early 90s saw the Rodney King riots, as well as other racially charged conflicts and I think a lot of Black Americans were fed up with the constriction and prejudices of society. Especially young black Americans who were growing up in a drastically changing world. Spike Lee rose to fame at the perfect time because he dealt with a lot of racial issues that were real and was able to capture real emotion especially in films such as Do the Right Thing. The dialogue confronting racial tension was crucial and I think Lee's tendency to do so was one of the reasons he became so successful. Especially as he embodied the concerns of a new generation finding their place in society. Lastly, I think it was also a great transition from the days blaxploitation films into serious racial dialogue.
The late 80s and early 90s was a great time for Spike Lee to rise to fame because his release of Do The Right Thing due to its highlight of racial tension that had not been addressed in earlier films. Although blacks were represented in film in the 60s and 70s, it didn't have much to do with the controversy in general. Lee did something that had not been done before in that he was able to shed light on racial tensions in America and at the same time empathize with all the participants. Instead of choosing a side to take a stance with in the film, he did it in a way that looked with a sense of sadness and tragedy that represents many in one particular situation which in this case is the hottest day in Brooklyn. He shows realism in the film by using music, humor, and color and allows for people to understand all the different characters feelings which was a very important element in film in that era.
The late 80s and early 90s were a gritty time for racially charged issues in our society, especially with race riots happening as a result of general distrust and uproar over the incident with Rodney King and the LAPD. At the same time, the United States and the American public seemed to be finally beginning to learn from the past prejudices and began to become more open to dialogue about race relations in the US. Thus, Spike Tee's Do The Right Thing was able to rise to fame because many people could relate and were interested in continuing the positive progression.
In addition, with the emergence of hip-hop culture and the lyrics associated with those songs, people were become my aware of issues no only within the black community, but with continuing race issues as well. Again, all the events, combined with the Spike's movie, Do the Right Thing, allowed for an open dialogue to flow, thus pushing race back into the conversation.
The late 80s and early 90s were a great time for directors like Spike Lee to rise to fame because of what was happening in society at the time. The film Do The Right Thing had a lot of racial tension throughout the movie, and this was depicted from actual events and where our society was at the time. One major example that bridges these two together is the Rodney King riots. These conflicts that arose through police brutality against african americans took the stage and allowed directors like Spike Lee to really focus on the not so subliminal messages that were being conveyed.
The beginning of the 80's were a dramatic step back and in a way ignoring the racial problems that were occurring. And as the 80's progressed into the 90's, racial issues and tensions rose and reached a peak with the Rodney King riots in LA.
Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing candidly took hold on the issues that society was too afraid to cover head on. There was no masks or heavy symbolism in the film. Racial tensions boil on the hottest day of year. Everything builds up until there must be confrontation and a choice must be made. The audience is left wondering if the right thing was done. At the end of the film, there are two contradicting quotes about violence. So, audiences are forced to think for themselves about the racial issues facing society at the time.
Spike Lee came at a time when racial tensions could not be ignored any longer. So his film was able to hold audiences attention and make them acknowledge issues that have been building up for a few years.
The 1980's and 1990's were a time in which new grounds were being made, but also history was tending to repeat itself. Technology, pop culture and the youth movement was getting stronger; with the polarity of MTV and celebrity influences. However in terms of history repeating itself, the civil right movement seen in the 1960s was reoccurring in the early 1990s in Los Angeles (Rodney King). The late 80s and 90s seemed to break free of the more conservative Reagan administration. Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing was a very edgy and very real life depiction of racial tension in New York City. Other films in the 80s/90s, like Spike Lee's, were able to creatively depict through stories and characters, the current social issues, whether it be about race, socio-economic status, sexuality, or political standpoints of the world or nation at the time.
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