Do The Right Thing

1.) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

            In class is was explained that upon completion of the film Do The Right Thing the producers urged director Spike Lee to alter the ending so that the relationship between Sal and Mookie ends on a relatively high note. Lee chose not to and released the film as he originally envisioned it. This was an important decision for Lee - he had changed the ending of the film, its story of misunderstanding and distrust would have been lost. As is, the film does not portray bad blood between Sal and Mookie. The two still hold quiet respect for one another, if not a touch of admiration. Sal's Pizzeria may have been destroyed and he may be anguished and frustrated by the loss, but he does not blame Mookie. Mookie may have incensed the riot that destroyed the Pizzeria, but he holds no ill-will towards Sal. The ending of the film implies that from that day forward Mookie is going to take responsibility not only for himself but for his new family.

2.) Find a related article and summarize the content.

http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/why-do-you-think-mookie-threw-a-trash-can-into-sals-pizzeria-window-in-do-the-right-thing

            In a blog post on indiewire.com is an article which analyzes the discussion regarding Mookie's actions at the end of Do the Right Thing. The article explains that there is no consensus, mostly for lack of proper explanation from director Lee, as to whether inciting the riot that destroys Sal's Pizzeria was the best course of action. The writer points out that immediately after Mookie tosses a garbage can through the window of Sal's Pizzeria he shouts the word "hate" which harkens back to a monologue given by Radio Raheem earlier in the film. Raheem tells Mookie that in the battle between love and hate, love must always be victorious. However, this scene may imply that in Mookie's inner struggle hate may have been the winner. The article also explains that the individuals living adjacent to Sal's Pizzeria clearly had no quarrel with Sal himself, evidenced by their disinterest in Buggin'Out's plan to boycott his business.

3.) Apply the article to the film screened in class.

            Perhaps a better question to ask is what would have happened if Mookie hadn't thrown the garbage can through the window. Clearly the neighborhood is upset with the arrest of Buggin'Out and the inadvertent death of Radio Raheem, but their reactions could have played out in a variety of ways. From the interactions between characters earlier in the film is can be postulated that the tenants of the surrounding buildings generally held no ill-will towards Sal or his business and vice versa. Additionally, Buggin'Out and Radio Raheem did not seem to be necessarily well-liked figures within the community, as Buggin'Out generally caused trouble and was unable to incite a boycott of Sal's Pizzeria, and Radio Raheem was almost completely boxed out of society due to the constantly blasting music from the boom box he always carried with him. This leads to the implication that the riot was not about Buggin'Out, Radio Raheem, or Sal, but was the result of mounting tensions based on misunderstandings and a lack of empathy amongst the opposing parties. If this is the case, then the riot could have engulfed the entire neighborhood in a blind rage that would have destroyed everything in its path. In this regard, Mookie's actions centralized and humanized the riot, pinpointing its rage on a single target.

4.) Write a critical analysis of the film.

            Do the Right Thing is not a film about prejudice. It is instead a movie about mounting tensions and the repercussions of a lack of communication. Each of the parties involved in the film, from Sal and his sons, the neighborhood community, and the protestors never set aside differences to discuss their issues, instead constantly shouting at one another and reacting violently. The conflict of the movie rises from misunderstandings rather than hate, from an inability to coexist rather than misplaced superiority. What is never shown in the film are characters treating each other in a civilized manner, instead jumping to conclusions of hostility and hurtful intent. It is a tragic story about the inability of a number of groups of people to understand one another. In the film Radio Raheem preaches a message of love over hate. If every character, including Raheem himself, had followed this simple guideline then the neighborhood could have coexisted in harmony.

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 
1) (X) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class. 

2) (X) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper. 

3) (X) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text. 

4) (X) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper. 

5) (X) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read. 

6) (X) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography. 

7) (X) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality. 

8) (X) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper. 

Name: ______Alex Wisniewski______________  Date: _______3/4/14_________________