Do the Right Thing Ryan Zamboni

Ryan Zamboni

Blog 3

1.      Washington Post.

The way I personally see the conclusion, as Desson Howe argued that the film “keeps things open to wide interpretation” is that Sal was in the right. I feel that because it was his shop he had the right to post what he wanted on his wall of fame despite the neighborhood, the right to ask that the music be turned down, as well as the right to defend his shop in breaking the boom box.

Emerson

Emerson argued that in Lees film there were “no uncompromised heros.” To this I must disagree and state that Sonny the grocer had moved his family into a rough neighborhood where he was seemingly not very well accepted. When the neighborhood turned on him he defended his store with negotiation instead of violence, and stated basically that they were all going through the same struggle.

Dr. Permenter

I agree that the colors used often in the film (as well as the harsh lighting in outdoor scenes) really drove home the point that not only was the physical heat oppressive, but symbolically, the “heat” resulting from racial tensions was wearing the characters down. The reds and oranges along with the harsh lighting, added a definite visible sense of stress and discomfort for all the characters.

2.     

One example of how the framing, camera techniques, and shot distance/composition really added a feeling of distance between the various races were the shots with the racist rants. The same basic technique, with a quick zoom using a telephoto lens to a medium shot of the speaking character with still framing made the characters come across as being truly frank in their feelings toward the other races. The fact that all the characters went on rants about a specific race made the separation seem even further because it was not like they hated all the races, they were saying what they thought about one specific group of people.

3. 

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc6_XgtOQgI

In this clip, the shot at 2:06 implements many of the techniques that we have discussed in class.  The Mise en Scene places the white character mostly centered, drawing all of the attention to him and his actions. Below him are is a small mob that seems to be looking for a fight, but they seem unimportant as compared to the central character. At the same time, we notice that the intensity of the scene diminishes as he turns his back and walks away. Also notable is his placement above the angry mob, making him seem more powerful even with his back turned, symbolically I interpreted this as his rising above the confrontation itself and for that reason he seems like a more likable and respectable character, at least to me.