Do the Right Thing: Crash Course Film Criticism

Spike Lee's 'Do the Right Thing' is a powerful film set in a Brooklyn neighborhood, exploring racial tensions and community dynamics. Released in 1989, it uses innovative filmmaking techniques to engage audiences and provoke thought. The film's narrative unfolds over a single hot day, focusing on various characters and culminating in a climactic riot. It addresses themes of race, identity, and community, remaining relevant today. Critics have debated its stance on race, with some seeing it as inciting violence, while others praise its fairness and depth. The film challenges viewers to reflect on their own perceptions of race and community.

What is the central theme of Spike Lee's film 'Do the Right Thing'?

• A documentary about New York City

• A romantic comedy set in Brooklyn

• A science fiction story about time travel

• A portrayal of racial tensions in a Brooklyn neighborhood

Which real-life incident partially inspired Spike Lee to create 'Do the Right Thing'?

• The New York City blackout of 1977

• The Civil Rights March on Washington

• The beating and death of Michael Griffith

• The Harlem Renaissance

What is the primary focus of Spike Lee's film 'Do the Right Thing'?

• The interconnectedness of a community

• A single protagonist's journey

• A futuristic society

• A historical event

How does Spike Lee use color in 'Do the Right Thing' to enhance the film's atmosphere?

• By using only black and white

• By emphasizing cool blues and greens

• By removing blues and greens to focus on warm colors

• By using a monochrome palette

What filmmaking technique does Spike Lee use to create a sense of instability in 'Do the Right Thing'?

• Stop-motion animation

• Dutch or canted angles

• Slow motion sequences

• Black and white scenes

In 'Do the Right Thing', what does Radio Raheem's boombox symbolize?

• The power of silence

• The dominance of classical music

• Cultural identity and the rise of hip hop

• The decline of radio

What is the significance of the film's ending in 'Do the Right Thing'?

• It provides a clear resolution to the conflict

• It leaves the community's future uncertain

• It suggests a return to normalcy

• It ends with a musical number

How does Spike Lee challenge viewers' perceptions of race through the character of Sal?

• By making Sal a hero throughout the film

• By portraying Sal as a one-dimensional villain

• By initially making Sal sympathetic, then revealing his harmful actions

• By excluding Sal from the main narrative

What role does the character Mookie play in the film's climax?

• He calls the police to stop the violence

• He initiates the riot by throwing a garbage can

• He remains neutral and uninvolved

• He leaves the neighborhood

Which two figures' approaches to activism are contrasted in 'Do the Right Thing'?

• Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington

• Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu

• Rosa Parks and Harriet Tubman

• Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X