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This ClipNotes file will examine terms that relate to cinematography and give an example of stylistic and thematic analysis, looking at how Spike Lee uses formal techniques such as doubling, long takes, motifs, and a stylized use of space to construct his theme of racial conflict.
01 Introduction: Style and Theme in Do The Right Thing
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Close-up: A framing in which the scale of the object shown is relatively large; most commonly a person’s head from the neck up.
02 Term: Close-Up
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What effect does this close-up have on the scene?
03 Question: Close-Up
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Radio Raheem becomes a highly significant character at the end of the movie, here in his first close-up, other characters around describe who he is in the background. The framing is slightly canted giving a hint that something may be off for this character in the future.
04 Answer: Close-Up
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Medium Close-up: A framing in which the scale of the object shown is fairly large, for instance a human figure from the chest up would fill most of the screen.
05 Term: Medium Close-Up
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Why might the filmmaker have chosen to use a medium close-up in this scene?
06 Question: Medium Close-Up
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In this scene there is action happening all around, yet Radio Raheem remains at medium close-up as he moves, focusing in on him rather than everything else present.
07 Answer: Medium Close-Up
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Extreme Close-Up: A framing in which the scale of the object shown is very large, most commonly an object or a part of a person’s body, like a hand.
08 Term: Extreme Close-Up
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What is the effect of the extreme close-ups in this scene?
09 Question: Extreme Close-Up
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The clip begins by showing a wider shot of this shaved ice cart, then moves in closer to show viewers all of the specific items from a more detailed perspective.
10 Answer: Extreme Close-Up
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Medium Shot: a framing in which the scale of the object shown is of moderate size; a human from waist up would fill the screen.
11 Term: Medium Shot
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What is the effect of the medium shot here?
12 Question: Medium Shot
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As the character complains that the store doesn’t stock his favorite beer, you can see the selection of alcoholic beverages in the background. The medium shot allows viewers to see more of the setting around him.
13 Answer: Medium Shot
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Long Shot: a framing in which the scale of the object shown is relatively small; a standing human figure would be about the height of the screen.
14 Term: Long Shot
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What is the effect of the long shot here?
15 Question: Long Shot
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As Mookie walks through the neighborhood his full body is in frame and you can see the people around him in the background as he interacts with them. The framing is around the character's height still keeps Mookie the main object that viewers are paying attention to.
16 Answer: Long Shot
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Extreme Long Shot: A framing in which the scale of the object is very small, for instance, a landscape.
17 Term: Extreme Long Shot
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What is the significance of the extreme long shots like this throughout the movie?
18 Question: Extreme Long Shot
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The movie focuses on the community living on these blocks in Brooklyn, New York. These extreme long shots highlight the significance of the setting to the movie.
19 Answer: Extreme Long Shot
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Direct Address: A character talks directly to the audience, breaking from the 4th wall that is supposed to be separating viewers from the activities on screen.
20 Term: Direct Address
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How is direct address used in this scene?
21 Question: Direct Address
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Notice how the conversation consciously shifts to direct address, outlining the conflict between love and hate, described in violent terms, and moving as though these ideas are being posed less to Mookie and instead specifically to the audience.
22 Answer: Direct Address
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Camera Angle: The position of the camera in relation to the subject, which determines how the subject is framed.
23 Term: Camera Angle
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High Camera Angle: the camera looks down at the subject.
24 Term: High Camera Angle
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Low camera angle: the camera looks up at the subject
25 Term: Low Camera Angle
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What do the camera positions in the scene indicate about the relationship between these two characters as they speak to each other?
26 Question: Camera Angles 1
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The camera angles help to immediately establish the dynamic of Da Mayor and Mother Sister, both of whom serve a role as the elders of the community. Mother Sister appears to power over Mayor from the low camera angle, while Mayor looks smaller and weaker through the use of the high angle.
27 Answer: Camera Angles 1
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What do these two characters, Da Mayor and Mother Sister, represent within the community that lives on this block?
28 Question: Camera Angles 2
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Contrasted with canted (or tilted/Dutch) angles, this scene introduces doubling of the block's matriarch (Mother Sister) and patriarch (Da Mayor). Mother Sister preaches moral fiber and strength of character from her window overlooking the neighbourhood, while Da Mayor advocates peace and decency, and later courage, despite his alcoholism.
29 Answer: Camera Angles 2
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Canted or Oblique Angle: a view in which the frame is not level; either the right side or left side is lower, causing objects in the scene to look slanted.
30 Term: Canted or Oblique Angle
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What is the effect of the canted framing in this shot?
31 Question: Canted or Oblique Camera Angle
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This scene is the climactic moment of the film before violence breaks out, the canted angle help to highlight how tensions are escalating.
32 Answer: Canted or Oblique Camera Angle
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What symbolism do these camera angles have?
33 Question: Camera Angles
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Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. symbolize the struggle between nonviolence and self defense. Here, an unusual camera angle is used to emphasize the differing philosophies of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Unusual camera angles used for emphasis are a common cinematic technique featured throughout the film.
34 Answer: Camera Angles
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Camera Movement: The way the camera moves in the frame can not only follow characters as they move but also help create tone and meaning in any scene.
35 Term: Camera Movement
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Tilt: A camera movement with the camera body swiveling upward or downward on a stationary support, producing a vertical motion.
36 Term: Tilt
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What is the effect of the tilt in this shot?
37 Question: Tilt
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In the shot, the camera tilts down Mookie walks down the stairs, the camera moves up and down as Mookie also moves laterally.
38 Answer: Tilt
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Pan: The camera body turns to the right or left, producing a horizontal motion. Here, shot from below the camera follows the man has he moves, yet the camera still seems to be staying in one place.
39 Term: Pan
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What is the effect of the pan in this shot?
40 Question: Pan
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The camera follows as the actress dances, keep her in the center.
41 Answer: Pan
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Tracking Shot: A mobile framing that travels through space forward, backward or laterally.
42 Term: Tracking Shot
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What is the effect of the camera movement in this shot?
43 Question: Tracking Shot
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In the shot, Mookie moves yet the camera stays framed at long shot shot, following him. This is often more specifically referred to as a "following shot."
44 Answer: Tracking Shot
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Hand-held Camera: The use of a camera operator’s body as a camera support, either holding it by hand or using a harness.
45 Term: Hand-held Camera
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What effect does the hand-held camera have in this scene?
46 Question: Hand-held Camera
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The quick-moving, handheld camera and harsh natural lighting from a swinging light bulb in a confined space emphasize the conflict between brothers: Pino advocates racial segregation, while Vito stands up for himself and says Mookie actually listens to him.
47 Answer: Hand-held Camera
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Crane Shot: A shot with a change in framing accomplished by placing the camera above the subject and moving through the air in any direction.
48 Term: Crane Shot
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What camera movements do you see here?
49 Question: Crane Shot
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The camera movement here is very sophisticated. It begins at an extreme closeup of a clock, then the camera moves back to reveal the man talking. Next in one seemless movement that camera extends back far enough to see that we are looking at him through the window of a neighborhood building. He introduces the overall setting as the camera rotates to look out to our first visual of neighborhood that becomes such a significant part of the story.
50 Answer: Crane Shot
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How does DJ Love Daddy's opening monologue help set up themes that are seen throughout the movie?
51 Question: Narrative Development
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DJ Love Daddy's speech introduces many of the salient techniques of the film: doubling (of characters, language, and ideology), sound and music (emblematic of conflict), setting (tension all in one block in Brooklyn), time (one day, the hottest of the year), and the long take (immersive camera technique).
52 Answer: Narrative Development
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Zoom: A lens with a focal length that can be changed during a shot, making objects become closer or farther with out the camera actually moving.
53 Term: Zoom
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What is the effect of the camera movement in this shot?
54 Question: Zoom
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Over the course of this zoom we move from a long shot of Radio Raheme and Buggin Out into a closeup of the boombox. The prop has been something that many character throughout have been commenting on, and that becomes highly significant in the next seen. When they go into the pizza shop and a confrontation occurs in part because of the loud music.
55 Answer: Zoom
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What camera movement is used in this scene?
56 Question: Camera Movement 1
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A long shot tracks from Mother Sister's apartment, where Da Mayor has spent the night, past the flowers and out the window into the street, then quickly pans to Mookie, who is about to confront Sal.
57 Answer: Camera Movement 1
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What is Mookie's position throughout the movie and how is that highlighted by the camera movement in this scene?
58 Question: Camera Movement 2
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Mookie's ability to move between the worlds(such as being able to talk to characters from each world and easing tension) is paralleled in the camera movement and framing. We see this ability through the inside/outside dichotomy as well as the line, "Stay black.” Also, notice that Smiley is present in the background with his Malcolm/Martin photo, as he is in many scenes; in this sense, Smiley symbolizes the idea that tension is simmering on this day.
59 Answer: Camera Movement 2
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What is the effect of the camera movement in this scene?
60 Question: Camera Movement 3
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Slow push-in on Sal and Pino's patient conversation by the window, with neighborhood unfolding in background: love, hate, racism, belonging, community, time, property. Smiley intrudes, and tension erupts. Three men yell from off-screen.
61 Answer: Camera Movement 3
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How is camera movement utilized the this riot sequence?
62 Question: Camera Movement 4
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A slow tracking shot that rack-focuses between various onlookers, decrying police violence and giving examples of previous innocent victims (Michael Stewart, Eleanor Bumpers). "All he wanted was pictures on the wall, and he died." Da Mayor tries to calm everyone down, Mookie incites violence (the shot of the trash can is repeated twice), Smiley starts a fire, Mother Sister screams for Sal’s Pizzeria to be burnt down, the Korean grocer screams that he is not white. The Firemen turning hoses on crowd recalls the Civil Rights struggle. Smiley puts photo of Malcolm and King on the wall.
63 Answer: Camera Movement 4
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How is racial conflict depicted in this scene?
64 Question: Racial Conflict 1
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In this scene, the white gentrifier wearing a Larry Bird shirt scuffs Buggin Out's Air Jordans, which leads to a racial confrontation about property and community. Spike Lee also has made commercials for Nike. This conflict over the Nikes is one example of how pop culture signifiers and media representation are important throughout this film.
65 Answer: Racial Conflict 1
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Where does this scene fit within the film's narrative?
66 Question: Racial Conflict 2
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This scene, occurring nearly halfway through the film, forcefully highlights the racial tensions at play in the community.
67 Answer: Racial Conflict 2
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What shots are utilized in this scene and how do they highlight the significance of this violent moment and what happens after that?
68 Question: Racial Conflict 3
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There is low-lighting, confusion, a flurry of edits, and yelling while the police kill Radio Raheem with a baton chokehold. Spike Lee has said that this is meant to mimic how Michael Stewart was slain by New York City Transit Police in 1983 for writing graffiti. As life drains out of Radio Raheem, we see his Nike shoes stop flailing. He drops to the ground and his “LOVE” hand jewelry falls into frame, recalling his “Love/Death” monologue from earlier in the film.
69 Answer: Racial Conflict 3
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How does the editing and camera movement in this scene help to create tone and meaning?
70 Question: Form and Meaning 1
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A following shot tracks Mookie through the wreckage. There is tense editing between Mookie and Sal during their final confrontation, concerning responsibility, property, police brutality, community, and a fractured relationship. Their discussion about whether all is lost is shot from a low angle.
71 Answer: Form and Meaning 1
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What is the effect of the final shot of the film, what is it saying?
72 Question: Form and Meaning 2
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A long take show Mookie walk across street, similar to one earlier, while DJ Love Daddy recounts the city’s response to the riot. DJ Love Daddy asks listeners to register to vote, before dedicating the song to Radio Raheem. The camera pans up to a wide shot of the neighborhood; we see that although the area bears damage, there are also children playing basketball, as life goes on.
73 Answer: Form and Meaning 2
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Two quotations conclude the film, each advocating an opposing stance toward violence and symbolizing a tension in the African-American struggle against oppression. The only photograph of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. together is then the final image, the same one Smiley had posted to the wall in Sal's Pizzeria. How do you think the words of these two figures resonate with the film?
74 Question: Conclusion and Interpretations
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The image and quotes from Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X help to show different persectives between violent or nonviolent protest. Referencing these two figures leaves the events of the movie open to interpretation, where the audience can decide for themselves whether or not they felt the actions of the characters were justified.
75 Answer: Conclusion and Interpretations
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How is the racial conflict of the film depicted through formal and stylistic means? Why might Spike Lee have used such a heavily stylized aesthetic? What aspects of form and style does Spike Lee use to portray the pivotal scene of police violence and ensuing riot? Why might he have chosen to film it in that manner? How is the space of the film presented, and what is its impact?
76 Question: Discussion Topics