Spike Lee films are in essence about the experiences of African Americans in urban communities. Spike Lee is an American director, writer, producer, and actor. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York which probably explains why a large majority of his films take place there. He often dives into racial tensions and exposes the day-to-day realities of different cultures, showing the raw violence and hatred that many people are too isolated to see. His films tackle subjects such as racism, sex, and cultural nuance. ‘Do the Right Thing’ presents a day in the life of a racially tense neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. The film ‘Malcolm X’ follows the life of the slain African-American Civil Rights Leader, and ‘She’s Gotta Have It’ explores the life of an African-American woman fighting for sexual freedom.
The city of New York is more than a setting in Spike Lee’s films, it is a character as well. After the Great Migration, African Americans started to create a black urban culture that would exert enormous influence. And it is where he chooses to tell his stories.
Save your time!
We can take care of your essay
- Proper editing and formatting
- Free revision, title page, and bibliography
- Flexible prices and money-back guarantee
The costumes in ‘Malcolm X’ were based on how African-Americans dressed in the 50/60’s. When Malcolm is a young man he wears a zoot suit with vibrant colors, but after Malcolm joins the nation of Islam, he wears a regular black and white suit. This could symbolize the change in Malcolm’s attitude as he transforms from Malcolm Little to Malcolm X. In ‘Do the Right Thing’ the costume palette of the characters is loud and the clothes are minimal, reflecting and highlighting the sweltering heat. In ‘She’s Gotta Have It’ costume was used to showcase a character’s personality, like when we see a shot of Mars Blackmon’s Air Jordans, it lets the audience know that he’s an immature character.
The colors grey, black, and blue is predominantly seen in the film ‘Malcolm X’. The color use speaks to the time period of the film as opinions ranged from White supremacy to Back to Africa and a multitude of ideas in-between. Spike Lee’s use of in ‘Do the Right Thing’ lighting demonstrates an awareness of the oppression experienced by the entire neighborhood. Inside is a haven against the oppressive mood and heat outside; the sunlight is muted. However, the mood can still be felt, as long shadows are cast into the interiors. Outside, the sunlight casts an orange, hazy glare over everything in the neighborhood. The sun is an omnipresent object in the film, and everything and everyone is affected by the light and heat it radiates. Most of ‘She’s Gotta Have It’ is shot mostly in black and white, but it has a vibrant birthday sequence in color. The use of color in the birthday sequence highlighted the exaggerated tone of the sequence.
In ‘Do the Right Thing’ there are many Dutch angle shots that mirror the instability in the neighborhood where racial tensions are threating to boil over. ‘Malcolm X’ has Spike Lee’s trademark double dolly shot this is when Malcolm is about to speak for the last time. The shot gives a very gloomy feel, and as though Malcolm is being pulled to his death. ‘She’s Gotta Have It’ and ‘Do the Right Thing’ have a shot in a documentary style to them. They both have sequences that have characters break the fourth wall by talking to or acknowledging the audience. Sometimes his films have archival footage or photos as well, a video of Rodney King being attacked by the police is at the beginning of ‘Malcolm X’, and a photo of Martin Luther King, Jr and Malcolm X shaking hands is shown at the end of ‘Do the Right Thing’.
Spike Lee showcases the experiences of African-Americans in urban areas like New York. This can be seen in his films ‘Do the Right Thing’, ‘She’s Gotta Have It’, and ‘Malcolm X’.
Stuck on your essay?
