context to DTRT

Question 1

social context

Answer 1

• NYC has just had a number of racially charged incidents e.g. Michael Griffith
• relationship between US police forces and black youth has deteriorated over the years due to killings
• rise of hip-hop and rap culture - public enemy were the most politicised of these artists

Question 2

blaxploitation

Answer 2

• 1970s ethnic subculture
• featured black actors in a transparent effort to appeal to black audiences
• more than 200 movies made

Question 3

controversies after the film was released

Answer 3

• film critics suggested DTRT could incite riots (no riots occurred)
• LEE criticized white reviewers for suggesting black audiences were unable to restrain themselves
• LEE said only white viewers ask if mookie did the right thing - viewers who question the riots justification are implicitly valuing white property over the life of a black man
• questions were raised about responses to oppression

Question 4

initial responses to the film

Answer 4

• mixed reactions at cannes festival
• LEE dressed in Malcom X shirt - “this film is not just about new york city, its about the world. racism is all over the world” he said in response to criticism
• many hailed the films energy and complexity - while others critcised its characterizations - well rounded or stereotypical?

Question 5

why is it still relevant today?

Answer 5

in 2020, amidst the #BLM movement and a never-ending list of unarmed African Americans being killed in the USA = the film is even more relevant

Question 6

MALCOM X + MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR

Answer 6

MALCOM X
- political activist
- criticized change through non-violence
- assassinated in 1965

MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR
- leader of the civil rights movement
- big role in ending segregation
- famous ‘i have a dream’ speech
- helped bring about the civil rights act (1964) and the voting rights of 1965

Question 7

historical context

Answer 7

released towards the end of the cold war, so with no country to fight america started to fight internal differences (particularly race). represented in the film through ethnic difference

Question 8

political context

Answer 8

• republican domination with start of Bush presidency
• film was released in the lead to NYC mayoral election
• implicit sense that viewers should ‘DO THE RIGHT THING’ and vote for the black (later successful) candidate David Dinkins

Question 9

institutional context

Answer 9

• SPIKE LEE’s third feature film
• universal gave him $6.5mil (average studio budget is $18mil)
• hollywood felt there was a niche demographic