Week 9 Flashcards
What is the significance of “Now” in Spike Lee’s “Do The Right Thing”?
- “Now” represents the moment of decision where characters must choose between “doing the right thing” or “doing what you gotta do.”
- It symbolizes the critical present moment where change can occur or things can continue as they are.
What are the two contrasting pieces of advice given in “Do The Right Thing”?
Da Mayor advises “Do the right thing” (representing moral idealism), while Sal says “Do what you gotta do” (representing pragmatism and self-interest)
How does religion relate to the central conflict in “Do The Right Thing”?
Religion involves discovering the space between “doing what you gotta do” and “doing the right thing.” The film explores this tension as a religious choice that characters face in everyday decisions.
What does Sal’s pizzeria represent in the film?
- Sal’s pizzeria represents a contested space where racial tensions play out
- It becomes the focal point for questions about representation (whose pictures are on the wall) and who belongs in the neighborhood
How does Spike Lee use the neighborhood setting to explore social issues?
- The neighborhood becomes a microcosm of society where social sin (systemic injustice) is embedded in everyday interactions
- Characters must navigate this environment while making moral choices
What role does protest play in “Do The Right Thing”?
- Protest is portrayed as a necessary response when “doing the right thing” requires challenging the status quo
- The film explores different forms of protest, from Buggin’ Out’s boycott to more dramatic actions
What is the significance of Mookie throwing the garbage can?
This pivotal action raises the question of whether Mookie is following Da Mayor’s advice to “do the right thing” or Sal’s advice to “do what you gotta do” - making it ambiguous whether his action is morally justified or pragmatic
What role does Da Mayor play in “Do The Right Thing”?
- Da Mayor serves as a moral compass in the film, advising Mookie to “do the right thing.”
- Despite his flaws (like drinking in the morning), he represents institutional wisdom and tries to maintain peace in the community
What is the significance of “THE WORLD. THIS WORLD.” in the film?
his phrase emphasizes Sal’s worldly, practical perspective that focuses on immediate concerns rather than higher moral principles or future consequences
How does the film portray the tension between idealism and practicality?
The film shows this tension through the contrasting advice of Da Mayor (“do the right thing” - idealism) and Sal (“do what you gotta do” - practicality), which the characters must navigate in their decision-making
What does the fire hydrant scene symbolize in the film?
- The fire hydrant scene represents both relief from the heat (literal) and a form of community expression
- It symbolizes how people respond when things get “hot” (tense) in their environment
How does Spike Lee use temperature as a metaphor in the film?
- Lee uses “hot” and “cold” not just as physical temperatures but as metaphors for dissonant, uncomfortable situations
- The film asks which “toolbox” (moral framework) people reach for when situations escalate or become heated
Which/whose instructions did Mookie follow when he picked up the garbage can?
This is deliberately ambiguous. Mookie’s action can be interpreted as following either Da Mayor’s advice to “do the right thing” or Sal’s advice to “do what you gotta do,” making it a central question for analysis in the film
What are the four definitions of religion presented in the film?
1) A response to revelation
2) A basket for ineffable questions
3) A sacred space for constructing ritual and interruption
4) Discovering the space between “doing what you gotta do” and “doing the right thing”
What did Spike Lee call the movie and why?
“Do the Right Thing” to highlight the moral dilemma at the center of the film - the tension between moral idealism and practical necessity in responding to racial injustice
What is the central question posed in the film regarding moral choices?
“But what IS the right thing?” The film explores how this question isn’t always clear-cut, sometimes we know the answer, but often it’s complex and contextual
In what areas do we make decisions about “doing the right thing”?
Religion, Politics, Economics, Culture, Science, and Art. These are all domains where moral choices and trade-offs occur.
What was Martin Luther King Jr.’s view on violence as a means of achieving racial justice?
MLK viewed violence as both impractical and immoral. He argued it creates a “descending spiral” of destruction, leaves everyone “blind,” seeks humiliation rather than understanding, thrives on hatred, destroys community, and ultimately destroys itself
What was Malcolm X’s perspective on self-defense?
Malcolm X believed in preserving the right to do what is necessary to end unjust situations. He distinguished between violence and self-defense, stating: “I don’t even call it violence when it’s self-defense, I call it intelligence.”
What is the significance of the image showing MLK Jr. and Malcolm X together?
The image represents two contrasting approaches to racial justice: MLK’s nonviolent resistance and Malcolm X’s self-defense philosophy. Despite different methods, both were working toward similar goals of equality and justice.
Who was James H. Cone and what was his key theological concept?
- James H. Cone was a leading theologian who developed Black Liberation Theology
- His key concept was “Jesus is Black,” which reinterpreted Christianity from the perspective of the oppressed and connected faith with the struggle for racial justice
Is religion cultural or countercultural?
- It’s both
- Religion can support cultural norms, but according to figures like James Cone, it should primarily counter culture when that culture fails to live up to its ideals
- Religion should challenge unjust power structures rather than reinforce them.
What are “tradeoffs” in relation to religion and other social systems?
- Tradeoffs occur when religious institutions compromise their ideals for worldly gains or power
- These compromises happen across various domains: religion, politics, economics, culture, science, and art
- The danger is that one can become what one trades off
How do “expressions” relate to religious and social systems?
- Expressions are how religious and social values manifest in various domains (religion, politics, economics, culture, science, art)
- Artistic expressions, like Spike Lee’s film, can reveal the tensions and tradeoffs within these systems.
What choices are presented regarding protest and assimilation?
The question “Choice? Or No Choice?” suggests that sometimes these responses are freely chosen, while other times they’re forced by circumstances or power structures.
What does the image of civil rights protesters represent in the context of the film?
- The image represents historical, organized protest as a form of “doing the right thing.”
- The professor noted that protesters were often well-dressed and peaceful, using nonviolent methods to demand rights like voting, contrasting with different forms of protest shown in the film.
How were boomboxes used as a form of protest in 1980s New York City?
- Boomboxes created a “sound environment” that asserted presence and identity, especially in gentrifying neighborhoods
- They were tools for negotiating space and making one’s presence impossible to ignore.
Why were boomboxes significant in “Do the Right Thing”?
- They represented sacred personal space and cultural identity
- Radio Raheem’s boombox was a negotiating tool for his space, and its destruction symbolized the destruction of that sacred space.
How did playing music in public spaces function as protest without being illegal?
While not technically illegal during daytime hours, playing loud music in certain gentrifying neighborhoods became a political act that challenged social boundaries and reclaimed space
What did the “I AM HERE!!!” message on the boombox represent?
It represented the assertion of presence and identity in spaces where certain people were often ignored or made to feel unwelcome, demanding recognition and respect
What is social sin as described in the lecture?
an environment that creates injustice by its very presence, where incentives encourage bad behavior and doing wrong becomes normalized
What role does religion play in addressing social sin?
Religion calls out social sin, reminding people when societal structures and norms fail to meet ideals of justice and morality
What are the examples of social sin mentioned in the lecture?
1) Politics of fear, hate, or exclusion
2) Abuse of creation
3) Society without love
4) Acquisition or retention of unjust wealth
5) Commerce or industry without morality
6) Science without humanity
7) Perpetuation of ignorance
According to Catholic teaching, what are three examples of governmental social sin?
Government by fear, division, or abuse; derogation of conscience rights; and interference with free, responsible speech
What does the Catholic Church teach about social sin related to future generations?
The Church considers disrespect of future generations through non-sustainable social, economic, or legal structures to be a form of social sin
What does the Catholic Church teach about sins against human dignity?
Every sin against the rights of the human person, physical integrity, freedom (especially religious freedom), and dignity/honor of one’s neighbor constitutes social sin
How did the professor describe addressing social sin?
To combat social sin, one must interrupt the entire structure in a noticeable way - a thematically religious act that challenges the normalized environment of injustice
What are “structures of sin”?
Structures of sin are the expression and effect of personal sins that give rise to social situations and institutions contrary to divine goodness
How is social sin different from individual sin?
Social sin is built into laws, rules, and customs of society, making it harder to eradicate than individual sin. It requires systemic change rather than individual correction
How does “Selma” relate to the concept of social sin?
Selma” depicts the fight against social sin through the civil rights movement, specifically the struggle for voting rights and challenging unjust laws that prohibited assembly
Why is social sin compared to an aquarium?
Like fish unable to escape water, people in environments of social sin find it difficult to change their surroundings from within, as the injustice is all-encompassing
What question does the film “Do the Right Thing” ask regarding social environments?
How do you respond to what is always around you? How do you do the right thing when surrounded by unjust social structures?
What is the significance of “interruption” in religious contexts as shown in “Do the Right Thing”?
Interruption is a thematically religious act that challenges social sin. It requires breaking established patterns to address injustice that has become normalized in society. In the film, interruption represents the need to disrupt entire structures when injustice is systemic.
Why does Buggin’ Out organize a boycott of Sal’s Pizzeria?
Buggin’ Out questions why there are only white people on the wall in a pizzeria located in a majority Black neighborhood. After failing to get a satisfactory answer from Sal, he organizes a boycott as a political act of resistance against this form of cultural exclusion.
How do the confrontations between Sal and the characters in the film represent larger social tensions?
The confrontations represent the tension between assimilation and protest. Sal attempts to maintain control by reasoning with Mookie rather than addressing Buggin’ Out’s concerns directly, highlighting uncomfortable power dynamics that foreshadow the film’s climactic events.
What role does Rosie Perez’s character play in the film’s opening?
Rosie Perez’s character creates a space of resistance through dance in the film’s opening sequence. Her performance takes up the first four minutes of the film and establishes a form of cultural expression and resistance that sets the tone for the film.
What is the significance of Smiley’s character in “Do the Right Thing”?
Smiley is one of the most consistent characters who represents truth throughout the film. He persistently holds up pictures of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., symbolizing historical truth, and is ultimately the one who succeeds in putting these pictures on Sal’s wall.
How does the film use visual composition to convey meaning?
The film uses techniques like the Dutch angle (tilted camera) to create unease and signal impending action. Color composition is also significant, such as the contrast between Smiley outside with red and the gold inside the pizzeria, highlighting divisions and tensions.
How did gentrification affect neighborhoods in New York during the time of “Do the Right Thing”?
Areas like Morningside Heights (actually West Harlem) were renamed by real estate developers to create expensive enclaves. This led to cultural tensions where playing music loudly became a political act of resistance against displacement.
What does “turning the other cheek” truly mean in its biblical context?
Not being a doormat, but refusing to play the oppressor’s game. It’s about reclaiming truth and changing the rules rather than retaliating
How are Matthew 5:38-44 and Luke 6:27-36 connected to MLK’s philosophy?
These passages form the foundation of MLK’s nonviolent resistance approach, emphasizing love for enemies and refusing to respond with violence.
Who is Mr. Señor Love Daddy in “Do the Right Thing” and what does he represent?
He’s the radio DJ who serves as the voice of truth on the block, filling the movie with music and representing a trusted community voice.
What is the significance of Mother Sister in the film?
She’s a moral authority figure who observes the neighborhood from her window. Her catchphrase “And that’s the truth, Ruth!” emphasizes her role as a truth-teller
What real-life incidents influenced Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing”?
Incidents like Michael Stewart’s death in police custody (1983) and Eleanor Bumpurs’ killing during an eviction (1984) formed the historical backdrop for the film’s themes.
What was the Howard Beach Incident (1986)?
A racially motivated attack where Michael Griffiths and friends were accosted by white youths in a predominantly white neighborhood, resulting in Griffiths’ death when he ran onto a parkway to escape.
Who was Yusuf Hawkins?
A 16-year-old Black youth from East New York who was murdered in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn in 1989 when he and friends went to look at a used car and were attacked by a mob of white youths
How does visual documentation relate to social justice as discussed in the lecture?
Visual documentation (like Darnella Frazier’s video of George Floyd) exposes injustice and shapes public perception, making the truth visible and undeniable, similar to how cameras documented civil rights abuses
