“Do The Right Thing,” David Bordwell and Kristen Thompson, Film Art, 410-415 discusses not only the plot of the film “Do The Right Thing,” but also the central themes and goals of the film. The film is said to have a clear action, which is often associated with classical filmmaking. However, the disconnected scenes, camera movements, and the large number of characters without clear goals urge viewers to question whether the film fits into the classical narrative category. Also, most of the main characters create goals infrequently which differs from the true classical narrative structure. Overall, Lee created a community full of conflict from the start of the film, while simultaneously deemphasizing the goals; whereas usually in traditional classical films, goals produce conflict. 

The film is primarily set on one block in Bedford-Stuyvesant, and many unique scenes are intertwined to create a whole. Additionally, the article emphasizes the importance of community by portraying the challenges of overcoming sexual and racial conflict. The article touches on how these issues are intertwined throughout the film, which further illustrates how these complications are connected in society. Community is displayed by the characters addressing one another by a specific nickname. Moreover, the use of many different cinematic techniques, such as long takes, shot/reverse shots, and eyeline matches helps to further emphasize the community in the film.

In addition, the article examines how sound plays a role in the film. It helps denote community. For example, the music by the DJ ties the film’s events together. The article also mentions the scene where Radio Raheem irritates others by blasting his rap track, and further declares that the sound in this scene plays a part in the racial tensions.

While watching the film, I also noticed the specific camera movements that Lee chose to incorporate. Specifically, he made use of low angle shots, closeups, and also included many slow motion scenes. The low angle shots help to portray the emotion of the characters in the film. For example, when Buggin Out, Radio Raheem, and Smiley enter the pizzeria to order Sal to include famous Black people on his “Wall of Fame,” they are shot with a low angled shot in order to illustrate their assertiveness and powerful demand. Following this shot, Sal is captured from above which emphasizes his fear while being confronted. These series of shots illustrate the racial tension and conflict, which is a main theme throughout the film. Typically, in order to show that a character is perhaps weak, they are shot from above; however, to show that a character is dominant, a low angle shot is often utilized. 

The article states that the overall question of  “what is the right thing” still remains by the end of the film. This film can be considered a social problem film, as the larger social problem connects to the individual conflict between the characters. A social problem film urges the viewers to consider the social issues not only within the film, but also within the broader world and explore the potential dispute.