Do the Right Thing 2

Image from: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e9/DRT_Mookie_Sal.jpg/800px-DRT_Mookie_Sal.jpg

Do the Right Thing incorporated many aspects of mise en scéne throughout the duration of the film. Along with the creative camera angles, I believe mise en scéne was one of the most influential parts about this film that made it so powerful. I believe props and the setting were two aspects of mise en scéne that were effective in this film.

First of all, props were used effectively. One prop that really stood out to me was the use of pizza boxes. Every time Mookie was sent out to do a delivery, he took with him a pizza box. The fact that he had a pizza box gave him the excuse to spend time walking around town and talking to people around the city. Because he was a delivery boy and had ‘pizzas’ to deliver, he was able to get away from his job and walk around the city which also allowed for him (and the audience) to experience different situations between other characters in the film. Another prop that was extremely influential in the film was obviously Radio Raheem’s boom box. The destruction of the boom box by Sal is what set off the entire town in an uproar that destroyed Sal’s Pizzeria and which killed Radio Raheem. Throughout the movie, however, the audience learns to almost despise the boom box because it is so loud and obnoxious. The radio is owned by an individual who is very tough and unkind which is ironic since the radio itself sets off a wildfire of hatred and violence.

Secondly, the setting throughout this film was influential. The fact that the entire story takes place in the city really makes this film work. Imagine if the same characters were living in the country or on a farm or in a suburban neighborhood. Most of what happened throughout the film takes place on the block. The most influential setting for me personally were the scenes which depicted the three men in front of the red wall. Those scenes always seemed to take me away from the reality of ‘city’ life and it is not until the end of the film that you realize that the red wall is actually across the street from Sal’s Pizzeria.

In all, the most influential aspects of mise en scéne that the film Do the Right Thing incorporates are props and the setting. Props help to develop the story line of the film while the setting helps to create a realistic feel for the movie. Although there are many aspects of mise en scéne that are influential throughout this film, I believe that the use of props and the setting are the most dominant pieces.