DTRT: Gentrification Scene

• Lee displays gentrification as a spark in the racial tensions in the Bed Stuy, Brooklyn neighbourhood.
• In this scene, Buggin Out reflects Martin Luther Kings views against using violence to state feelings.
• This scene sets up the escalation of racial tensions in the neighbourhood.
• Can be contrasted to Vertigo as it reveals a different side to America
• Lee begins this scene by utilizing the light cameras of the new Hollywood era (like HC in Ernie's) tracking backwards with Mookie and Vito as they argue over baseball players (cultural context).
• Vito is wearing a black 'wife beater' contrasting his brothers white one - Lee innovatively using mis en scene to characterise characters (auteur trait)
• As Buggin Out enters the frame, the medium three shot shows Lee's auteur feature 'idiosyncratic tone' with BO's line relating to the context of black violence occurring in NYC in the 1980s/
• 'i'm a struggling black man trying to keep my dick hard in a cruel and harsh world'
• He also subtly displays the racial tensions through BO's distrust of Vito ( 'what up with the white boy' ) before rejecting his hand shake and pretending he smells instead.
• Through character movement, Lee makes it appear as though the neighbourhood is a stage. As Vito and Mookie leave the frame through the left hand third, Clifford comes in from the right.
• Lee displays his technical competence (Andrew Sarris) through eyeline match on BO's shoe, showing the scuff, and quick zoom out for dramatic effect.
• He then cuts to a LA, centre framing BO's exaggerated shock (performance) through 'yo!'
• BO's Jordan 4's are a cultural prop as well as a metaphor for gentrification, the scuffing of them reflects the white man walking over the black man's culture, with ignorance.
• Lee's experimental use of camera angles reflects New Hollywood, himself as an auteur and collaborator / cinematographer Ernst Dickenson.
• A critic has argues that BO is an example of an 'Agent of Chaos', in this scene he harasses Clifford and is egged on by his friends, if alone, would he have kept it going for so long?
• BO is an example of Lee's nuanced look at race: he presents multifaceted characters refusing to fit into the simple stereotypes.
• Hyperbole of comments from friends
• Trucking shot reflects New Hollywood - the lengthy shot has a comedic effect, his stiff run reflecting the significance of the condition of the shoes being kept
• A two LS between Clifford and BO becomes a crowd shot as BO's friends enter the scene, creating this sense of community binary opposing C stood alone.
• Clifford is wearing a Larry Bird jersey, who rivalled with Magic Johnson in the basketball lead, BO's friend is seen wearing his jersey.

  This costuming (Edith Head) reflects the racial tensions.
• LA, CU crowd shot places the anger as comedic and light hearted, the youth are egging it on for entertainment
• The price of the shoes '108 with tax' juxtaposes Clifton's ability to 'own this brownstone'
• 'you lucky the black man has a loving heart'
• Lee makes a commentary on white vs black violence, if BO was in a white neighbourhood the context of the time (e.g. Tiana Taylor - a black woman raped by a group of white men) tells that the conflict would not have played out in the same way.
• So whilst BO is a dislikeable character harassing Clifton, it is harmless.
• The LA shot of Clifton places his isolated and small, rather than intimidating: it additionally reflects the white supremacists attitude.
• Active female character contrasts Madeleine in Vertigo who has no lines in Ernie's and little across her screen time and is defined by the male gaze.
• Buggin Out is nuanced representation of black character as seeks out confrontation – the burden of representation.
• Fearless approach to social themes
• Vibrant colouring reflect the vibrant culture and heightened emotions.
• Idiosyncratic tone
• To a strong extent, this reflect New Hollywood:

  Jump cuts.

  Lack of establishing shots

  Location shooting

  Cheaper, portable equipment