Psychology Movie Review

This Essay needs to be 5-6 pages

This question concerns your interpretation of “Do the Right Thing.”  For starters, Spike Lee

never tells his audience what “the right thing” is.  What is “the right thing?”

Why?  Based on

your sense from the film, which psychological explanation of prejudice (i.e., sociocultural,

personality, or cognitive) does Spike Lee seem to favor?

Why?

Trace a few of the significant

events that occur throughout the film and explain h

ow they illustrate the particular theory you

choose.  Using any of the theories, discuss the ultimate conflict at the end

.

In general, does

Spike Lee seem optimistic or pessimistic about the future of race relations?  Could this film be of

use in the batt

le against racial prejudice?  Explain.

Finally, using your knowledge (and insight) from the course, analyze

and answer

the following:

—

Was Buggin’ Out justified in his demand that Sal place pictures of African

–

Americans on his

wall?

—

Why was “the Mayor” treated poorly by the neighborhood residents?

—

Of what importance were the three black males sitting on the sidewalk?  Pay particular

attention to their discussion of the Korean market across the street.

—

Can one characterize each of the following as racist: Sal, Sal’s sons, Buggin’ Out, Radio

Rahim, Mookie?

Why?

—

What purpose was served by Mookie’s throwing a trash can through the storefront of the

pizzeria?

Watching the Video

:

There is a highquality video version available for 24 hour rental from Amazon,

It only costs

$3.99.

The

weblink is:

The University of MichiganDearborn

 

Department of Behavioral Sciences

 

AAAS 322/PSYC 322/CRJ 322: Psychology of Prejudice

 

 

Instructions: The following question to be answered in a 5-6 page paper

 

This question concerns your interpretation of “Do the Right Thing.” For starters, Spike Lee never tells his audience what “the right thing” is. What is “the right thing?” Why? Based on your sense from the film, which psychological explanation of prejudice (i.e., sociocultural, personality, or cognitive) does Spike Lee seem to favor? Why? Trace a few of the significant events that occur throughout the film and explain how they illustrate the particular theory you choose. Using any of the theories, discuss the ultimate conflict at the end. In general, does Spike Lee seem optimistic or pessimistic about the future of race relations? Could this film be of use in the battle against racial prejudice? Explain.

 

Finally, using your knowledge (and insight) from the course, analyze and answer the following:

 

–Was Buggin’ Out justified in his demand that Sal place pictures of African-Americans on his

wall?

 

–Why was “the Mayor” treated poorly by the neighborhood residents?

 

–Of what importance were the three black males sitting on the sidewalk? Pay particular

attention to their discussion of the Korean market across the street.

 

–Can one characterize each of the following as racist: Sal, Sal’s sons, Buggin’ Out, Radio

Rahim, Mookie? Why?

–What purpose was served by Mookie’s throwing a trash can through the storefront of the

pizzeria?

Watching the Video:

 

There is a high-quality video version available for 24 hour rental from Amazon,  It only costs $3.99.  (You can purchase the video as a permanent download for $12.99.  Woo-Hoo!)  The weblink is: http://www.amazon.com/Do-the-Right-Thing/dp/B000ICXQTC

 

There are a few websites out there that permit streaming for free. The legality of these sites is questionable. Remember that if you use these sites, you do so at your own risk!