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Social Commentary In Spike Lee's When The Leeves Broke

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For my final paper I will be evaluating the strength of Spike Lee’s When the Leeves Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts to act as a form of social commentary that ignites true empathy through vicarious trauma of viewing Hurricane Katrina victims and therefore ignites social thought and action. I will look at how the film wears a Bretchtian hat that inserts the documentaries issues into the forefront of the viewer’s minds that they will carry with themselves even after the viewing. Lee goes against hegemonic media accounts of Hurricane Katrina and shows predominantly lower class, and racially colored neighbourhoods their resident’s turmoil in the aftermath of the Hurricane. Lee allows the residents commentary to construct the narrative of the film, …show more content…

It is also an issue that perils New Orleans to this day, and Lee’s film advocates that the terrifying results of the Hurricane Katrina aftermath must not be forgotten. Continually the film has been ignored in film analyses and under valued for the work Lee is doing, and the eloquent flow of his cinema. To evaluate the film fully I will be looking at it in three main parts, and arguing for its greatness as a marker of social conversation and fuel for change. First I will look at how the film provides discourse separate from those in popular media outlets shown in the film and subsequently involves the people themselves in creating their own media. Using the voices and stories of those who’s lives were shaken by the aftermath of the storm, and who were overlooked by government resources, particularly those in the Lower Ninth Ward, gives the film a sense of authenticity and evokes true empathy for the viewer. If the viewer is able to understand the political, natural, class-based, racial and power relations that contributed to the events in New Orleans in 2005 than the viewer knows where change

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Every once in a while, a nation faces a calamity which shakes its very core and that incident happened in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit the US, more specifically the city of New Orleans. Hurricane Katrina was a Category 5 Hurricane which is estimated to have killed over a thousand people. Although Hurricane Katrina caused destruction on many coasts of the US, however, nothing matches the destruction that happened in New Orleans, Louisiana. What makes this issue more devastating and at the same time interesting is that in the case of New Orleans, it was not only nature that caused all the destruction, man played an important role as well, and that’s when the Levee in New Orleans broke. Although many short films and documents have been made on the subject, one of the most interesting and heart wrenching documentary has been made by Spike Lee, When the Levees Broke.

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Through the courageous actions we have seen of characters challenging oppression and fighting for justice, Lee instilled a sense of empowerment in the audience and inspired them to take a stand against injustice in their lives and communities and stand up for their rights. Spike Lee works as a catalyst for meaningful dialogue by highlighting the complexities of race relations, especially between blacks and whites in America, and the urgent need for social change. Also, Spike Lee aspires to educate future generations and empower them to become agents of change. Through his films, he aimed to preserve important aspects of history and culture while shining a light on the ongoing struggles for equality and justice. As we reflect on the powerful narratives and themes presented in Lee's films, we must ask ourselves: How did Spike Lee's impact change our understanding of racial tensions and social injustice?

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The movie Do the Right Thing, composed, coordinated and created by Spike Lee, concentrates on a solitary day of the lives of racially differing individuals who live and work in a lower-class neighborhood in Brooklyn New York. Notwithstanding, this common day happens on one of the most sizzling days of summer. The movie fixates on how social class, race and the ethical choices that the characters make directly affect the way individuals communicate with each other. Furthermore, in this essay I will analyses Spike Lee’s use of mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing, and sound. Mise-en-scene is utilized as a part of a couple of scenes of Do The Right Thing to feature their significance to the plot.

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In an era marked by heightened social and political tensions, the cinematic works of Spike Lee have emerged as vital touchstones, reflecting the enduring struggles and aspirations of marginalised communities. As a visionary filmmaker who has consistently used his platform to amplify underrepresented narratives, Lee’s distinctive approach to storytelling has cemented his status as a leading voice in contemporary cinema. Through his bold visual language and unwavering commitment to social commentary, the director has crafted a body of work that not only captivates audiences but also challenges them to confront the harsh realities of systemic injustice. Lee’s cinematic oeuvre, which spans decades and encompasses a diverse range of genres, serves

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I believe that this film wanted to show the emotions of different groups and the disaster that this hurricane left in New Orleans. The people interviewed show the truth that they lived in this days and how they recover from it. Katrina left many in a panic state, in poverty and also took lives. The families changed after this disaster because many didn’t have a home to stay or money to support themselves. People that were sick couldn’t get attention and medicine for days.

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I wish I had a camera to document my father 's reaction to the documentary My Brooklyn. The look of nostalgia shifted constantly from being twisted with anger, disappointment, and regret. I think this article is a great companion piece to the documentary as it talks about Fort Greene and Fulton Mall. It also talks about Spike Lee 's speech briefly, which is an interesting thing to focus on when it comes to Rhetoric. I found his speech quite inspirational, and I felt the same anger he felt with each colorful curse word he used, all though I wish he would have used the other curse words instead of just “motherfuckin”.

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She starts by recollecting a tragic event in New York where Hurricane Sandy had inflicted great damages people around the country. Then goes on by portraying a common personal experience by her audience during the hurricane at “Madison and 5th Avenue [where people are] under their umbrellas charging their cell phones from outlets in the street[]” (Dawesar, 2013, 00:51) trying to stay connected to online news and events. This effectively catches the attention of the people who were affected by the calamity; as well as digital users who have immersed themselves to being connected to the digital world and slowly they are drifting away from their

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Additionally, scientists had been warning New Orleans and the government that climate change would lead to increased storm activity and that the city’s defenses weren’t strong enough for such a storm. However, these warnings were ignored by the government and no preventative measures were taken which has influenced the effects of the storm. The reason for the poor response of the government and their negligence of the warnings is arguable. However, it is positive that the reason for this is that the majority of the people affected were the poor, and mostly colored, citizen of New Orleans. The city is racially and economically segregated and these citizen lived in the lower parts of the city, which go down to 11 feet below sea level.

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