Mise en Scene in "Do the Right Thing"

There are many approaches to discussing mise en scene in Do the Right Thing, but I think the color on the film's set was my favorite aspect. There seemed to be multidimensional purpose for Spike Lee's choice in colors of costumes, props, and setting. The yellow tones and punches of red color conveyed the physical temperature of the scenes, yet also seemed to have deeper symbolic meanings.

Do the Right Thing takes place on a Brooklyn street in the middle of a summer heatwave. Spike Lee captured this feeling of extreme heat partially through the use of theatrically bright and vivid colors on costumes, props, and buildings. For example, there are several scenes of a group of three men sitting against an unnaturally bright red wall, which had been painted that color specifically for the film. I think this was able to establish the tone of the film and force the audience to almost feel the heat themselves.

I think the setting of a sweltering summer day (and Lee's achievement in mise en scene to convey that heat) was ideal for the situations presented in the film. The plot addresses intense racial tension and anger that eventually erupts in riots and murder, similar to an extreme heatwave.