I have a essay question from my film class that pertains to movies we watched that reflect culture & society at the time of a movie's release (I chose "Do The Right Thing").
The only things that have come up from my research was apartheid, an increase black political figures in America throughout the 80s, and Ronald Reagan's influence on blacks. I don't know how to connect those to the thematic interests of the movie. Can someone point me in the right direction?
FYI: When Do the Right Thing came out, there was widespread fear it would cause riots everywhere. You may find mention of it if you look at newspapers of the time. Also, it was the movie the Obamas saw on their first date. You should also look at some fo the prominent racial controversies of the time--the Fergusons or Trayvon Martins of the day. There were a number of New York events that helped to flavor Do the Right Thing. Like the death of Edmund Perry--a black student who had just graduated from one of the nation's most prestigious boarding schools, and who was about to start college at Stanford University. But the summer before he began, he, with his brother, beat up a New York City plainclothes cop and stole his wallet, and the cop then shot and killed him. Or Yusuf Hawkins, Willie Turks, and Michael Griffith. Hawkins' murder occurred after Do the Right Thing was released, though. Then there was the Crown Heights riot (2 years after the movie, though). Bernhard Goetz. Tawana Brawley. And the Central Park rapist controversy, which happened before the movie was released, but after the movie was finished. Plus the New York City Blackout that caused widespread rioting and looting, which happened in 1977 but was still in people's minds during Do the Right Thing.