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| Radio Raheem tells the story of love and hate |
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| Sal and Pino have a heart to heart |
"Mookie, if I love you, I love you. But if I hate you..." Radio Raheem.
PINO. I'm sick of n----s. It's like I come to work, it's "Planet of the Apes." I don't like being around them. They're animals.
SAL. Why do you have so much hate in you?
PINO. Why? You want to know why? My friends laugh at me all the time, laugh right in my face, tell me, "Go to Bed-Sty. Go feed the Moulies."
SAL. Do your friends put money in your pocket? Pay your rent? Food on your plate? They're not your friends. If they were, they wouldn't laugh at you.
PINO. Pop, what can I say? I don't wanna be here. they don't want us here. We should stay in our own neighborhood, stay in Bensonhurst. And the n-----s should stay in theirs...
SAL. I've never had trouble with these people...Yeah, sure, some of them don't like us, but most of them do. I mean, for Chrissake, Pino, they grew up on my food. I'm very proud of that...What I'm trying to say is Sal's Famous Pizzeria is here to stay."
The middle part of the film lightens up a little, doesn't it? Buggin Out's quixotic attempt to spur a boycott of Sal's; the tender scene between Da Mayor and Mother Sister on her stoop; the look on both Mookie and Pino's face as Jade is chatted up by Sal. And there's Mookie and Pino and the rants. Hate what Pino says; but at least we begin to understand what makes him so angry. Then there are the three scenes with Radio Raheem: the famous love-hate moment, an homage to the classic 1955 film Night of the Hunter; and the scenes with the Koreans and Sal. Radio looms large in the film: a young man of few words but with loud music. He evokes different reponses from different people: a little boy runs alongside him at one point, clearly emulating him; he is well-liked by the other young black people on the street, Mookie in particular; the Korean couple are intimidated by him; and Sal...well, Sal doesn't like his music in his pizzeria, to say the least. (Did you notice how Sal angrily tosses the pizza slices Radio ordered in the oven? Very different than the way he lovingly put together Jade's sandwich.)
So:
1. What moment or scene particularly jumped out at you, or stayed with you, from Friday's viewing? And why?
2. Radio Raheem and Sal: the two physically largest figures in the movie. You've already written about Sal (whose last name is Frangione by the way). So what is your reaction to Radio Raheem?
How would you characterize him—if you had to describe him to someone who hasn't seen the film, how would you do it? AND: aside from their similar sizes, do you see any similarities between him and Sal?
3. The scene I quote above between Sal and Pino. I think it is one of the saddest, tenderest, and most infuriating scenes in the film. You can disagree with me. But I do ask: what is your reaction to it? Sal asks an important question of his son—"Why do you have so much hate in you?" Pino answers: but there's more to the reason than what he says. So assuming that's a legitimate statement, why might he be so full of hate, along with what he tells his father?
I'm not expecting you to spend an hour on this: but 20-30 minutes is not asking too much, particularly since this is your only homework in the class at this moment. On the last blog there were a few distinctly short comments—I downgraded them (feel free to talk with me if you think you're one of those folks). It takes me an hour usually to write a post question. Feel free to comment on what others in the class write; agree, disagree, use it as a starting or ending point to what you're writing.
Finally: here's Mookie and Radio Raheem and the story of love and hate. See you all on Monday.
1. The moment that stuck me was the most was when the camera took on a persona as it showed a montage of different people giving out insults to a specific race. The in your face style of that whole sequence was breathtaking, but I think the scene that closely followed that when the camera fluidly took Mookie's perspective to hear the story of Love and Hate from Radio was truly amazing. It's deeply unsettling the effect of having characters look directly into the audience's eyes. Spike Lee used it brilliantly to pinpoint the uncomfortable yet unavoidable nature of the entire discussion of race, as well as grabbing your attention for some of the most important commentaries on modern day society.
ReplyDelete2. I like Radio. He's obviously very prideful, and that makes it fun to see him interact with other characters because he is so strong and rarely backs down. But I know that if I was in Sal's when he was blasting the music right in my face I would be pissed. He just has a "no shits given" attitude that yes, can be very frustrating, but also captures another perspective on the attitudes of black men in America.
3. That whole dialogue points to a very important notion to recognize when talking about race: social perception. It's the social perception of being friendly to an inferior race that Pino is afraid of. The reality of the situation doesn't matter, only the perception of what's going on. And it's much easier to go along with the social perception than try to change it. Clearly Pino needs to get better friends, but he also needs to accept that he partly has the responsibility to defend his actions and break down the perception of black people in America, or rather, the "real" black people in America. That dialogue with Mookie is an example of how his social perception of black people is incompatible with the reality of the famous and successful black people that he looks up to, so instead he tires his best to apply this false narrative to reality which completely breaks down in that conversation with Mookie.
Is it Sal or Raheem who has the “no shits given” attitude. Do they both?
Deleteboth I guess, that's why they conflict so easily
Delete(this is Isaac by the way)
ReplyDeleteThe scene that has stayed with me the most vividly is the moment where Radio Raheem enters Sal’s to get a slice. Spike Lee sets up an interesting confrontation between Sal and Radio Raheem. Both characters are very set in their ways, each do something which comforts, is natural, and is what makes them known/defines them. For Sal, it’s his pizzeria. For Raheem, it’s his radio. I found it fascinating, and in many ways nerve racking when Sal ordered Raheem to turn off the radio. After all, it is Raheem's neighborhood, and nobody has so persistently told him to stop the music. He faces the challenge to pausing his almost sacred him in order to get a slice of pizza. The scene is a subtle way of showing the possible discourse between different races and dilema within the community and Sal's pizza shop.
ReplyDeleteOne word I would not use to describe Raheem is shy. Raheem seems to have accepted himself, and is thus extremely confident in who he is. He is comfortable in his neighborhood, and plays his music without self consciousness. He is also an imposing, yet kind figure. In fact, he gets along well with many of the neighborhood people. I think Sal is very similar to Raheem. He shares the confidence, comfort, and, not necessarily kindness, but fairness of Raheem. Furthermore, during the entire show Sal and Raheem continue their respective tasks. Except for the occasional moment where each character shares a bit of their wisdom, Sal makes and sells pizza, and Raheem plays his music. Both characters are fixtures within the community.
I think part of Pino’s hate stems from his job, race aside. Sal says that he’s content with the job, and that he doesn’t know anything else. For Pino, he’s still fairly young, and has many more years to look forward to. He, unlike his father, still has an opportunity to learn/try new things, to be someone else. Unfortunately, for whatever reasons, be they financial, family, etc, he’s stuck in the pizzeria. I also think Pino’s comments about the people of the neighborhood, namely their race, point to his other problem. He’s uncomfortable being around black people. I find this ironic considering that his father couldn’t care less about his customers race. In fact, I question whether all of why Pino hates black people is because his personal beliefs. Could his hate be directed from the pressure and bullying to hate them by his friends? Pino can’t be himself. Can’t go anywhere with his work, mental, and social life because of pressures largely out of his control.
1. One of the scenes that stayed with me on Friday occurred when Pino talked to Mookie about his view of black celebrities. He talks about how most of his favorite celebrities are black, but he claims that “they’re more than just black.” I always remember this scene because of how ridiculous Pino’s logic is. He acknowledges that his favorite celebrities are black, but he still insists that they are different from ordinary black people. This type of denial is saddening, as it speaks to Pino’s EXTREMELY false ideology that “blackness” is just a devalued trait.
ReplyDelete2. Personally, I like Radio Raheem. I admire his love of music and how he is respected by his neighbors. If I had to describe him, then I would call him a character that hold music up higher in importance than anything else. He keeps to himself and rarely ever exhibits signs of having a short temper unless it concerns his passion. In this way, he is exactly like Sal. Instead of music, however, Sal’s passion is making pizza.
3. I am always irked by this scene. I think that the thing that bothers me the most about it is Sal’s initial reaction to Pino’s comment. I would have liked for Sal to tell his son directly that he should not use such hateful language to describe a community that he has graciously served for many years. Instead, he simply asks “why he has so much hatred in him.” Personally, this felt like a bit of a disregard to how wrong it is that Pino is saying something so terrible (but that’s just me.). As for the reason why Pino must have so much hatred, it must be because of the type of situations that Sal has to put up with in his shop. Buggin’ Out and Radio Raheem were two examples of customers that were loud and disrespectful to Sal’s rules. They had a right to have their respective concerns (Raheem not being able to listen to music, Buggin’ Out not seeing black people on Sal’s wall), but the way that they tried to handle them was all wrong. My guess is that Pino is tired of seeing his dad have to serve people who don’t always show respect to him.
(I just went ahead and watched the whole movie so that has probably influenced all my answers)
ReplyDelete1. I’m pretty sure this was in the 50 minutes y’all had watched in class, but the scene, or group or scenes that stood out to me where when Sal was flirting with Mookie’s sister, Jade, and the following scene where Mookie is telling Jade to never come back to Sal’s. Jade thinks this is normal behavior and that sal is just being nice, but Mookies sees the way Sal treats everyone else. I just thought it was a very interesting scene because I always wondered why Sal kept Mookie around if he always complains about him and this scene might have answered that question.
2. I’m not really sure how I feel about Radio Raheem. I think he has good intentions and we wants the right thing, at least that is what I understand from his “Love Hate” story, but in the end he is almost the reason the whole conflict is turned into a fight in a way. I think I would describe him as a man who just wants to do what he wants to do. One thing I saw between him and Sal was that they are both pretty stuck in their ways. When the group of boys sitting on the porch were listening to their own music, Radio Raheem had to win the little “music off” of the better speaker.
3. Sure sal can be rash sometimes, but this scene to me really made me appreciate him more. I feel like I never really got what he was about because he seemed nice but he was so impulsive. The sad thing is that sal loves the pizzeria and loves the people that come to it, but Pino will Inevitably be the reason for the downfall. I can’t figure out why Pino has so much hate, especially because his character and Vito are so different. I think he just cares too much about what people think of him. I don’t think he wants to work for his father, he wants to be independent like his “friends”.
The scene where we saw Mookie, Vito, the police officers, the Asian shop owners, and the Hispanic men hurling insults and racial slurs at each other really stayed with me. It was comical yet really sad at the same time. They’re all struggling to make a better life for themselves and their families and it seems as though they blame some other ethnic group for all of their problems. They fail to see that they all want the same thing and that their true enemies are not whatever race they are insulting, but rather the people who pit the lower and middles class citizens against each other in order to maintain the status quo.
ReplyDeleteI didn’t have a particularly strong reaction to Radio Raheem. I think he is one of the least interesting characters in the movie and while I did see some similarities between him and Sal, I think Sal is much more intriguing. I think Radio Raheem, much like Buggin’ Out, spends his time fighting for things that in the grand scheme of things, are entirely insignificant. He is cognoscente of the systemic oppression of African Americans, but it seems as though he thinks the best way to solve it is to instigate standoffs with his Hispanic neighbors and a pizza shop owner over how loud he can play his music. Buggin Out’ also starts a fight over the pictures on Sal’s wall which also aren’t that important.
I think Pino is so hate-filled because he is upset that he has no other options apart from working in his father’s pizza shop. He clearly wants something more for his life and he is unable to attain it. He takes out his frustration on the black people around him.
I think the scene where we see the three men sitting down on the side of the building under an umbrella talking and a police car drives by and we see the policemen say “what a waste” was a scene that definitely stuck with me. This was our second time seeing police in this movie and I am expecting that we will see them again before the movie ends. I think I also enjoyed this scene because the three men are hilarious and always make me laugh whenever they pick on each other and make jokes.
ReplyDeleteI’m not really sure how to characterize Radio Raheem. He seems like a very tough dude, but we see moments where that toughness breaks and he makes a joke or almost turns softer. Two examples of this was where he went into the Korean-ran store to get batteries for his boombox where he was making jokes at the owners for not knowing English even though he was visibly frustrated, and also when Mookie met up with him in the street and Radio Raheem got really excited and started to explain his knuckle pieces named “love” and “hate”. I would characterize Radio Raheem as someone who you don’t challenge and stay in your lane when you’re around him. Between him and Sal I see a sort of almost dominance within the areas that they are in. For example Sal is the boss in his pizzeria and is allowed to do anything he wants in his restaurant despite what others might want and Radio Raheem walks along the sidewalk blasting music and making everyone’s ears hurt, but it is rare when someone tells him what to do.
I really lost a lot of respect for Pino in this scene. I didn’t have a lot of respect for him in the first place because of his attitude to Mookie and his seemingly lazy demeanor, but I think this really made me disagree with his character even more. I think Pino is a character who cares too much about what some people think about him and I think this because he talks about how his friends make fun of him for working in a majority black neighborhood. Pino is obviously conflicted with a lot of things and I think it is mostly about being unhappy where he ended up in life. I doubt that when Pino was growing up he wanted to work in a pizzeria and now that he is, in an environment he doesn’t like, he hates it even more.
The scene that stuck with me the most was also the scene where one of the characters from each of the racial group took turns shouting racial slurs. I thought the scenes really broke down and separated each of the groups and illustrated how much tension and hate there was between them. But I also found it interesting because I think it was showing how each of the characters don’t necessarily have a specific person in another, but instead these insults were broad and attacking the entire racial group.
ReplyDeleteSo far, I have been almost confused by Radio Raheem’s character. He seems mysterious while also being a strong character. Even though he has not had a lot of presence in the movie so far, I do feel like his character is going to become much prominent in the central plot. It is obvious that him and Sal have tension, whether or not they are similar. Radio Raheem and Sal both seem very confident in their positions in their town, which I think could lead to more conflict.
I agree with a few other people when they say that Pino is filled with hate because he feels stuck. Sal and Pino are part of different generations. Instead of Pino getting to find his own place, he followed in his father's footsteps and as a result, he resents his father for it. I also liked this scene because I felt like we got to see a new side of Sal. Even though he wasn’t angry at Pino for the offensive things he said, his responses seemed like he had a much greater understanding of his own place in this community.
The scene where many of the characters gave racist rants back to back really stuck with me. I think it was a very honest scene. All of those characters, whether it be the pretty kind Mookie, or Pino, who I think is and antagonist, all have anger with their situations in life. That anger can easily turn into hatred of a specific group or type of person. Another scene that jumped out at me was Pino’s racist rant. His viewpoint is still so common in America today. People who have racist views may still support black athletes, musicians, and even politicians. Because they believe they aren't “really black.” Even though this movie isn’t completely modern in many ways, the themes are still relevant.
ReplyDelete2. Radio confuses me. I don't really understand who he is or what he is all about. It bugged me when he brought his stereo into Sal’s shop, and I understand why that pissed Sal off. We did not hear Radio say anything till his conversation with Mookie, but that conversation made me think he may be a nice guy. Both Sal and Radio hold their cultures very close and will fight to protect them, which is something they have in common. I think Radio will definitely be involved in some major conflict, I am interested to find out if he will be on the defense or offense in that conflict.
3. This scene is very representative of many people in America today. People are unhappy with their place in life, and it especially infuriates them when they are lower on the social ladder then someone they believe they should be higher then. In Pino’s case, he believes he should be higher than black people, but has to serve them for a living. I think because he believes he should be higher than black people, and a general unhappiness with his life, that's why he is so full of hate.
One scene that stood out to me was when Buggin Out went around the neighborhood trying to get people to boycott Sal’s pizzeria. The comedic nature of Buggin Out makes this scene enjoyable to watch and it also shows how he is a strong character who takes action for what he believes in. When he went around to ask people to help his cause, I think he expected people to strongly support him. He seemed disappointed when every response was the same. People loved Sal’s pizzeria and they held an emotional connection to the restaurant; therefore, they would never stop going as long as it was in business. I find it interesting that Pino has so much hatred to people different from him and can’t stand to be around them, while those same people give his father’s business so much love despite all differences.
ReplyDeleteI like Radio Raheem a lot. When he walks on camera, you can instantly tell that he knows everything that is going on, but he doesn’t say anything about it. He does not need words to explain himself because people immediately respect him. I would characterize him as an observer. He sees interactions and analyzes them within his head, only speaking up when words are necessary to explain things, such as his love versus hate speech to Mookie. I think both him and Sal have very profound characters. Although Sal speaks up more, they both have a guardian-like presence. I think both men are also very prideful of who their are, which causes tension like when Raheem refused to turn off his music inside the restaurant.
It’s difficult to see the reason why Pino has so much hatred because that is the only part of his personality that we see. We never get a more personal look at him. I think one reason is similar to what Amelia said about Pino and Sal being in different generations. Sal has seen the neighbors grow up and has served them food for a long time. With Pino, he grew up alongside these people so he doesn’t have that same father-like connection to people. He looks the same age as Mookie and Buggin Out, which might cause some tension. I could see that Pino may not know how to interact with the people of the neighborhood. Also, Pino may act out in hate because of feeling different. He seems to want to stay in his own neighborhood where people around him are all American Italians. Therefore, when he has to work in a place where people are not exactly like him, he may turn his fear of being isolated into hatred towards others.
ReplyDeleteI think the scene between Mother Sister and Da Mayor stood out to me because it showed the softer Side of Da Mayor that most people in the neighborhood might look over. He gets ridiculed relentlessly for being a drunk and for wandering the streets aimlessly. I think this scene was to counter that and show that he is more than just a drunk. I thought it was a really sweet moment when the woman at the store warned him that the flowers were expensive but he didn’t hesitate in buying them to make a gesture. I also thought just the image of him sitting on the window sill next to her and then leaving the flowers was a nice image.
How would you characterize him—if you had to describe him to someone who hasn't seen the film, how would you do it? AND: aside from their similar sizes, do you see any similarities between him and Sal?
Radio Raheem if the character that has confused me the most in the film so far. He seems to appear randomly throughout the story and he is always alone but everyone knows him. I think the first moment we really start to see any substance of his character is the love and hate scene which is a powerful scene that makes a statement while also being very casual. My reaction is mostly of mystery but also respect as from what I’ve gathered he seems like a strong, likable character.
It is very plausible that his friends might make fun of him for his job and the neighborhood its in, but I think the real reason and source of this anger comes from him not knowing who he is and his place in the world. He lives as a product of Sal and his whole life is working for him and following his father's orders. He feels stuck in this life that has been made for him and it results in him getting angrier and angrier. I also think he says he hates all the people in that neighborhood so much but i feel as though there could be a part of him that is jealous of the community and connections they have that he is lacking.
1. The scene that stuck with me from Friday’s viewing was the scene where Radio Raheem and his boombox basically went to battle with other kids boombox. I found this interesting because Radio Raheem was playing a rap song while the latino kids were playing a song sung in Spanish. It felt like the two races were going to war with each other. I really found it interesting. Radio Raheem won (it didn’t take that long) but you could say it was just because his boombox was a better quality, but I thought about it being more about the demographic of the neighborhood. It seems that the majority of the residents are African Americans, so maybe other cultures and musics aren’t as tolerated.
ReplyDelete2. In the beginning of the movie, when Radio Raheem first appeared, I couldn’t tell if the others living in the neighborhood we're making fun of him or just supporting him. It was hard for me to tell. I think it might be a little of both, but on Friday’s viewing it seemed like most people respected him. It was interesting to see Sal and Raheem interact with each other in the Pizzeria when Raheem refused to turn down his boombox. The angles made both of the characters look big and scary. If I were to describe him to someone else, I’d probably say he is a character who has a lot to say, yet he doesn’t have to say anything at all. When he spoke about love and hate, we got to see an interesting side of him because otherwise, he hadn’t really talked at all.
3. I can’t say that this is the most tenderest, saddest, and most infuriating scene just because I haven’t seen the whole movie yet, but I’ll take your word for it, John. Overall, I think Pino is afraid. I think he’s afraid that this might be the only thing in his life. He doesn’t want to be stuck there with his dad forever. I also think he’s afraid what people think of him. His dad, while not perfect, doesn’t care about what people think of him. Maybe that is what’s kept his pizzeria alive. I think Pino is afraid that, one day, he will become his father.
At the moment, Mother Sister and Da Mayor are my favorite characters. They had two extremely funny/cute moments during Friday's viewing. When asked if he knew about the two black kids who hosed down the Italian man’s car, he said, "Doctor, those that'll tell don't know, and those that know won't tell." In reality, this quote actually makes a lot of sense, but it just came off as really confusing and delusional at the time. The other moment is Da Mayor walks up Mother Sister's front steps and hands her a bundle of flowers. For a man, that is advertised as poor and kinda homeless, this gesture means a lot.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I think of Radio Raheem, I imagine a super intense loner. He does not seem to hang around with a specific group people like Martin Lawrence’s crew. On the other hand, he has the ability to interact with the other people in the neighborhood without much strife or controversy. The whole scene where he shows his knuckle rings with love and hate on them really emphasizes the brute force that follows him like a shadow. When comparing him to Sal, it seems as if they are not on the same spectrum. Sal is less broody and more level headed in my mind, but Radio Raheem's aura feels as if it has more purpose in life.
Living in a racially divided environment really plays with ones psyche especially if their life contradicts what the media and the rest of society are telling them. John Turturro's character really infuriates me almost every time he opens his mouth because he is constantly spewing hatred, bigotry, and, dare I say, racism. One thing that Pino does make clear is that every part of his social group is pulling him in different ways. All of Pino's so called friends have been making fun of the amount of time that he spends around the animalistic African-Americans. I can and will blame Pino for being such a dickhead, but I still keep the amount of negatives influences in his life in the back of my mind.
1. A moment that stuck out to me from Friday’s viewing was the scene where the man scrapes Buggin’ Out’s new Jordans. His reaction was not only hilarious, but it made use of a clever play on typical racist comments. Buggin’ Out and his friends ask the man “who told you to be in my neighborhood” and tell him to “move back to Massachusetts,” prompting him to reply by saying “I was born in Brooklyn.” This is a clever critique of racism and one of my favorite scenes in the entire film.
ReplyDelete2. Radio Raheem is in part a representation of the primary conflict in the film. He’s a large black man who walks around carrying a boombox blasting loud rap music. Not only is the music loud, but it repeats one simple phrase: “fight the power.” Radio Raheem is a symbol of rebellion and probably appears to be a threat to the few white members in his community. His “hate and love” speech also further proves that his character is tied to the story’s main themes. He represents the black man battling for “love” against a force of “hate”. I guess his similarities to Sal would be that they are both proud of and strongly connected to their origins, and that they also believe in the power of love.
3. I think Pino’s hate likely comes from a place of fear and insecurity. He lives and works in a place surrounded by people who are different from him, people he feels he can’t relate to, and he serves them food. He probably feels powerless and personally overlooked. He also depends on black people in order to put food on his table. The insecurity stems from relying on people and serving people that are typically looked down upon. He feels less that them.
One scene that stayed with me was when all of the different people were shouting out racial slurs to the camera. Not only did it impact me because of what they were saying, but the way it was filmed was very power. I think the portrait shots of each person made it seem as if they were talking right to the audience which made it feel more real. I also looked around the room during this scene and I could tell other people were moved by this scene as well.
ReplyDeleteI like Radio Raheem as a character from what I've seen so far. I don't really have a complete grasp on who he is, but I can tell that he will always "fight the power" for what he believes in, and I think that is important in the context of this movie. Even during the love hate scene, he still seems pretty laid back and just wants to get his points across without any drama. I am curious to see how the rest of his story plays out and see his development by the end of the film.
In my opinion, Pino is difficult to read in this situation. It is hard to say where Pino got his opinion and hatred from, considering Sal does not have these same views. I think that since Sal and Pino have lived in this neighborhood for so long, Pino may feel like he wants to explore other places just to know what if he would fit in better somewhere else. Maybe Pino's hatred is less towards the other people in the neighborhood and more towards Sal for not exposing him more to the outside. Pino may not feel like he is able to communicated this with Sal so eh keeps all of his anger and hatred cooped up inside.
1. The scene where the two Italian brothers are standing off really stuck out to me. Mookie is clearly supporting one brother, while the other brother is an out of hand. And I think that that shows how conflict isn’t just between black people and white people but also it can be a familial.
ReplyDelete2.
I like Radio Raheem, I think that he serves as way to introduce people, and get a feel for the way the block operates. Because he’s a radio host that can see what’s going on on the block he functions as a narrator for what’s going on. Similarity I see between him and Sal is that they’re both kind of the authority, or the ‘father figures’, for their own parts of the neighborhood.
3.
I think the scene was a very telling one of the movie. It shows where they both stand on the issue of racism. I think that Pino I think the scene was a very telling one of the movie. It shows where they both stand on the issue of racism. I think that Pinot is filled with so much hate because that’s just what society is telling him, he talks about how his friends laugh at him and obviously that has had great effect on him.
1. The scene that stayed with me the most was the scene where different people had a one on one moment with the camera where they said what they really felt. The level of honesty and the nastiness that came with it was very provocative. The movie has been hinting at the racial tension in the neighborhood, but that scene was very punctual.
ReplyDelete2. They are men of few words. They are both quite reserved in demeanor unless they get irritated by something, in which get they become very aggressive. Radio Raheem is a confusing character so far. I can't really get a good read on him. I would need to see more of the movie to fully form my opinion, but my first impression is that he represents some of the hidden anger and disdain that the black community has towards the oppressive parts of society. Meaning mainly white people.
3. I think Pino hates himself. I think he knows that deep down, he is somewhat of a failure. He doesn't have supportive friends, he doesn't have a good relationship with his family and is uncomfortable in the black neighborhood. He can't fit in. He takes out this anger on other people in the form of racist remarks.
1, the moment that stuck with me most from fridays viewing had to be when the mayor went to bring up the flowers to mother sister. For some reason the imagery of this scene and the fact that he was willing to spend all that money just to buy her flowers that she didn’t even ask for just resonated with me as a great example of those antiquated romantic traditions that are so common in the film we see nowadays.
ReplyDelete2, Radio Raheem is a character that I find it slightly difficult to get a read on. He seems like he is one who actively seeks out conflict based on that scene with the Puerto Ricans, but he can afford to due so due to his daunting physical presence. I would describe Radio Raheem as someone who does not quite fit into his clothes due to his massive chest, he is not someone you would want to mess with. I can’t really see many similarities between the two characters beyond their willingness to get physical/ argumentative due to their size.
3, This scene evokes a range of emotions in me, and I largely agree with how you characterized it. I felt a sort of wisdom from experience emanating from Sal during this scene regarding how to coexist with others in this highly diverse location in Brooklyn. It seems as if Pino is easily getting caught up in his own “anger” as Sal describes it and is completely unwilling to see the bigger picture. I really love the line about how all the kids from the neighborhood grew up on his pizza, because we see later that in means a lot to them as well. That girl mentioned that she wouldn’t boycott Sal’s because she grew up on his pizza and i thought that was pretty meaningful. This scene presented a whole new side of Sal to me where he almost appeared as a moderate or at least somewhat open-minded individual regarding the whole situation, which is not something you would expect of a man of his age in his position. It almost seems to insinuate that the longer you spend in a place like Brooklyn, the more all of its quirks and differences begin to feel like home.
1. I found the scene between Sal and Mookie’s sister hilarious. Even without context, it was blatantly obvious what was happening in the scene just looking at the facial expressions of Mookie and Pino as they looked back and forth between Sal and Mookie's sister.
ReplyDelete2. I would describe Radio Raheem as someone who struggles to express his feelings verbally. The loud radio he carries around and his song choices are his way of expressing his viewpoints (for example when he was playing “Fight the Power”). Additionally, I think that because of his size and quiet manner, he can be taken at face value as an intimidating character. The camera work within the film truly show how people can make wrong assumptions about Radio Raheem and in reality he is actually a sweet guy to his friends. The scenes in both the pizzeria and the general store have very close shots of Radio Raheem’s face from slightly below his face to make him appear to be a very stern and serious character. Whereas, in his conversations with Mookie he is anything but intimidating. In terms of his similarities to Sal, Radio Raheem and Sal can be seen as very intimidating, yet they both have a soft side with their friends and family.
3. Maybe he’s hateful because he feels as though he doesn’t belong in the largely black neighborhood (even he’s grown more comfortable there) and it seems to me that helping run the pizzeria was not exactly what he wanted to spend his life doing. Maybe he feels trapped by his family business and blames it on the people around him. This very personal disappointment could explain his concern about how others view his actions.
There were a lot of powerful scenes from Friday’s viewing. The scene that has stayed with me the strongest was one of the earlier scenes, when the neighborhood was out on the street dancing in the water from the fire hydrant. This scene was beautifully shot, and the music aided it in giving the audience a sense of the community of this neighborhood. Even on the hottest days they come together and enjoy each others company. I started feeling hot in my seat, Spike Lee did an excellent job of portraying the extreme heat, and the sweet relief of the water from the hydrant. The white man driving his shiny convertible through perfectly plays to the theme of the movie and the conflict between what's pasted on Radio Raheem's knuckles, love and hate.
ReplyDeleteFrom the first time we were introduced to Radio Raheem, I noticed that Spike Lee chose to always shoot him with the camera tilted up, to make him appear even larger. This keyed me into the fact that he was gonna be a big dude in the movie, physically, but also he carries a big presence. The characters hold the fire hydrant water so Raheem can walk by. I would say that Raheem is respected by the community. I like him so far, and I think he's an important character in the development of the theme. His boombox is a part of him and his power as he strolls through the streets blasting Fight the Power. His interactions with the korean family who own the grocery store and Sal were not the most polite, so i’m curious to see how it all plays out. Similarly to Sal, Raheem can lash out if something challenges the status quo for him.
When Sal asks why Pino has so much anger in him, he responds by saying that his friends laugh at him. I don't think Pino is satisfied with the job, he wants something more. Sal however, has devoted his life to the pizzeria and is content. I think that Pino’s friends instilled the racist ideas in him, and it shows that his cares too much and is too heavily influenced by what his friends say. Pino needs to figure out who he is and what he believes outside of his father and his friends.
The scene that stuck with me from Friday's viewing is the one in which Mookie was supposed to be delivering the food to the radio jockey. This scene was not particularly powerful or important but it made me laugh. This scene and others like it help keep the movie from being too 'preachy' as John says, and lightens the tone around the underlying themes and messages.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this character. Radio Raheem is such an interesting guy and seems to be an integral part of the film. I would describe him as a guy who doesn't care about what people think of him and is happy doing his own thing, even if it gets him into trouble. He walk around with his super cool boombox constantly blasting the same song, one that is important to the themes of the film, and despite his intimidating nature, everyone seems to respect him. This is shown multiple times throughout the movie, like when the men hold back the water from the fire hydrant so that he could pass. Raheem and Sal are similar in that they are both very passionate about their own things. They can both be very intense and intimidating, but there is a lot more to both of them.
I think Pino seems to care way too much of what his friends and family think of him. He seems to be unhappy with where he is in life and perhaps wants the freedom to be discover himself, but is held back by his friends and family. It seems like he is comfortable in his neighborhood but is uncomfortable with his identity. I think Pino is angry because he doesn't know who he truly is.
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ReplyDeleteOne scene that jumped out at me besides the scene with Pino and Sal was the scene with Pino and Mookie. Mookie pointed out that Pino’s hair was “kinkier” than his and that the people that Pino liked were all black. Pino then said (and I’m paraphrasing), “They’re not black...I mean they are but... they’re different.” I thought this was a very interesting moment because Pino seems to have a lot of hate for black people here but love for the way their culture is portrayed in popular media. I feel like this was a very direct way of showing an issue that occurs even today.
ReplyDeleteEven though we haven’t seen much of Radio Raheem, I really like him and I hope we see a little more of him later in the movie. I really liked his speech about love and hate with his rings. I loved how he used the right hand and the left had as symbols for love and hate, and even though the left hand was winning at the beginning, the right hand won in the end. He said, “If I love you, then I love you.” I also see that when he was going to buy a bunch of batteries again, he was being rude to the Asians in their store, so it looks like he also might have frustration towards them, which matches up to what the black people feel about them. It also seems like this community has respect for Radio Raheem, because when they broke the fire hydrant and all the water was everywhere, Radio Raheem wanted to pass, and the mischievous boys actually let him and his radio pass the street.
If I had to explain him to somebody who hasn’t seen the film, I would describe him as wise, because of his love-hate monologue, and somebody who mostly keeps to himself and his music and someone who has respect from his community.
So far, the only similarity I see between Sal and Raheem besides their size is how they view love and hate. I know this because of the conversation between Sal and Pino--it seems like for Sal, love overrides hate, which is exactly what Radio Raheem was talking about.
I think that Pino has hate towards the black people in his neighborhood because he feels like he doesn’t belong. He mentions that he would rather live in neighborhood where the rest of the Italians live, and I think it’s because he doesn’t feel comfortable being the only one. Also, tying in the scene that happened earlier with him and Mookie, it proves that he doesn’t hate all black people completely, because all of the popular figures he looks up to are black, and he does his hair in order to make it more curly. That might be a sign of him trying to fit in. Maybe he is jealous of the sense of community that the black people in the neighborhood have, or maybe he just doesn’t know how to approach his feelings of being the outcast, so he replaces the feeling of loneliness with the feelings of hate and frustration towards this black community.
A scene that stuck out to me was when Buggin’ out and the biker had an interaction and Buggin’ Out’s white shoe got smudged by the bike wheel. Right after this moment many of his friends in the community came over and back him up like brothers. I found this very interesting although it was a shoe they got very worked up about it. Buggin’ Out was screaming racial slurs and was asking where he came from and who told you to come to my neighborhood. The biker stood there with barely any words and so shocked.
ReplyDeleteRadio Raheem is the type of character or person I would imagine in 80s. If I had to describe i would say he is very quiet but carries a large boombox that carries his personality and represent him. He knows his place in the neighborhood and stands very strong especially when he interacts with the Puerto Ricans and has a battle between the two boomboxes. Sal and Radio Raheem both know their positions in the neighborhood, they are hard to get along with and very aggressive to get their way or point across.
I agree that this is a very tender and infuriating scene Pino wants to give up, but sal knows nothing else but making pizza for this community. Pino’s response about the people is very infuriating he calls them animals, and is fed up with them. Pino has barely any respect for the people in the community and mookie. Sal is very adamant about staying here and his passion. Pino is filled with so much hate, but I think his childhood played into it and how he grew up in different neighborhood but he works and spends everyday working in a black neighborhood.
1. The scene that stuck with me was when the camera went from a movie angle to a more personal angle and all the different races he someone say something racist. It shows how everyone has hate or some sort of racial bias. It was a small clip but it was a impactful scene because of the things that were said and the different people who said it, It wasn’t just a certain person or race.
ReplyDelete2. Radio Raheem is a big guy just Luke Sal but I would say he is a passionate person. From when he gave his little speech on his jewelry to his radio constantly playing he is more than just a big guy. He cares about his radio and music because he is always playing it. And he also isn’t a hateful person or a bully, he told us about how hate can be like a jab but love is always the knock out. He is similar to Sal in his passion and his big personality, he gets into a battle with some Hispanics and it seemed to almost get violent but it didn’t, jus trike when Sal went at it with Bugging out.
3. Pino seems to not only hate we’re he come stop work but also to love to argue with others. He wants to feel in charge so he is always bossing around his little brother. He is always angery and he is hateful of the Community around him. I would think his father would be less understanding and acceptable of ugher but Sal loves the fact that they have grown up in his food. But Pino ruines the moment after he yells at a man who has a speech problem. It’s there when I see that he hates more than just the black comment he is angry at everyone. I don’t think he has friends because of his personality and the friends that he claims to have put him down, which doesn’t make since. His father has a point to say that he shouldn’t care but Pino can’t resist because he can’t accept like everyone around him. He is like Buggin Out in his scene with Sal but Pino hates and is anger all the time.
A scene that has stayed with me is when Radio Raheem and the group of men on the steps get into a competition over who’s boombox can play music more loudly. The movement of the camera was very interesting; first we get a view of several men talking as salsa music is heard in the background. The camera slowly pans to see the stereo from which the music is being played. Next, the camera moves to a different stereo, but one that is much larger, playing hip-hop music, and held in the hands of Radio Raheem, recognizable by his iconic “love” and “hate” rings. As the view shifts up to Radio Raheem’s face, the audience sees that he stands in a power pose, signaling a challenge. The men on the steps catch on, and a struggle ensues; each raising the volume on their own music until the salsa finally becomes drowned out by Radio Raheem’s “Fight The Power.” This scene is clearly about more than just the music, and the racial division between the Puerto Rican men and Radio Raheem is made obvious by the way in which Spike Lee incorporates cultural stereotyping. What I found especially interesting is that Lee had Radio Raheem’s hip-hop defeat the salsa music; speaking to a broader idea about the power struggle between different ethnic and racial groups, and that Radio Raheem belongs to the more dominating ethnic group.
ReplyDeleteI like Radio Raheem. I would describe him as a quiet force who is very confident in his own ideas and perceptions of the world. Also, the way he lugs around a giant boombox, playing the same song on repeat, is both comical and respectable, and makes me think that he has a strong values. Similarly, Sal has a very forceful sense of himself; he knows what who he is, what he stands for, and where he wants to be. The difference between these men is that Radio Raheem seems to have a more steady temper, while Sal is very quick to blow up about little things.
I think that Pino is unable to let go of the things that he can’t control in his life. Unlike his brother and father, he has not accepted that the pizzaria will remain in the predominantly black neighborhood, or that he is different from the majority of his customers. He is so desperate to control something about himself that he uses his authority whenever he can, like directing Mookie and Vito, and harassing customers or people around the restaurant. Unfortunately for Pino, controlling these smaller things are not enough for him, so instead he lets unnecessary resentment build up.
I find the scene in which Mookie confronted Pino about his biases as humorous as it was illuminating. The fact that Pino claims to hate black people he sure does look up to a number of them including athletes, actors, and musicians. While he tries to justify this by saying that his idols are “more than black,” this is a thin veil trying to disguise what Mookie straight up said in the film. That deep down, no matter how much he tries to deny it, he may want to be black. This is a theme that is seen in modern America with the captivation of the white youth with black culture. Similar to Pino, the desire to be black is repressed in both the modern youth and Pino and in the case of 2019 people resort to listening to “black” music, saying nigga, and trying to assimilate into the culture.
ReplyDeleteI really like Radio Raheem so far. I think he is a funny guy and I like his taste in music. If I were to describe him to someone who had not seen the film yet, I would say that he’s a black dude with a high-top fade which was typical for the time period. In terms of comparing him to Sal, the main similarity between the two of the them would probably be how they both seem to constantly be at odds with the other races in the neighborhood aside from their own. For Sal, he gets into arguments with Mookie and Buggin’ Out. Radio Raheem had a screaming match with the Koreans who own the bodega and he also challenged the hispanics with his boombox. When they butt heads in Sal’s store it seems like their relationship is explosive.
Like Sal said, they aren’t his friends because they laugh at him for his job. This is probably why he wants to get away from this. Because he probably feels like he doesn’t belong anywhere. His “friends” in his neighborhood look down on him because of his line of work and those in the neighborhood that he works in hate him because he has been nothing, but an asshole to them and they are not soon to forget the racism. So Pino dug a hole for himself and he’s not willing to take the time to show those who come into Sal’s that he has changed so he will never be accepted by them like Sal has.
The scene that stuck with me the most was when Vito decides to go on a delivery with Mookie and they begin to talk about the abusive nature of Vito, Pino’s brother, and the aggressive nature of his family in general. Up until this point I hadn’t understood that Pino and Mookie were friends outside of Sal’s shop and I think this was a good way of presenting their friendship to the viewers. I think this is also one of the first healthy and progressive interactions between people of two different races presented in this film.
ReplyDeleteSo far I like RAdio Raheem, in the beginning he’s very mysterious and strange to the audience. Before later in Friday’s class time, all we knew about him was that he’s a big guy who seems to just walk the streets with a huge radio playing black music. He seems to be advocating for his race and aspects of his culture. This is evident when he fights the group of non-black men playing their own music by overpowering it. I’d describe him as a big, quiet, black man who walks around playing music popular in his culture. I’d say that he is representing what seems to be the majority race in his neighborhood, but also a race that still experiences discrimination.
This the calmest and most tender we’ve seen Sal in this film so far, and like myself and others said in the first blog, Sal seemed to be overly aggressive and lacking emotion. This was a fresh sight to see from Sal, and I didn’t expect him to ask this question of his son. I’m very glad that Sal and Pino had this conversation, because hate seems to be bog theme throughout this film, and is very deep in Pino’s opinions of other people. I think Pion is unhappy with himself and where he ended up in life. It seems to me like he feels he is better that the people that surround him, and because of this, growing up he never applied himself. Now He’s ended up living like the people he’d always seen himself above, so he has so much hate for everything and everyone around him. Like other people posted, I believe Pino feels stuck and unhappy in his position, and hides his anger behind the fact that he’s made fun of by his friends.
1. When radio goes into the Korean’s store was the moment that jumped out at me the most. I understand he really likes Public Enemy, but he doesn’t have to be a dick about buying “Motherfucking batteries.” Like just chill out dude, just because you give buisness someone of a different race or a newcomer isn’t always a bad thing. How hard is it to be polite? I also think that the shopkeeper’s reaction was unwarranted; they seemed overly intimidated and defensive.
ReplyDelete2. Radio doesn’t have to say much, since his boombox speaks for him. Besides, no ones gonna mess with him, he’s huge. He also apparently dosen’t have a job, so he has hella time on his hands. (Maybe it’s a weekend?) Anyway, these factors allow him to be a douche to like, everyone. I get that it’s cool to have a boombox and shit, but I think it’s also important to be polite in restaurants that you don’t own, and to leave folks alone if they aren’t doing anything to you. I would describe him as self-important and slightly obnoxious. Is it fighting the power if you antagonize your fellow proletariat, just because they happen to be listening to Puerto rican music? That being said, I think he's being genuine and honest and stuff and I can respect that, too. HEs a complicated guy.
3. This scene was tough to watch. It’s almost as if Pino wants to do the right thing, but he just can’t because of the prejudice he holds. I think Sal’s trying to do his best, but, you can’t just tell your kids who to be: the will eventually grow up, and become their own independent people. I think that Pino is also jealous. He works hard all day for his father’s pizza shop; he’s like a walking stereotype. His father lets Mookie take long ass breaks from work and talk on the phone, and pampers mookie’s sister. Maybe he wants more money, or feels left behind by society, and has no true friends. Hating on black folk, and supporting a system that keeps them down allows him to feel just a tad better about himself.
One scene that stuck with me was when Mookie asked Pino about his favorite celebrities. When Pino realizes that all his favorite celebrities are black, he tries to defend himself by saying they're not really black. It's funny to me how quick he is to realize his mistake. It's interesting because he has such strong opinions about black people but has these exceptions about celebrities. It just stuck out to me and I like the fact that he was called out on it.
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't really know enough to have an opinion on radio Raheem, but I like him. He hasn't done anything to make me think negatively of him yet I don't think. I think his character kind of sets the tone for the issues in this movie, but doesn't really move the plot forward. He's always playing "fight the power" which was also the song that played in the very beginning of the movie. I'm not 100% sure what his importance in the movie will end up being, but he's definitely a constant reminder (his music / fighting the power) of many of the issues going on in this film and it's society.
I don't know why Pino has so much hate, but this scene made me so frustrated. I really grew to like Sal more in this scene. I think this scene spoke a lot about both of the characters. The reason I say I began to like Sal in this scene was that moment when he went up to Smiley and gave him money. Although it didn't address the situation of racism, I think it helped us understand that Sal has much better intentions than Pino. I had a lot of respect for Sal when he talked about loving his community and how that neighborhood grew up on his food and he was proud of it. I wish that the issue was more resolved, but I understand that it's still the beginning/middle of the film and the resolution has to wait until the end.
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ReplyDeleteThe scene that has stuck with me the most from Friday’s viewing is when Sal was chatting Jade up. This scene was not only hilarious, especially due to Pino’s and Mookie’s reactions, but it also shows the stark divide between how Sal, the archetypal white man, treats some black people over others. Jade is the exception to the black stereotype to Sal. He even offers to make her something special at a lower price, while telling everybody else that cheese is an extra $2.50 after practically slamming their food into the oven. I think this could have been a sweet scene (if it wasn’t so weird), but if Sal, symbolizing all white people, treated everybody the way he treats Jade, I don’t think we would have a need for the rest of the film. Also, I wish Spike Lee had given us a sense of how Jade feels about this because I have been treated like the exception, and it was not a pleasant feeling, but she seems to just enjoy her sandwich.
ReplyDeleteI think Radio Raheem’s character was very carefully and specifically developed. I think that he is intimidating to many people in the community due to physical reasons, like his stature, his music (blasting “Fight the Power” all day long, which can be taken as a direct message by some of the people in the community), and his brass knuckles. However, Radio is a shy person, and seems to get along best with the kids in the community, like in the adorable scene where the little boy emulates him on the sidewalk and gives him a high five. His music is his soul, similar to how Sal’s pizza is his life and soul.
This is one of my favorite scenes and one of the rare times we actually see Sal’s almost-wistful sentiment towards the community that he serves. I think Pino is so hateful because he is embarrassed that he relies upon the black community. Sal’s Pizza would not last in their neighborhood, so they need the black community, which he views as lesser, in order to stay in business, which mortifies him. Also, his younger brother, Vito, is clearly much more included in the black community and manages to get along with everybody and even make some friends, which I think appears as a betrayal to Pino and is another reason for his hatred.
The section that stood out to me the most on friday's viewing was definitely the racist rant scene. It's one of the most unique and interesting things I've seen in a film. It felt like Lee was channeling exactly what each character was thinking in the moment. Each person of each race taking out their frustration on the other rather than taking a look at themselves and seeing what the real problem is. It also was a good example of how everyone is prejudice towards everyone, further complicating the already complex race dynamic of this film.
ReplyDeleteI would say Radio Raheem as a very dynamic character. From an outside perspective, he can be seen as very brooding and aggressive when in actuality he is just as deep thinking and kind as anyone else. He is definitely one of my favorite characters in the movie. When he's talking to Mookie he has a very friendly and open personality. However, his personality seems to change back to that outside shell of aggression and hostility when he is around white people.
I think a lot of what makes Pino so distrustful and hateful towards black people is his own insecurities and his mall minded attitude. He let's his friends give him racist ideals and make fun of him for his job. On top of that, I think Pino only sees black people from an outside perspective, meaning he only sees them from what others have told him and what racist stereotypes have made him believe. He doesn't have a true understanding for who black people are and he lets falsehoods get in the way of having a relationship with them.
A scene that stood out to me was the one between Jade and Sal. That scene really took me by suprise! It had shown earlier with Buggin Out that Jade was beloved by the community around her, as she had a particularly upbeat and positive disposition. She goes into Sal’s pizzeria with Mookie, and we see Sal immediately change his attitude. The audience never really saw his soft side, so it made me like his character definitively more. It was also a nice breath of fresh air compared to the scenes around it. Mookie and Pino we’re arguing earlier, Radio was causing tension, and Buggin Out was planning a protest against the pizzeria.
ReplyDeleteI think Radio May physically be intimidating to people, but as he mentioned, he loves strongly. For most of his appearance, he didn’t talk, so I saw him as a sort of pariah endlessly walking around expressing his thoughts through the beat of his music. It was a really interesting idea, and he eventually started to speak. He seemed cold at first with Sal and the Korean couple, but much more soft spoken with Mookie. I definetly like him, flaws and all.
I think Pino doesn’t hate black people as much as he hates himself. He seems to harbor a lot of hate towards the pizzeria, and he definetly doesn’t like working there. We don’t know enough to know who he is as an individual, other than his lazy and disinterested attitude. His father made him work there, but he may not want to. Of course when you find a flaw in yourself, it seeps through and needs a place to blame.