From: il@bambam.u.washington.edu (Il Hwan Oh)
Subject: Re: spike lee &  boston celtics
Reply-To: iho@cac.washington.edu
Organization: University of Washington, Tacoma
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 19:53:19 GMT

myra@saul.cis.upenn.edu (Myra VanInwegen) writes:
> iho@cac.washington.edu writes:

> >I've seen a few of his films (_Do_The_Right_Thing_, _Mo'_Better_Blues_,
> >and _Jungle_Fever_) and have to disagree with you.  While they were
> >interesting to watch, I wouldn't have minded missing them.  

> >  His movies incorporate a lot of very
> >stylistic elements and uniquely innovative techniques.  

> You wouldn't have missed them despite their use of these uniquely
> innovative techniques? Maybe your disagrement with the content is
> blinding you to their artistic merit, which even you admit.

Maybe I misstated my feelings.  I don't feel like I really need to
see his movies any more because they all tend to be about the same
subject.  It's this limited scope of subject matter that I have a
problem with.  For me, it gets old really fast.  The innovative
techniques are nice, but they should be used to enhance the movie
rather than become the attraction in the movie, in my opinion.

[descriptions of some of S. Lee's techniques deleted]

> >It's also blatantly obvious that
> >the movies were written and directed by a black person,

> Am I supposed to think that there's something wrong with this?

There's more to a person than his/her color.  If he/she can't get beyond
that, he/she is cheating him/herself as well as the world of lots of
potential

> >and I think there's a lot more to life than that.
> 
> WHAT? Let's not just think of this movie, but consider American movies
> as a whole. The vast majority of them are written and directed by
> whites (specifically white males). And here's one, just one, that was
> written and directed by a black guy, and you are faulting it for
> showing this. I think there's alot more to life than just white folks
> and white folks' concerns. Or are you suggesting that movies made by
> white males are universal and cover all possible points of view, so we
> don't need movies made by any other types of people?

My problem is that his subject matter is always about racial conflicts/
problems.  There are many other stories to be told.  As you said, there
are countless white directors and writers, but very few of their movies
are about the same subject.  Their subject matters cover a much broader
spectrum.

> > His movies reflect (and encourage) thinking in very limited terms.

> I think just the opposite. These movies serve a very useful function
> of exposing middle class whites (like myself) to points of view other
> than the ones we meet in our day to day lives. And, in fact, these are
> points of view that we as a nation will have to understand and do
> something about. What were the LA riots other than the result of the
> people in power in this nation ignoring exactly the problems presented
> in this movie?

That's view is a perfect valid one for anyone (including yourself) to
hold.  My point was just that if someone has a problem with Spike Lee's
public image and stated opinions, there's a good chance that he/she
would not like his movies.  I base this conclusion on the fact that
his movies are always about the one subject he has widely publicized
and controversial opinions about.

-- 
Il Hwan Oh                              | "You live and learn.
Computer Facilities Manager             |   At any rate, you live."
University of Washington, Tacoma        |            -- Douglas Adams
iho@cac.washington.edu                  | 
Newsgroups: rec.arts.movies