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'We're Still Standing': Bakhtin's Bildungsroman, Communal Growth, and Mookie's Transformative Evolution in Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing

Date

2022-02-04

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

ORCID

0000-0002-8323-6726

Type

Thesis

Degree Level

Masters

Abstract

This paper revisits Spike Lee’s 1989 film Do the Right Thing through the lens of the Bildungsroman as Bakhtin understands the genre. Using Bakhtin’s specific notion of the Bildungsroman as a genre involving both personal and social growth, this paper argues that the protagonist, Mookie, and the multiethnic community he resides in both undergo a transformation that aligns with Bakhtin’s conception of the genre. This transformation leads to a level of measured progress within the community as the community pushes back against the racial hierarchy and police brutality they face Though there is a measure o f progress, Lee resists the temptation to give the film a 'happy' ending. Instead, Lee merely hints towards the progress that minority groups within America demand. In so doing, Lee emphasizes the bit by bit nature of progress which starts within the individual and the community and grows outward.

Description

Keywords

Bildungsroman, Literary studies, Film studies, Progress, Race in America, Police brutality, Community, Individual growth

Citation

Degree

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Department

English

Program

English

Advisor

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DOI

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