'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
Authors
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