Respond to these two questions in the comments section below:
Comparing Italianamerican (1974) and Joe’s Bed-Stuy Barbershop (1983), describe one (1) technique both directors use to construct a particular cultural environment. Examples may come from setting, use of music (sound elements), type of shot, characters, genre, etc.
Referring to Donna Gabaccia and Houston Baker, Jr., explain how Spike Lee describes and positions the American south (Atlanta, GA) in relation to the urban north (Brooklyn, NYC). How is the north/south opposition inscribed upon and what impact does it have on the relationship between Zachariah and Ruth?
The American south is scene as the past, as the old world. African Americans escaped the old world, and they left for a reason, why should they go back? This is how Lee describe the south in relation to the north, it’s new verses old. In Lee’s film Ruth wants to move to Atlanta where a house was left for her, Zachariah is against this and he tells her he doesn’t want to be a farmer. Ruth want’s to spread out, she want’s space, she believes the city is to constricting and there isn’t enough pace. Through her ideas, and motivation she represents the rural south, Zachariah however, on the other hand represents the cities of the north. Just like the American north and south, Zachariah and Roth are married to each other, but just like the north and the south they can’t seem to get alone, and can’t agree.
In Lee's film you can already see a difference in the way the two speak to one another. The mans vocabulary is that of a "slang" type lingo while to women speaks properly and with more sophistication in her tone. Also you see the two argue with one another about selling the barbershop a small comparison to the south and north fighting, but you seem them also making a comprise another representation of the North and South thus portraying that neither can survive without the other.
Italianamerican also achieves this but in a subtler way. The diegetic sound of Catherine and Charles’ voices overlapping in the beginning sequence demonstrates the “separate but together” concept discussed in class regarding Italian-American families. Scorcese uses very stereotypical Italian-sounding music as transitions either between stories or still images. These sound cues alone (although more obviously in the soundtrack than in the dialogue) let the viewer know that they are watching a film about a certain culture. Both in Italianamerican and Joe’s Bed-Stuy’s Barbershop, it is these cues that allow the viewer to better immerse themselves in the world and culture that each respective director is attempting to achieve.
2. The American south is represented in Ruth, and her need for space to “stretch out.” According to Baker, “Ruth’s ambivalent capitalism and nostalgia…vie with Zach’s blackurban idealism.” Ruth is tired of the urban scene and doesn’t believe that Bed-Stuy is a place worth investing any more time, energy, or money into. Bed-Stuy is coded to represent black culture, and Ruth is growing sick of the inadequacy of it. She wants to live the more American (read: white) dream of space and money. She becomes, as Baker refers, “culturally ambivalent.” It is this ambivalence and “white” desire that pushes Zach to enter the numbers game and give up his idealism. This polarization is represented by geographic location: the urban north versus the American south. The strain of this polarization is felt by both Ruth and Zach in their marriage.
The north is viewed as by Zach as progressive and necessary; it is better to be poor in the north than rich in the south. Zach feels that a move south would be equal to a return to slavery. As a social worker, Ruth sees the worst of the worst every day, and it understandably tired of inner city life. These opposite emotions reveal the major tension in their marriage.
#2 The division of north and south views is shown by Lee by the way that Zachariah and Ruth fell about New York. Ruth wants to stretch out and have land to own. While Zachariah feels that all there is to do in the south for work is be a farmer. It is very much the way that Gabaccia describes the view of southerners from both points of perspective(Northerner and Southerner). In these views southerners viewed the south as there homeland but not to describe themselves. While Northerners viewed the south as backwards, uneducated and below their standards.
Italian-American and Joe's Bed-Study Barbershop both have a setting in a home of the main character. It provides the viewers a peek into the personal lives of the characters, how they maintain relationships with their spouses. It allows us to learn more about the characters in the film. For example, in Italian-American, Scorsese filmed his parents in their home and have them tell stories about their experiences as Italians in America. Spike Lee's film showed us the main character, Zachariah, and his relationship with his wife at home. It shows us that the relationship at home is not easy and they are struggling to come to some agreements about the barbershop. Zach kept his manly power over women but still held his pride as a black. These two personal settings showed us parts that help build the characters to help us understand how they handled the situations occurring in the film.
Part 2
African Americans were still struggling with racism in the 1980's, the time period portrayed in the film. Most white people don't see it as racism because we often overlook it. The article by Houston explained that Lee's film showed racism with black women and the sexual greed of white men. Lovejoy's unexpected visit to Zach's home, offering a flower to Ruth, hinted at Lovejoy (representing white men) wanting something from Ruth (representing black women). Lovejoy actually has power over the property and the business that Zach did not know about till after Joe's death. That information put Zach in a very awkward situation with Lovejoy. Houston explained how the society in America still permits racism in the workplace where African Americans want to do business, but White men still have control over them. It is a trap that takes advantage of African Americans, exploiting their labor.
The point of the relationship between blacks and whites was described through the nightmare of Silas. "They just couldn't stand being without that chocolate" says Silas (p. 5, Houston). That statement clearly tells me that white people cannot run society without "slavery". No matter how much freedom African-Americans have, they are still considered below white men. That was prior to the 1980’s. Right now in 2008 it is different, but we will focus on the 1980's and earlier to discuss lee's aspects with Racism in America.
2) Donna Gabaccia states in her article that, “if the great Southland was the beloved home place of southern blacks, then the north became their promised land” (p 223) However, Gabaccia points out that Blacks already in the north at the time of the Great Migration looked down on southern Blacks. This idea is echoed in Lee’s film. Ruth is left a home in Atlanta by her family obviously tying her to the south. She thinks fondly of living there and wants to move from Bed-Stuy. Whereas Zacharias seems to view the south as less progressive and a step back from where he is at. This difference in opinions seems to be the cause of some friction in their marriage .
Gabaccia explains that even though African Americans are leaving the south to find the promise land, they still view the south as their real home and that they prefer the rural environment versus the urban environment in the north. A lot of the African American culture that we see today was brought up during the migration. When relating this to Lee’s film, it’s safe to say that there is an ongoing battle between Zachariah and Ruth, which is essentially a battle between the south and the north (Zachariah representing the south). During the film Zachariah and Ruth get into arguments because Zachariah is too stubborn to change his traditional ways and cut hair to meet what the current style is. He’s set in his old ways, and he doesn’t want to give in to the changes because he grew up with different values, which coincides with southern traditions. His wife, Ruth, thinks he should cut hair to what the consumer wants, even if he doesn’t agree with it. This relates to the northern urban African American because things are ever-changing and a person must change to fit the times, unlike old southern traditions, where things don’t change as much and people stick to their old traditions.
(2) In Lee’s Joe Bed-Stuy’s Barbershop: We Cut Heads, you can tell rather quickly that Zachariah and his wife Ruth have different views of the south and the ideals it represents. Ruth is rather sick of the city life, the noise, chaos, and general feel of it; she states that she wants room to stretch out. Zachariah enjoys the city life, knowing that all is friends are there, and well, he does not want to be a farmer. Ruth seems to think that the South has lots of possibilities and would be a positive change for their lives together. Zachariah on the other hand, sees moving to the south as a rather drastic and negative change.
Baker describes the South as a place of nostalgia, where the roots of Zack and Ruth’s existence lie. It’s a place where Ruth feels she can have personal space and stroll down the street to visit friends rather than up twenty flights of stairs to intrude on a suspicious client. Zach feels that the North is a place of opportunity, where racism still exists, but a place where there is money to be made. In Brooklyn, Zach feels he is able to feed on the “Yankee ingenuity” (Baker) that supposedly exists for anyone with a strong enough will to make money. This drives a wedge between Ruth, who wants to move south, and Zach, who wants to stay put in Bed-Stuy.
Gabaccia speaks of a “second emancipation” that black people thought they would experience when migrating to the north. But although no Jim Crow laws existed in writing, economic struggles and victimization were very prevalent for black people. This is exemplified by Lee in his use of the numbers game in the film.
In the Spike Lee joint - JOE BED-STUY'S BARBERSHOP - we find the director using several differing styles of american music to capture the mood of the piece and set the tone for the ensuing narrative. The "one way ride" fate that befalls the title character in the film's opening moments is choreographed to the blaring strains of New York style "soul music". Later in the film, Lee uses black southern style blues to help establish the seemingly hopeless and somewhat seedy milieu of the eponymous tonsorial establishment and its downtrodden new owner - the previously "silent" partner Zachhariah. And, in order to convey the apparent hoplessness of of Zach's quest to run a "clean establishment" - Lee makes ironic use of the sort of "smooth jazz" that send purists in dire search of cotton for their collective ears!
#2 In JOE BED-STUY'S BARBERSHOP, Director Spike Lee appaears to give credence to assertions made by both Houston-Baker and Gabaccia in their respective articles for the sense of disconnect the Southern Black Diaspora experienced in following job opportunities and moving to industrialized Northern cities. With the character of Ruth Homer, Lee gives voice to the lament of one who remains dispossed and dissatisfied with inner city life nad yearns to return to her somewhat idealized version of the south (Atlanta), and get back to her roots. As Baker puts it, Ruth is characterized by : "...her desire to return to the South and Southern Blues...". Ruth has property back home and for her - the South is seen as a place not only to find safe haven, but also signals what could be a fresh start for her and her "stubborn" husband - Zach. And, after becoming the victim of a purse-snatching, she is ready to give up on Bed-Stuy altogether. Atlanta is seen as a place that will satisfy her own need for "...space in which to stretch out". Favorite quote: "The projects were made for people to go off..."