Spike Lee's journey from guerrilla filmmaker to Hollywood insider is explored in light of his personal background, the cultural influence of his films, and the extensive scholarship his movies have inspired.This insightful study probes the iconic filmmaker's career as a director and shaper of American culture. It not only sheds light on the ways in which Lee's background, influences, and outlook affect his films but also discusses how he participates in, transforms, and transcends the tradition of black American filmmaking. Each chapter offers a critical assessment of at least one, and sometimes multiple, Lee films, examining their production history; their place in Lee's filmography; and their aesthetic, cultural, and historical significance. Readers will come away from this first scholarly assessment of Lee's career and work with a better understanding of his penchant for stirring up controversy about significant social, political, and artistic issues as well as his role as an American artist who provokes his audiences as much as he pacifies them.

Reveals how Lee's films expose little-known aspects of American social issues, historical events, and public figures

Series ForewordAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: "Still a Motherfucker"-Spike Lee in the Twenty-First Century1. Men at Work2. The Right Stuff3. Dancing with Denzel4. Black Magic Women5. Brooklyn's Finest6. Documentary Evidence7. Crime and Punishment8. Facing Back, Facing Black9. All Night Long10. A Good Man Goes to WarConclusion: Spike's PlaceNotesBibliographyFilmographyIndex