Wearing cargo pants and a striped Abercrombie and Fitch rugby shirt, Shelton “Spike” Lee looked like a normal guy. But his characteristic black-rimmed glasses identified him as the controversial and influential director that the public recognized.
Lee spoke to a crowd of more than 500 at McArthur Court Thursday night about his love for filmmaking and his opinions about current issues.
The director offered advice to the students in the audience about following their passions. He told students that just because what they produce may receive criticism, it does not mean their work isn’t valuable.
“Your four years of college are very crucial,” Lee said. “Today there are twice as many students graduating. Here is the key ? find what it is that you love.”
The director said he is fortunate to have found a profession he enjoys and has become successful in doing.
When he first entered the film industry, Lee’s aim was to “give black artists the platform to show the world what they can do.”
His debut film, the 1986 movie “She’s Gotta Have It,” had a budget of $10,000 and was shot in 12 days, two six-day weeks. The crew had to collect deposits from soda cans in order to scrape together money for two rolls of film. The movie later grossed $8.5 million at the box office, beginning what Lee called the “new wave black cinema.”

But Lee said the vibrancy of black culture isn’t always reflected on the screen.
He poked fun at historical misrepresentations of blacks in films and on television, specifically in movies such as “The Green Mile” and “The Patriot.” He said that while black people are moving away from being underrepresented in the film industry, Hollywood still fabricates images of blacks.
In his speech, Lee made the point that whoever controls the media determines how people think, act and dress.
“The reason why the U.S.A. is the most powerful nation in history is [because of] Nike, Coca-Cola, Disney, movies, television, clothes. It has nothing to do with nuclear arms,” Lee said.
Today Lee will head to Saint Simons Island, Ga., to shoot an HBO documentary on the life of Jim Brown, who went down in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
During the question-and-answer period following his presentation, an audience member asked Lee’s opinion about modern hip-hop and rap. His response was that today’s “gangsta rap” degrades women and reminds him of “modern-day minstrel shows.”
ASUO President Jay Breslow said the University can benefit from big-name visitors such as Spike Lee because they increase awareness and provoke new ideas on campus.
Bola Majekobaje, the network advocate for the Multicultural Center, said she came to Mac Court not knowing what to expect from Lee. The junior biology major said what she liked about Lee was that he seemed natural and relaxed. Majekobaje said that while most people only get to see him through his films, it was informative to see his real point of view in person.