Trumpet: The Musical Phallus

There is no question to what the trumpet represents in Spike Lee's "Mo' Better Blues." The opening credits' "sexy" portrayal of the trumpet set up the basis for the instrument's symbolism for the rest of the narrative. If the viewer didn't realize that the trumpet was indeed suppossed to be sexy in those opening scenes, then the first sex scene of the film tells it all. When Clarke comes to see Bleek during his practice hours, and they decide to have sex, the trumpet is the visible phallus of the scene--just look where it is being held.

Clarke is an interesting character in this film. She is a foil for Indigo, the "other" woman, the one you definitely don't want Bleek to end up with. I'm not sure how I feel about her encoutners with Bleek. Does she love him? Or is she merely there to get her foot in the jazz door? There is the fact that she is constantly coming to see Bleek during his practice hours. I can't help but think that this is Clarke's way of wanting Bleek to choose her over his music. I hope that is the case. If so, her character is much more complex. She is then no longer the girl that's only after the musician to get what she can from him.

Indigo is, of course, the woman who we are supossed to want Bleek to end up with. And, to our satisfaction, he does. Of course, the way Spike Lee resolves the film's events, Bleek's marriage to Indigo falls short of satisfaction. Does Bleek love Indigo? Or is he merely looking for a way to salvage some part of his failed life? The final scene in the movie, where Bleek's son, little Miles, is practicing his horn (an identical scene to the film's opening) certainly seems to support the idea that Miles is Bleek's real salvation. Is Indigo, then, only a means to an end?

It should be noted that there are some distinct differences in the opening and ending scenes. In the beginning, Bleek is not allowed to go out and play until he is done with his lesson. In the end, however, Bleek decides to let Miles go out and play. Of course, we're supossed to understand that Bleek is changing the cycle for Miles. Miles will, undoubtedly, grow up to live up to his namesake. So, maybe I'm just stating the obvious. Then again, I think Spike Lee was careful not to leave any loopholes. He knows exactly what he wants you to think about the film. And, for the most part, does a pretty good job of that.

I want to make a case for the use of color in this film. It seems to me that the use of color carries more significance than to merely appeal to visual aesthetics. Just think, for example, of Night Shyamalan's use of red in his movies. I bring this up because it seems to me that the times when the use of brivant colors really comes into play is when the action is focused at the night club, where all the real jazz happens. Think, for a moment, about the last scene we see in the night club, right before Bleek looses his lip. The action that takes place outside the nightclub, while Giant is getting beat up are completely blue. Meanwhile, the action inside, where Bleek's ultimate vituosity is being displayed is almost entirely in red. And those two colors are the most prevalent in the film. Either something is blue or something is red. I'm not sure what that means, but, as I sated before, I really don't think that it should be simply dismissed as pretty visuals.