Week 10 Discussion: Continue Your DiscussionThe Research Process In this course, you have engaged in the social research process from beginning to end, and you submitted your research proposal. You ha

Creative Work of Black Panther (2018)

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Creative Work of Black Panther (2018)

A movie I’m really excited about as a creative work is Black Panther in 2018, by Ryan Coogler. This film is part of the marvel cinematic universe (MCU) and delves into a great afro heritage, identity and power continentally. For me, the thing that makes Black Panther exciting is not just about the vibrancy of the setting of Wakanda or the action of the narrative. It’s the cultural depth it brings to mainstream cinema. By showing an African society that is more advanced than Europeans and untouched by imperialism. The film challenges colonial stereotypes, calling on viewers to imagine and be imagined differently, empowered.

Whereas what draws me into the world of Black Panther is merging of traditional African cultures and the futuristic technology, of which there seems to be a really palpable sense of pride and possibility in it for people who are African descent. In this work, the humanities are brought to life in rich ways through the symbolism, costume design of different African tribes, the use of language (for instance, isiXhosa) and by posing philosophical questions on diaspora, leadership and justice. Learning how the humanities shape our understanding of memory collective and identity has been made possible by these elements. Fandom for Black Panther is large, community driven and global. Fans parsing character development and discussing pop culture references and fan theories populate Reddit, TikTok and Twitter/X communities. Fan events involving cosplay at comic conventions and academic panels discussing the film's impact on African and African American identity are some of the more in person varieties. Scholarly conversations even erupt in university courses and social justice forums around the film.

Taking Black Panther as a whole, it is a melting pot of art, culture and identity. This is a great example of how the humanities can shatter dominant narratives, promote representation and excite passion – with stories.

References

Coogler, R. (Director). (2018). Black Panther [Film]. Marvel Studios.

Guerrero, E. (2019). Black Panther and the reinvention of African American cinema. In A. J. Smith & K. M. Lockett (Eds.), Black Panther: Interdisciplinary analyses of a cinematic phenomenon (pp. 15–30). Lexington Books.