Black Panther is the 17th film in the ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’, the highest-grossing film franchise in history. Black Panther is a 2018 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character who is also called Black Panther. The film was produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios.
The film was directed by Ryan Coogler, who also co-wrote the screen play with Joe Robert Cole; the film stars Chadwick Boseman as the leading role T’challa/Black Panther.
In Black Panther, T’Challa is crowned king of Wakanda following his farther’ s death which is seen in Captain American: Civil War which is also apart of the MCU. However as T’challa is crowned he is challenged by Killmonger (Michael B.Jordan) who plans to abandon the country’s isolationist policies and begin a global revolution.
RYAN COOGLER
Ryan Coogler is an American Film director, producer and screenwriter. His first feature film, Fruitvale Station, won the top audience and grand jury wards in the U.S. dramatic completion at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. He has isnce co-written and directed the seventh film in the Rocky series, Creed, and the Marvel film Black Panther(2018).
Black Panther broke numerous box office records and become the highest-grossing film of all time by a Black Director.
T’CHALLA
Black Panther is a fictional superhero appearing in American Comic Books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Jack Kirby, Black Panther first appeared in Fantastic Four #52 in the Silver Age of Comic.
Black Panthers real name is T’Challa, and he is the depicted as the king and protector of Wakanda. Along with possessing enhanced abilities achieved through ancient Wakandan rituals of drinking the essence of the heart-shaped herb; T’Challa also relies on his proficiency in science, rigorous physical training, hand-to-hand combat skills.
He is the first superhero of African descent in mainstream American comics.
In the film adaptation of Black Panther , T’Challa is played by American actor Chadwick Boseman, who is also known for his portrayal of real-life historical figures such as Jackie Robinson in 42 and James Brown in Get On Up.
He started his work for Marvel Comics in 2016 as the character Black Panther who appeared in Captain America: Civil War. He then headlined Black Panther in 2018 which he won a NAACP Image Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award. The film opened great anticipation, as it become one of the highest grossing films of the year in the United States.
INSPIRATION
For Black Panther Jack Kirby’s original concept art used the name Coal Tiger. Which has influences on the character included historical figures such as 14th century Mail Empire sultan Mansa Musa and 20th century Jamaican activist Marcus Garey, as well as Biblical figures such as Ham and Canaan.
The story of Black Panther Originates in the fictional African country that was never colonised.
Black Panther was also inspired by the Black Panther Party was a political activist group established initially to provide armed monitoring of police behaviour and prevent police brutality in the US. It was controversial, with many Panthers being arrested or killed in confrontations with police.
The film also focuses around African Culture and Afrofuturisms.
Afrofuturism is a cultural aesthetic,philosophy of science, and philosophy of history that explores the developing intersection of African Diaspora culture with technology. Afrofuturism addresses themes and concerns of the African diaspora through technoculture and science fiction, encompassing a range of media and artists with a shared interest in envisioning black futures that stem from Afrodiasporic experiences.It was coined by Mark Dery in 1993 and explored in the late 1990s through conversations led by Alondra Nelson.
Afrofuturism is a cultural aesthetic that combines science-fiction, history and fantasy to explore the African-American experience and aims to connect those from the black diaspora with their forgotten African ancestry.
Afrofuturism has also been portrayed in music, however it became more popular in the late 1950s even though Afrofuturism was being coined in 1993. Musicians typically regarded as working in or greatly influenced by the Afrofuturist tradition which includes reggae producers Lee Perry and Scientist, hip-hop artists Afrika Bambaataa and Tricky.
WHAT IS DIASPORA?
The term Diaspora is the term used to describe the movement or a scattered population from one country to another which is also has discussions of identity.
Afro-futurism in Black Panther
Afro-futurism has triumphed in mainstream American theatre including enormous success of the film Black Panther. It was released February 16, 2018; the release of the film brought black people all around the country and world to embrace the cultural context of the film as red carpets and even long lines at theatres wore outfits inspired by African Kingdoms. Many of these people also painted their bodies and faces with African tribal designs. People’s joyful expressions weren’t only for the nearly all black cast but for the collective exhale.
Afrofuturism merge both ancestral history and future possibility with the spiritual in ways that are shown in Black Panther. T’Challa becomes King and spiritual leader of the most technologically advanced country in the world. The country is made possibly by a mountain of Vibranium flying through space colliding with Africa thousands of years ago; this caused alternations to Wakanda’s environment and created a fusion of plant life that was both Earth and alien.
When the film opened people all around the world embraced the culture, for example on red carpets and in long lines at threats, people donned fur coats, dashikis, crowns, lion sashes, and outfits inspired by precolonial African culture.
Black Panther’s teaser trailers were shown between NBA games and a special collaboration with Lexus called ‘Long Live The King’ was shown during the Superbowl.
What kind of audiences normally watch these programmes? How are they different to the usual Marvel fan base?
The type of audience that tend to watch the Superbowl and programmes like these are typically older men for example between 35-50; who have an interest in sports. This type of audience may be seen as different from the usual Marvel Fan base, as Marvel cater for all age rangers, old and young. Therefore by showing the trailers to a target audience who may not be the ones to go see a Marvel film,it broadens their viewing and may leave them with an interest in wanting to see the film, therefore this allows Marvel to get more people into wanting to see their movie.
Questions
How does the lm celebrate African culture?
The Im celebrates African culture as it was released during Black History Month. Coogler the stars and the costume , hair/makeup , production designers all gave detailed interviews about how the lm celebrates African culture. They also showed how they celebrate African Culture by having a There was also a ‘Welcome to Wakanda’ catwalk show at New York Fashion Week and features in numerous fashion magazines.
Why might it be important to black children to have characters like Black Panther?
I believe it is important for black children to have characters like Black Panther, because it shows them that they themselves can be superheros, as the majority of Superhero films are of white males/females. Black Panther gives young black children what they deserve and represents African communities. The character and film allows children to look up to them as the cast is predominately black, Black Panther shows the strength and the intelligence that can causes these children to be inspired.
How does it also represent black women in a powerful way?
The film represents Black women as powerful, as the women are the ones in control of the throne and the society of Wakanda. There is also a scene with Shuri who is T’Challa’s little sister saving the white man in the film rather than the other way around, telling us that women do not need saving but are the saviours. The women in this movie also do not have super powers making them more powerful, as they make weapons that that are technologically advanced; and as they fight battles its because of their intelligence and inner strength rather than superpowers.
Molly Goldthorpe Media 