From its beautiful graphics to compelling stories about household, society, and equality, the Marvel film Black Panther is a fantastic narrative that resounds with audiences on several thresholds. As a female audience, I was drawn to the narrative because it depicted a society that is geographically secluded and technically sophisticated, raising concerns about how cultures grow and socialize with each other (Irwin, William). Furthermore, the movie’s portrayal of women in power was inspiring and encouraging. Furthermore, the motifs of cultural heritage and portrayal in the film provide a unique chance to analyze the narrative from a cultural perspective.
A feminist pundit could perhaps enquire about the following questions: for example, how women are depicted in the film, what are their protagonists’ positions in the narrative, and the way they socialize with the male protagonists? Do the female protagonists have authority and independence, or are they simply there to meet the requirements of the male protagonists? In the meantime, a social commentator may ask, “How does the movie represent African history and society?” What notifications does it express about the relationship between ethnic background, individuality, and authority? Among others.
While enjoying the movie, I noticed the powerful female protagonists who have significant parts in the plot. The Black Panther women are potent, intelligent, and self-reliant, from the ferocious warrior Okoye to the fantastic researcher Shuri. Okoye, Dora Milaje’s leader, is a formidable foe who demands the reverence of everyone around her (Spencer, Robyn Ceanne). She is devoted to her folks and will go to any length to safeguard them. T’Challa’s smaller sibling Shuri is a talented intellectual who generates much of the Wakandan innovation. She is self-assured, sassy, and unrepentantly phenomenal, defying gender norms. Black Panther struggles with conventional gender stereotypes by presenting women as competent and prominent individuals who can retain themselves in a cis-gendered universe through these protagonists. This feminist viewpoint is remarkable because several action films frequently portray women in secondary roles or as romantic interests for male protagonists. On the contrary hand, Black Panther puts women in the spotlight, highlighting their power and intellect.
In aspects of citations, a quote from Okoye in the film exemplifies female empowerment when she tells her male peers, “Don’t freeze when you see me fight”(Marvel). This demonstrates the film’s female characters’ power and physical capabilities. A further statement from T’Challa that confronts dominant societal narratives is when he asserts, “Wakanda will no longer watch from the shadows. We cannot. We must not. We will work to be an example of how we as brothers and sisters on this earth should treat each other.” This statement signifies the notification that Wakanda wishes to convey to the worldwide community: one of advancement and unification, daunting the dominant tales of Western supremacy and African humiliation.
Moreover, the portrayal of the identity and strength of the blacks in the movie expresses the more significant societal setting of injustice and racial profiling (Vichare). Black Panther offers a complex investigation of the history of slavery and white rule through the protagonist of Killmonger, a black American striving to use Wakanda’s workforce to emancipate victimized individuals across the globe. The film implies that real strength is found in identity and society instead of supremacy above others.
To summarize, Black Panther is a brilliant film that questions central societal and gender stories. It depicts women as resilient and robust individuals while questioning the conventional gender positions assigned to women in comic book films. It also refutes the central narrative of Africa as a primitive and undeveloped country by portraying black people positively.
Works Cited
Irwin, William. Black Panther and Philosophy: What Can Wakanda Offer the World?. John Wiley & Sons, 2022. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=LudWEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR11&dq=From+its+beautiful+graphics+to+its+compelling+stories+about+household,+society,+and+equality,+the+Marvel+film+Black+Panther+is+a+fantastic+narrative+that+resounds+with+audiences+on+several+thresholds.+&ots=l4PzrWEEa9&sig=bQQQvJ-ffx_WTFDo5dcA0ijYV1g
Spencer, Robyn Ceanne. “Engendering the Black Freedom Struggle: Revolutionary Black Womanhood and the Black Panther Party in the Bay Area, California.” Journal of Women’s History 20.1 (2008): 90-113. https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/article/233236/summary
Black Panther (2018) – IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1825683/
Vichare, Jatin. Audience Engagement with the Marvel Studios’ Film Black Panther: Analyzing Fan Reactions Posted on an Online Forum. Rochester Institute of Technology, 2019. https://search.proquest.com/openview/2a28107d41ae0bf0c2a59590fc8fc178/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=51922&diss=y
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