Erin Cannegieter
LBST 2102
April 18, 2018
Word count: 503
The Black Panther Essay
When a heroic movie hits the screens millions of eyes turn to watch the latest entertainment. These movies often start
Caucasian male actors which save the world against a “larger than [regular] life” villainous entity which often aim to dominate a
certain population. Movies like “Man of Steel” and “Iron Man” both fall under these characteristics along with many others such
as having a clear distinction between good and evil which is almost always an outside force. In the case of “Black Panther”
however the typical American hero film ideal was flipped on its axis. The film redefined the characteristics of evil, and instead of
an outside force such as a monster or evil entity this hero film pinpointed evil as our biggest plight: man vs. himself.
“Black Panther” is a 2 hour action sci-fi movies packed with both modern and futuristic features. The film beings in
Oakland with a scene of two men conversing about some secret mission. We learn through context that one of these men
represent an original black panther member, a radical afro-centric protest group which was founded in Okaland in 1966, and the
other a Wakandian a special agent. Both men were supposed to be on a mission to further the agenda of Wakanda however when
their conversation is interrupted by the former king of Wakanda he learns of the agent who went rogue. The man which
represented the radical militant is simultaneously a representation of “regular black people”. In society being “just black” often
refuers to a persons disconnect...
