Black Panther: Good, Smart, Important, and Politis
Later, the phrase: "Unlike the usual Marvel films" is often heard as a frill of criticism over Black Panther, the latest superhero movie from Marvel. Peter Travers of the Rolling Stones writes, "Black Panther is an epic movie that (walk), talk, or be a hero unlike a Marvel movie usually."
Kyle Buchanan from Vultures also wrote a similar phrase: "Black Panther is not like any other Marvel movie, and it should be, if he really wants to pay the proper tribute to the first black superhero in the history of mainstream American comics."
Finally, a similar comment came from Moyang Kasih Dewi Merdeka, an art-cultural journalist who used to fill in the Resolution of the Tempo News section. He who first watched the Black Panther, sent me a message without any spoilers: "Ntap times! Not your usual Marvel movie. "
All amazed and have good criticisms for Black Panther-Marvel's first superhero movie director, scriptwriter, and main player is black. Under the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) - where all Marvel superheroes live in the same universe - Black Panther is also the first black character to be solo. This makes Marvel can not seem to be political.
Moreover, he just appeared after 17 other MCU films that all the main characters are white men. Starting from Iron Man, The Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Star Lord, Ant-Man, Doctor Strange, and Spiderman.
Black Panther itself is one of the superhero frontman who has a big role in the Marvel comic world. He first appeared in 1966, so the antagonist in the Fantastic Four # 52 comic. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby as representatives of a black superhero who had no time at all. Yes, all to attract the market share.
Also read: One Century Jew, Comic King: Jack Kirby
Previously, African-American characters were only present as criminals. Or, luckily, it's just a sidekick-the main superhero helper. The film, then, of Black Panther - after more than half a century triumphant in comics - was a political momentum that was not wasted by director Ryan Coogler (Fruitval Station, Creed), who wrote the screenplay.
This young director really stuffs the not-so-simple weights in his imaginary Black Panther universe-things that then make Marvel's superhero movie this time is not like the previous movies.
First, he explores African culture through Wakanda-a fictitious fictitious Kirby state that plunders parts of Kenya, Ethiopia, Southern Sudan, Uganda, and the border of Lake Turkana in the real world. This country is told as the most technologically fastest and the most prosperous in the world.
However, the fact is kept secret from the outside world, because Wakanda has the strongest vibranium-metal as well as a mineral source that has many benefits. This natural heritage that Wakanda wants to keep, is afraid to be a fought contest other countries.
As the first person to lift Wakanda to the big screen, Coogler has a strong vision: skyscrapers, futuristic express trains, an exotic vibrant mine with purple blue light are some of the details that look solid.
The most prominent production team work here is costume and clothing. Working with Oscar nominee Ruth Carter, Coogler managed to highlight one of the best African cultures, fashion.
When T'Challa-the Black Panther-and Nakia walk in one of Wakanda's bustling streets, I can not help remembering Maboneng Street, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The street architecture is completely different, but the fashion style of the people is the same. They were all dressed in fashion and turning the streets into fashion stages. Color and ethnic ornaments are key.
T'Challa is played by Chadwick Boseman, while Nakia, a Wakanda intelligence, is played by one of the most beautiful women in the world, Lupita Nyong'o. Big names are chosen Coogler so the actor is also the key to the success of Black Panther. There's Angella Basset, Forest Whitaker, and Michael B. Jordan who also gives a class A performance. Whatever Coogler, all the actors have a solid character that is not just in the script.
Unlike other Marvel superhero movies that are scattered with class A actors, but tend to be just passing by, like Jeff Goldblum and Idris Elba in Thor Ragnarok, or Marisa Tomei and Jennifer Connelly in Spiderman Homecoming. This list can be longer if we trace other Marvel movies.
The storyline presented Coogler is also not as simple as white against black, like other superhero movies.
Michael B. Jordan, who plays Killmonger, Black Panther's main enemy, is clearly not the same as his Vulture Michael Keaton in Spiderman Homecoming. It comes with a perspective that shook the audience's confidence in T'Challa, the protagonist. Killmonger wants Wakanda, a native African country that has never been touched by white colonization and has abundant resources, to help the struggle of blacks in other countries.
While T'Challa tried to defend Wakanda's tradition to hide himself-like the Black Panther before him.
Viewers who support the political rights of asylum seekers may be angry at T'Challa because of that perspective. While those who tend to be nationalist may be able to understand, and managed to hate Killmonger.
At this point it is clear that the discussion that Coogler throws in the film is not simple. He makes Black Panther not only look good technically, but also present as an important film.
Coogler is also credited with successfully throwing the concept of the artistic movement of afrofuturism-encouraging the idea that blacks can also succeed in the future through technology and science. The movement arose because the emerging image of blacks in the film was all about violence, poverty, and crime.
Carvell Wallace, an African-American freelance journalist, had written a great essay in the New York Times about how Black Panther played an important role for black Americans, who were commonly oppressed and had a history of segregation. Wakanda co-created by Coogler became a symbol of hope, Wallace said.
The presence of Black Panther is important. Especially for the dark-skinned people, who are eventually represented in Marvel's gigantic successful films.
Not only those in America, white colonization is also happening everywhere. Indonesia has also become a wetland that became subscriptions of Caucasian colonies.
The former is not a scab can be lost in a matter of weeks or months. The white-skinned defects of segregation based on the color of the skin are left behind in every soil they once tracked. That is why, the representational politics that Black Panther brought to be important. Especially for a whole country with a history of repressing dark-skinned people.
About this representation has also been written by Roy Thaniago of Remotivi, about Papuans who are often misunderstood by people outside of Papua. Indonesian law does not support discriminatory actions, until it can be called segregation. However, discrimination and previlese are real.
Wallace might be right. Black Panther, though through a fictional Wakanda, can bring new hope to those of dark skin; that the future is not just as bad as the media and films depict. Simply put, this idea wants to celebrate that the superheroes of the world are not merely Caucasian white men. And of course that's true.
