Black Panther and the Growing Afrofuturism Movement
This post originally appeared on AfroERA.com.
The Black Panther movie is a phenomenon. It is not only the first movie to feature a majority of cast members who are of African descent, but the director, Ryan Coogler, is the first man of color to ever direct a Marvel Studios film with a huge budget. A budget worth $200 million to be exact. So, what does a movie like this mean to the afrofuturism movement?
First off, Black Panther takes place in a country deep within Africa that was never colonized. In this sense, African Americans and brothers and sisters all over the world are given an alternative scenario that deviates from the realistic past that is so often portrayed by other Hollywood movies. Wakanda is a country that still holds on to its strong African traditions, thereby resisting the influence of colonizers so often integrated into movies. Secondly, Black Panther takes wardrobes to a whole new level, changing the entire script that has always been present in movies.
These are the fundamental basics of afrofuturism. Instead of focusing on the bleak past and the daily struggles of the present, afrofuturism applies creativity to create a future for the culture that lies in strength while still maintaining the African culture, ideals and magical nature. In Black Panther, the African culture is maintained and integrated seamlessly with cutting edge technology. Additionally, the costumes have deviated from the usual loin cloths characterized in other movies and embraced designs rooted in African culture and aesthetic.
Continuing reading the full post at AfroERA.com.
