Black Panther: A Song of Kings and Vibranium

A story of tradition preventing purpose, fear precluding faith, and irony punishing all, the new Marvel movie steps away from the formula to chug scotch.  Even with the necessary nods to the greater cinematic universe, Black Panther feels different from its peers. Abandoning origin tropes and superhero movie expectations, Black Panther spends two hours reveling in questioning. It questions such themes as the traditions of the kingdom, the role of developed countries in assisting undeveloped countries, safety vs. charity, loyalty and independence, responsibility of choices,  and betrayal and faith.

The isolationist Wakanda and its people provide an analog for real world problems and the antagonist cross examines modern African American 'gangster' culture without insulting audience intelligence or origin.

Due to a literal mountain of mythical McGuffin metal (vibranium), Wakanda outpaces the entire world in technology and medicine. However the country keeps shut off and silent from the rest of the world, both far off developed countries and their undeveloped neighbors. Yet they also send spies and survey every country for information, keeping tabs on the chronic condition of people across the world.  This paradoxical position of having means to help yet refusing to either open their borders or at least their pocketbook mirrors current events. 

Despite fleeing violence, Syrian refugees were viewed with suspicion and hostility by British and American media and governments; not by a lack of empathy but by genuine concern for their own safety. Wakanda, through both conversations and attitude, show a similar moral preference, with even our protagonist casually mentioning that those people outside with problems will bring those problems in with them. His duty as a king isn't about making foreigners happy, only his own people. Yet as the antagonist reminds us, "Aren't all people your people?"

This question remains unanswered. Neither protagonist, antagonist, side character, nor the film directly answers the questions it asks. Though the actions taken explore the possibilities and ramifications of their disparate thoughts on the matter, they raise more questions than they answer. How does personally chasing a criminal outside the country help Wakanda? How does sparing the leader of a rival tribe for the express purpose of helping their people make sense, but not providing food or medicine to other tribes outside the country in similar situations? How does helping people justify killing others?

Though the antagonist feels out of place in the world of these noble high minded politicians, he directly embodies the ideals of rap, Compton, and 'gangster' culture, an extreme example of an idea pushed to its logical conclusion: a boy taking without paying to disrupt the system that wronged him, working through wrong-doing for a throne of bones to rain karmic injustice against the unjust world. Although his motivation feels sympathetic it leads him from one death to another, each justified as his step ladder to the top and from there, just one leap away from destroying all systems and all the people in them in some petrifying parody of the actions which he hated others doing to him. The film shows why he thinks what he thinks, yet questions if the ends he wants can justify the brutal steps he uses to achieve the means.

In answer to the claim of the film boring some audience members, this movie doesn't rush like the other Marvel stories. Capturing elements of the Lord of the Rings films and the tragedy of Hamlet, they cinematically explore questions of international concern with an epic format reminiscent of the works of Cecil B. DeMille. Put concisely, it feels its length. It doesn't try to appeal to children, the moments of levity are brief and rare, and they pull no punches, making the moments the heroes win far more satisfying than in other superhero movies.  I admire the effort of the filmmakers to create a modern mythological epic in a two hour superhero movie as well as their focus on questions without resorting to easy answers to appease their audience. Exploring questions without the need for immediate solutions shows an admirable degree of maturity and respect for their diverse viewers that hopefully leads to better real world discussions.

Questioning creates conflict, resolves conflict, causes mistakes, fixes mistakes, changes minds, changes hearts, changes identity, affects nothing and everything, makes inconsequential or important, stops and starts, unimportant yet essential, and gives meaning to life.  Questioning gives Black Panther its bite. 

Clyde Northrup