Rebecca Wanzo, associate professor of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies in Arts & Sciences
One of the greatest pleasures—and sources of conflict—around the Black Panther film adaptation is how very, very happy it has made countless Black people. Dancing with joy happy. But is it really a “game changer”?
At a minimum, the record-setting box office suggests that it might force a recalibration of the profitability of Black people in front of and behind the camera. Naysayers will point to Hollywood’s short attention span and the specificity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a property that holds little potential for providing more opportunities for Black films outside of this franchise.
“Game-changing” also refers to the alleged psychological importance of Black people—and particularly Black children—seeing an African superhero and his genius sister in such a high-profile film. Some references to it being a “game changer” are about the film’s politics.
Read the full piece at The Black Scholar.