Respectability Politics....In this unit, we've watched movies which are considered, by my definition, Afrofuturism. This means they're a combination of an aspect of the African Diaspora as well as sci-fi or fantasy. Yet, they also tackle issues of respectability politics involving: age, gender, and of course race. I'd like you to analyze the dichotomy between scientific breakthroughs and respectability politics in both films. What aspects of technological advances are evident and how are they political? Examples might include: computers, medical science, body invasion, the sunken place, etc. How are they used? Finally, what does their inclusion strongly suggest?
Due by Mon., 12/3/18 by the beginning of class.
Kelisha Trice
ReplyDeleteENGLISH 318
Dr. Jackson
Starting with Black Panther, the technological advancements of the made up African nation, Wakanda, was very evident. There was a flying car for starters. There was also Shuri’s lab and all of her technology. It reminded me of a science lab from some fancy show with a white guy leading like Dexter’s Lab the cartoon or Bill Nye the Science Guy. There was many inventions from the suit she created for her brother to the holographic car she drove when they were chasing Claue. The movie also displayed bracelets they wore which had special beads on them that seemed to have many different uses. In one scene, they used the beads to communicate with each other and even display holographic images while doing so. There was also the scene where Lupita used a bead to plug the CIA agents wound that was in his back from him taking the bullet for her. There was also how fast Shuri was able to heal the agent, and how the vibranium instantly brought T’Challa back to life when he was slowly dying and being preserved by ice. This advancements are political because Wakanda was supposed to be the poorest country in the world in the movie, yet secretly they were the wealthiest. Killmonger was trying to help the Black community by allowing them access to vibranium and powerful weapons because his political views were militant Afrocentric. He mentioned how Black people lived and suffered outside of Wakanda, and how unfair it was. Now looking at the respectability politics, all of the cast was of color except the villain and the CIA agent, so that covers race. This is interesting because many movies, specifically superhero movies, lack representation for people of color. There are hardly any movies that have been mainstream with a Black superhero as the main character. There were a lot of Black women in this female as main characters, and none of them needed a man to make them whole. T’Challa was the one chasing Lupita even though usually the woman is the one chasing “happiness” aka the man. Shuri was without a doubt a genius and she did it without any help from any men in her lab which they did not display by the way. The general of their military was a Black women who despite what her companion believed held her own beliefs. Their whole army was women. Shuri also plays into the age role because she was a lot younger than T’Challa who only looked to be early to mid twenties in the film.
Get Out was a lot less openly advanced. The setting for that movie was during today’s time period, so there were no flying cars or healing beads, but they had mastered the idea of body invasion. Their advancements were more so medical and pure evil. The idea that medical advancements can be harmful for Black people is already evident in today’s society with all the Black women dying while under the care of doctors and all the Black men who are shot and have no hope of coming back due, yet in the movie they show it in a different light. They allowed the white people to transfer bodies, Black bodies, before they died. The irony in this though is that everyone wants to be Black until it’s really time to bee Black. It also goes for the brainwashed Black people who blindly follow the white man’s every command to be socially accepted. The Black people in the movies were still conscious yet they had no control over themselves.
The inclusion of Black people in both movies are different. For Black Panther, it showed excellence. It showed that Black people can be heroes too and that they can be powerful and impact the world. Now for Get Out, it showed how dangerous it can be to be the white man’s puppet.
Afrofuturism is prevalent in both movies. Starting with ‘Get Out’, the obvious is that the movie is surrounded by Chris and Rose, an interracial couple played by Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams. What might not be as clear is the utopian society, alternate reality and post racism present. Roses family has what I call a “general support staff” consisting of African American workers for her and her family. This seems like a post racial trait, but the plot never blatantly tells you this. The plot does show Chris being manipulated by Rose’s mother which could imply the other black workers received the same treatment. The alternate reality could also be a modern futurist trait where Rose moms puts Chris under hypnosis. This state pulls Chris from reality and places him in a different space where he looks back at his own conscious. This could be part of the utopian society that Rose and her family are trying to create; not just with the black workers, but their guests as well who are all Caucasian.
ReplyDeleteIn ‘Black Panther’ the alternate utopian reality of Wakanda is very clear where they are self-sustaining with many modern futuristic inventions with the use of vibranium like the improved suit the black panther wears called the nanotechnology suit, the EMP discs, and Shuri’s Blasters just to name a few. What requires a deeper lens is the unclear answer of racism. Yes, it is present but not directly. You have the film focused on a marvel concept, but also based around a mainly black cast with a few Caucasians. You also have the hero as an African American and the Caucasian as the villain so where is the racism? The racism is in the words spoken not the physical scenes. The famous scene by Erik Kilmonger (Michael B. Jordan) “Bury me in the ocean with my ancestors who jumped from the ships, because they knew death was better than bondage” shows us that racism is not dead and that there is a bigger message than what is seen by the naked eye in ‘Black Panther’. On the other hand, there are some funny racial comments like the comment Shuri made to Agent Ross “Don’t scare me like that colonizer”. Which referred to colonizers coming into unknown territories and taking over, creating slavery. The final quote I noticed what the statement Erik made when he said, “hey auntie”. This statement showed him becoming king but also delivery or the upcoming of a new breed.
Both of these movies are based on similar themes, but a critical lens will differentiate the topics focused on for an overall understanding of what the movies are trying to portray.
William Smith
DeleteENG 318
Dr. Jackson
Brandy Jones
ReplyDeleteENGL 318
Dr. Jackson
Starting with the movie "Get Out", the technological advancements that we saw was the hypnotism with the mom's tea cup and how they used black bodies for the white man's pleasure through invading the body. This is political because in our society, whites are making African Americans believe that they are helping our community and that they are here to save us when they really are the problem. For instance, vaccines that are killing our black babies and how medical professionals are not listening to blacks when we are going to them when in need. In terms of the respectability politics, race is definitely huge in this movie. In the movie, we see that they want to use black bodies for the structure of our body, to look cool and for our eyes. But they really don't want to be black when it really matters. They just want to use blacks for what they lack in their chemical makeup. The inclusion of blacks strongly suggests that whites are playing a dirty game, in real life, and it is sad that we(as a people) are falling into their trap.
For Black Panther, the technological advancements are more prominent, in this movie, with Shuri's lab and Black Panther's suit. The technology in the suit helps him in battle and Shuri's lab is the place where all the magic happens. This is political because Wakanda is placed in Africa. In the society we live in today, Africa is so called made up of a bunch of third-world countries with hungry black children that need the western world's help when it comes to food and shelter. But in the movie, Wakanda is the richest and most advanced place but no one knows. When it comes to respectability politics, race played a huge role in this film as well. A black superhero with an all-black team who is finally showing the world that black people can be powerful, be kings/queens and be heroes. When it comes to gender, the females played the lead without feeling like they needed a man to make them whole unlike the television series we discussed including Being Mary Jane and Scandal. The whole army was black females! They were all kick ass and they were faithful to their country. When it comes to age, Shuri was T'Challa's younger sister but she was more in tuned with technology, she knew more about the vibranium and she knew what to do when it came to Black Panther and the white man when they needed help. The inclusion in this movie attempted to alter the view of what we see in the media. We are now seeing black heroes instead of black drug dealers or black video vixens. Here I included a short clip about how Ben Shapiro feels about how Black Panther showcases the identity politics of America. Very interesting opinion.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ype_rzvZGfI
Talik Lassiter
ReplyDeleteEnglish 318
Well in "Black" panther T'Challa was raised with ideas of heroism and being on the “right” side of law and justice. Such ideas were pounded into him from a young age since he would one day be the very embodiment of justice for his people. Kill monger had a very different childhood. His father was ripped from him at a young age due to some rather immoral decision making on both sides. Erik clearly connected with some unsavory people who only fueled ideas of hate, anger, and most importantly the idea that end justifies the means. The CIA used this to their advantage, training him to be an effective weapon of political instability. T'Challa sister is the brains because she plays a huge role out the movie because she engineered a remote piloting system that lets her join any mission, no matter where in the world it might be. To me she basically help her brother through every situation he go through out the movie. This to me shows how where all the technological advances were coming from her inventions and her creativity.The politics side of black is that most white people don't expect black superhero to been the character in a super hero beside movies like Batman, Captain America and Thor. Black panther broke a barrier because it made people look at it different and that not all superhero's are white and this movie prove that African Americans still do play a big role in the black culture. The symbolic dimensions of “Black Panther” are ample and powerful. Wakanda evokes a prelapsarian Africa, free of Western colonial devastation: the country’s resources are unlaundered, its chain of tradition is unbroken, its cultural heritage is fully realized, and its technological achievements embody both the country’s material and intellectual resources. The technology advances of "Get out" is when the mother of rose is was using the teacup and spoon to do hypnosis on Chris and to me that was sign where white supremacy started to kick in because as a African American to me that look like slavery but it wasn't physical it was mental. This part of the movie was very interesting because it not only got a lot of critics thinking when this scene came up but it show how Jordan Peele was giving a hug sign here.My biggest reaction from the mainly black audience were the knowing laughs whenever Peele took on tropes people recognized from real life.
In the film "Get Out", the ability to invade Black bodies to subdue their consciousness and replace it with that of a white person's was not only horrific but also had an extremely political undertone. During the initial scenes of the main character Chris meeting his girlfriend Rose’s family, he is greeted by each family member with comments regarding his genetic make-up. He is felt up by one character who made remarks about how strong he was and even went as far as to ask if the stereotype about the size of Black male genitalia were true. Another character tries to reassure Chris that he is a neutral party by mentioning that he has met Tiger Woods and that he is a remarkable athlete. This comment is followed by asking to see Chris’ form while swinging an imaginary golf club. Once it is revealed that these character’s would be bidding on a chance to inhabit his body, it is made evident that the comments made were not just out of blatant ignorance, but they were to get a feel for the advantages the new body could provide them. These scenes can be made parallel to the existing wide-spread stereotypes held of African Americans as being physically superior in fields that require strength, size and agility. These same preconceived notions are factors that lead to the overcompensation of police when approaching people of color during routine traffic stops or calls for assistance that involve minorities. More force is used, nerves are frayed and more split decisions seem to be made during these encounters as evidenced by the killings of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. These same stereotypes lead to microaggressions acted out by white people that manifest by way of assumptions made that African Americans all play some kind of sport as Jeremy Armitage does in the film. The inclusion of the other lobotomies performed in this film are used to further emphasize the lust for what African Americans are capable of.
ReplyDeleteIn the film “Black Panther”, vibranium is a metal used for just about all of the advanced technology in Wakanda that proves to be far more superior to any other materials used anywhere else. Once Killmonger is in power, he plans to continue the work of his father by preparing to ship Wakandan weaponry all over the world. This technology and the actions surrounding its distribution are extremely similar to the natural resources found in Africa that were stolen and sold around the world. Wakanda was a naturally rich society of Black people who kept all dealings within themselves which is similar to that of Africa centuries before they were colonized and raped of each resource its land produced. The concept of Wakanda as a country seems to allow people insight into what Africa could have grown to be if they were able to retain the resources only their land could produce. T’Challa exclaims this theory in the following quote: “If anyone found out what we truly are and what we possess, it could destroy the world. It is my duty to protect it.” This specific form of technology is used as symbolism for the capitalist mindset that has ruined once great nations.
Below is a link to my writing substantiated by a few images to further my thoughts:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k5NM2rJEzLHPZpi3qQcFoHofqQPpZd0jB3RmD8QvLFo/edit?usp=sharing
Jada Saxon
DeleteEng 318
What aspects of technological advances are evident and how are they political? Examples might include: computers, medical science, body invasion, the sunken place, etc. How are they used? Finally, what does their inclusion strongly suggest?
ReplyDeleteIn the movie "Black Panther" it is clear to see the technological advancements of Wakanda. Wakanda is hidden from the outside world and does not need outside help to thrive. I saw this as a correlation of how Africa and her people used to be before colonization and the slave trade. Although self sufficient once their way of life is threatened they are forced to leave the comfort of Wakanda and fight to retain order in their home. The villain in this movie is Kilmonger was along the same bloodline as the king but missed his opportunity at the throne because he grew up in America. I looked at this aspect of the movie as a double consciousness example meaning since kilmonger has Wakandan roots but also sees his people struggle all over the world he sees this as an opportunity to rule the world and make his people dominant through the use of technology and the black panther's powers. Furthermore since Kilmonger brings the element of European views, only the strong survive, from America the way in which he goes about seizing power is very violent and has a by any means necessary mindset. This idea can be paralleled to civil rights in America with MLK and Malcom X. I think that these inclusion's to Black Panther mean that these ideas and concepts are still very much in the forefront of peoples minds and still need to be addressed.
In the movie "Get Out" I saw many concepts of stereotyping in this movie that need to be addressed in reference to its political aspect. I would like to start from the end of the movie at the scene where the Chris is found with a pool of blood around him and a "cop" pulls up on him and he has a certain look in his eye as if he had just been hit with life in prison because of an misunderstanding. Initially I believe that the audience made the assumption that the cop car was going to have a white cop come out and arrest him and then the movie would end, but instead of a cop nit ended up being his friend in a TSA car. I believe that the creators put this in the movie to see just how stereotypical we can become and it gives just enough time for the audience to make up its mind of what this ending could be and this made for a very good twist to the story in my opinion. Another aspect of the movie was mind control and I immediately think of slavery because although slavery was a physical thing it is still having phycological effects on people with slave ancestors. There is a quote that basically says "first you have to emancipate your mind and then you will be free" and in this movie the main objective wasn't only the physical aspect of the coagula it was the factor of mind control in the movie, meaning that since they had infiltrated their victims minds and trapped them inside of their own bodies they had control over what their bodies did. For me the mind control was key to this movie because I think as a black man in America the media and social "norms" have began to create my own narrative and it only gives me three choices, be an athelete, be a criminal, or be apart of a select few that get ahead with education. However if you look at history for what it is one can easily find many successful African-American people that broke the mold of society no matter how much society tried to bring them down.
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ReplyDeleteMiesha Glenn
ReplyDeleteDecember 3, 2018
I first would like to start off with the movie “Get Out.” The first thing that caught my eye was how the mom used the tea cup to hypnotize the boyfriend to send him to the “sunken place.” While he was in the “sunken place” it took him back to when he was younger and the problems he went through as a kid. Another part in this movie that caught my eye was when they had the scene where they were biding on the black people. They did this to see what white family was going to take their bodies and use them to do their house work or whatever else they wanted to use them for. This movie also showed how whites used the talents of blacks and gave those talents to their white deceased family members. For example, how they took over the body of the black man who could run fast. My first thought that came to mind was, white people believe all blacks can run fast. This is where the body invasion come into play. They took over the minds of blacks and it’s crazy how things like this are still going on till this day.
In the movie “Black Panther” it is very clear about all the technology that was used I this movie. In Shuri’s lab is where all the special and magical things happen. She made her brother’s suit, so he can fight off the bad guys and anything that comes his way. I like how she used her lab to make improvements on his suit, so he can be protected by gun shots, knives and many other things. She also used this lab to help heal people, even the man she considered “the colonizer”. This movie was very powerful to me because it showed that African American’s can be superheroes too. Therefore, this movie stood out because we are often used to superhero movies having an all-white cast, but for this movie to have mostly African American actors is what made the movie even better. It was also good that it made an all-female army and it showed how women can also be a superhero and don’t have to depend on a man for anything. This movie also showed how black families are broken apart due to one simple thing that happened many years ago. This caused Killmonger to feel betrayed and did everything in his power to take over Wakanda. As I was watching this movie all these special effects made me feel like I was in the movie and when I left that theater that night, you could not tell me Wakanda was not real lol.
Angel Cox
ReplyDeleteENGL 318-02
In the movie “Get Out” the technological advancement was brain transplants. However, the brain transplants were only successful with the use of African Americans. Over time African Americans have been recognized as superior race in regard to body health and strength. This superiority has never been praised but exploited by white people. Jordan Peele, director and screenplay writer of “Get Out,” presents this in the victims Rose Armitage brings home. To have a successful brain transplant, the African American victim has to first endure the sunken place, which is hypnosis. Once the victim can be put in the sunken place they are auctioned off to the highest bidder as done in slavery. The bidder who wins will have their brain transplanted into the African American’s body. While no specific technology is used during the transplant, the transplant itself is the technological advancement.
However, “Black Panther” is centered around the advancement of technology. The people of Wakanda have developed invisible barriers, spaceships that have the ability to be invisible, impenetrable armor, and weapons. These are just a few of the technological advancements which have all been created by a young African American woman, Shuri. Shuri has also advanced medical science with the use of technology, specifically computers and vibranium. Vibranium is the essential metal used by Shuri to make all the technological advancements possible. The use of vibranium to advance technology makes Wakanda one of the strongest nations in the world. Wakanda is located in the deep forest of Africa and to the outside world, they are a struggling nation who refuses outside help. African people are often stereotyped as unintelligent and weak and it is revealed in the movie. In the end credits (video linked below), as T’Challa, the King of Wakanda, offers the nation’s knowledge to the rest of the world he is questioned as to what they have to offer. The question is asked in a sarcastic tone and way connotating that they do not need their help.
Link: https://youtu.be/MY3GAFkvq5w
Liane Freshwater
ReplyDeleteENGL 318
Dr. Jackson
As we watched these two movies in this unit, i found that they both had very interesting plots and that they did not disappoint. In the movie Black Panther the scientific breakthrough that the Wakanda had were far advanced and they wanted to keep them for themselves. The political problem with this is that when you keep things for yourself you run the risk of have people come and trying to take it from you. It the puts other it an unnecessary risk. They tried with intimidation to make Shuri feel as if her age made her less qualified to bring about huge and necessary moves in the country. We still believe this today. I have never been one to believe that wisdom only comes with age but I do believe that a certain amount of it is earn with maturity. In the movie Get Out the was sch a fear factor for me. they chose the best of the best to try and create for them the perfect world. Is there such a thing? They used such a simple way to control the mind. It was as simple as a fine china teacup and the tone it makes when you tap it. As he makes his way out he tries to do the right hing that some how ends up being the wrong thing. that falls into the thought that you can not take a slave mentality out of a person if they don't want to be unchained. In the end this may suggest that in these two films. We see the need for making choices that are inline with what we believe and not what we are conditioned to believe. These movies tested our theories of how we are to follow what has been set out for us without question, but in the Black Panther T'Challa. found that not to be the best thing. The legacy that his father left was set with good intentions be in the end those decisions caused more harm than good. I have taken my views of film and what it tries to teach us and turned it into what am I suppose to learn and how should that knowledge be applied.
The movie Get Out had just a chilling ideas of if you are not a free thinker and you follow in the ways of other regardless of the outcome then you are setting for what other have plotted for you. He was determined to leave because he was uncomfortable with where he was, instead of not even going because your second thought was his best thought. These movies have their own twists and turn but each of them has a powerful message to be taught and digested for us to learn from. They are best at getting us to think of how to to view things in life and our approach to everyday living.
Chris Whittaker
ReplyDeleteEnglish 318
In both of the films, I think they included some great technological advancements that also played as important factors in telling these stories. In 'Get Out', one example of the technological advancements would be Rose's mom and her hypnosis which she uses on Chris to put him in the sunken place. The cup trick not only represented the advancement in technology in films but also represented white people distracting black people while getting into their minds and manipulating them. In addition to that, the scene where the maid starts to cry after Chris tries to comfort her about her being in the sunken place, it was reminiscent of some of the issues some Black people face today. They fall for the "nice, non-threatening Black person" image that white people want us to fall into and forget that through all of that you still get treated the same wherever you go.For 'Black Panther', the technological advances took a more blatant approach. for example, the vibranium, the advanced cars, and shuri's lab were all advancements that invalidated the stereotypes and misconceptions that we've seen about Africa growing up. Growing up we were taught to believe that Africa was filled with poor, impoverished countries that needed help from other countries in order to survive. Also, the fact that some of the most powerful characters in this move were women, debunk that narrative that in order for women to be respected or seen, they have to be co signed or approved by a man. I appreciate both of these films because the directors took a creative, unique way to address certain issues while pushing out an overall great film.
Aleciyah Johnson
ReplyDeleteEnglish 318
In the movie Get out we watch as a young black man is dating a seemingly nice white woman, yet the movies starts to branch off into different aspects as they begin to travel ro her family house for him to meet ber parents, the young lady Rose, she knew that the weekend they were headed up there that something was going to happen but the character she portrayed to her boyfriend Chris that she is just as confused as he is until things make a sudden change. After all the end showed the revelation of the story we see how the mom trapped him in the “sukken place” of his mind to try to hypnotize him. He was very adimit on leaving because he was uncomfortable but his girlfriend Rose tried to keep things underwrap and this happens everyday with people in relationship or in the media and even presidental news.
Themovje Black Panther was more involved in technology and showed how black people of both genders women and men were capable and smart enough to handle future advances of technology, a women was the whole manufacturer of the systems. As she modified cars, invisible shields and many other pieces of equipment that was needed or used. This world “wakanda” is a world they kept to themselves as they hid from the world because rhey were so far advanced than the real world. They knew they were more powerful and this kept them secretive.
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ReplyDeleteRobben Hughes-Bennett
ReplyDeleteENGL 318
There were various technological advances depicted in “Black Panther”. For instance, the whole world was shut out and unaware of what Wakanda had to offer. The entire country was hidden behind some sort of holographic camouflaged wall and after flying into it you would enter the hidden parts of the country. Another advancement was when Shuri was treating agent Ross. A computerized 3D version of his spine popped up in front of Shuri so she could see exactly where the bullet was and how to treat it. The medical technology that Wakanda possessed could change so many things if that technology actually existed. There would be no need for x-rays, MRIs, cat scans or anything. The 3D image would show the problem and doctors would be able to figure out a solution in a more faster and efficient way. It would honestly save a lot of money that could be put else where. The camouflage screen could be an asset during wars or to just keep certain things out. Although, it could also be used to hide things that the government would want to stay hidden from the public.
As for “Get Out”, the only technology actually shown would be the advanced brain transplant near the ending. I believe an operation that advanced could cause a lot of destruction. It could also possibly be an interesting procedure if used correctly. No one would die, their bodies can get old and useless but then being transferred to a more youthful body could allow someone to possibly live forever if they continue to get the surgery. It could also be used for people who may be paralyzed, blind, or have any other physical disability. Although I don’t know how it would work if someone was brain dead, that would be interesting to find out.
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ReplyDeleteKameron J. Hyman
ReplyDeleteENG 318
Though ‘Get Out’ and ‘Black Panther” are the only 2 mainstream afro-futuristic films in the media today; each does an equally important job at hinting on and going over important social ideas and concepts prevalent to today’s social and economic standings. One example of respectability politics covered in these films is the concept of gender and the blending of gender roles. For Black Panther, T’challa, the main character’s royal guard is an all women task force, of the fiercest and most deadly warriors in all of Wakanda. Each member having gone through the most rigorous mental and physical training to attain the title, not as best female warriors, but as the greatest warriors in the entire country period. Shuri being yet another example of merging gender roles. As the countries lead technological expert, all of Wakanda’s primary research and technological development is overseen and created by her. A teenager. So not only does her status touch on gender but age as well. One of M’baku’s condescending remarks towards her is a reference to her age and immaturity as she is currently around the age of 16 years old in the first film. Her being so young yet holding such a monumental position is a testimony to her feats and success as she developed T’challa’s newest most innovative suit, as well has her own personal sonic wrist blasters. With the introduction of science fiction these concepts are subtly yet easily configured into the films story. Having this “what if” scenario for an advanced African race allows for the implementation of different and innovative concepts into a story without it being unrealistic. Yet with these implemented roles of gender and age in the film viewers recognize the simplicity of the ideas. As a viewer you see and get the sense that obviously there’s nothing wrong with a woman being the smartest character in the room. Gender not defining their mental capacity or ability to coherently interact with other characters in the story, this “what if” scenario isn’t so much imaginary anymore, its just real life. And in doing so one’s own mental is influenced. Coming out of this experience with possible a different outlook on different respectability politics and solutions for said problems.
Very much like how the resolution of the movie Get Out does for blending different views on the black experience. Having the films plot center around white families inhabiting the bodies of their African American guests, allows for the white audiences viewing the movie to get a feeling or understanding of the type of un-comfortability that many minority groups feel in hostile settings across America. Though obviously the concept is dramatized with freaky scientist brain swapping bodies, there are many scenes which convey the perfect feeling of being a black man surrounded by unfamiliarity in a society that does not continuously support his success. And in this act allows for he audiences who have not particularly experienced this type of lifestyle to gain a better understanding of the subject.
Imani Upsher
ReplyDeleteEnglish 318
Professor Jackson
I absolutely loved both films “Get out”, and “The Black Panther”, and taking this class has improved my spectatorship because now I can pay more attention to the film and I can point out all the subliminal messages within the films. In the movies “Get Out”, and “Black Panther”, these movies demonstrated Afrofuturism by the combination of an aspect of the African Diaspora and sci-fi, tackling the issues of respectability politics. Starting with the movie “Get Out”, there were many technology advancements that had a correlation with politics. Most people would have only watched this movie and reacted as if the family was just crazy, but for a African American to view the film, we could definitely relate to why certain things happened as they did. Rose’s dad was a neurosurgeon and her mother a hypnotherapist. Rose’s dad performed brain transplants by swapping the brains of a white person’s who needed something that a black person had. I saw this as white people have always wanted something that a black person has, whether it’s our talents, lips, the texture of our hair, and even culture. Rose’s mom came into place when she used her tea cup to hypnotize black people into the “sunken place “, for the brain transplants to successfully work. In the “sunken place”, Chris was distracted by a white woman by letting her get into his mind. I believe that this is where the black maid” the grandma” and the “grandpa” where trapped inside. At the party, when Chris flashed his light on his camera at the black man that was kidnapped in the beginning of the movie, it immediately brought him out of the “sunken place”, trying to warn Chris to get out. I think this part had a deeper meaning. The black man was kidnapped and taken from his original home and was used for white people to control them like Africans were taken from their home during the African Diaspora and went through slavery. At the end of the movie, Chris managed to get away from the hypnosis by blocking out the sound of the tea cup with cotton balls from the chair that he had scratched with his nails that he was strapped to and the black grandpa ended up shooting himself so that he could leave the “sunken place” and be free.
In the movie “The Black Panther “, there was advanced technology everywhere. In a hidden place known as Wakanda, located in Africa, the use of the powerful Vibranium was used to make T’Challa’s Black Panther suit and the space ships. The Vibranium also healed people from any sickness or even death. It was made for the protection of him. T’Challa was a powerful superhero with an all-black team of warriors was significant because it pointed that that as black people, we are strong, and we too can be heroes. The movie was composed of a white person as a “colonizer”. Shuri says to him “Don’t scare me like that colonizer”, being that he was an unknown territory and he could potentially take over. The movie was also political because in an essence Michael B. Jordan,” killmonger” was labeled an African American in the eyes of the Wakandans’ and in the movie Michael is the villain in a sense. But also, he was just coming back to claim what was his and his eyes it was the throne and helping all black people around the world. He labeled the Wakandans as “comfortable”, living the life. While there are black people in the world struggling. As soon as he claims that he wants the throne, he states that T’Challa’s dad couldn’t deliver justice that he was able to do. The African Diaspora was the cause of the separation of Black people. In Africa today, African’s don’t consider us African American’s as one of them. During the African Diaspora, they think that our ancestors should have died then go through bondage. Wakanda gives viewers an insight of what Africa could have been like today without the invasion of the colonizers taking over. In the end, Wakanda ends up giving back to African Americans. The link below is the entering of Wakanda.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8nxdAGg2FY
In the movie " Get out" a scene that really stuck out to me was when Rose was "eating" cereal. She wasn't eating any kind of cereal, she was eating fruit loops. She had the fruit loops which are " colored" cereal and they were separated from her white milk. This stuck out to me because it actually applies to her every day life. She doesn't necessarily have an issue with the colored cereal but the colored cereal isn't good enough to mix with her white milk. The colored cereal represent the black men and women that she dates. She uses the black men and women for her advantage to get what she wants and after she gets what she wants to kicks them to the curb and leaves them for the wolves. So, the purpose of the cereal was to fulfill her hunger just like the purpose of black people was to fulfill her, her family and their friends bizarre fetish for black people. So, one could assume Roses reasoning for acting like this is she could've been hypnotized by her mothers tea cup and she too could be in some weird sunken place.
ReplyDeleteAs for Black Panther a scene for body invasion was when T'Challa would drink the plant and become Black Panther. One could say thats his version of the sunken place because he isn't acting and thinking as T'Challa he has to think as Black Panther, a super hero. He has to allow this plant to take over his body and have full control over his mind and body. Just like in get out the tea cup was able to take over complete control of Chris's mind and body.
Brenda Caldwell
ReplyDeleteENGL 318
Dr. Jackson
28 November 2018
Black Panther had several characters that challenged respectability politics within the film with regard to age and gender. Shuri, the princess of Wakanda, was in charge of all of the technological advances of the country. Not only was she a woman, but she was also young. In the film Killmonger says that Shuri “scoffs at tradition,” and I took that to mean she isn’t “staying in her place” so to speak as a young woman. Wakanda also has women in high ranking military positions, Okoye as the military general and Nakia as a top spy for the country. These women have access to weapons and technology. The very existence of these characters as women of color is inherently political, although it isn’t directly addressed in the film.
In Get Out, Rose’s mother, a white woman, invades Chris’ body by hypnotizing him. He’s the victim and this challenges the idea that Black men are typically the “thugs” perpetrating violence against the “innocent white woman.” Mrs. Armitage hypnotizing Chris allows her to invade Chris’ body in a way that goes deeper than a physical sense. We can go back to slavery and see how the bodies of Black men were examined by potential buyers like they were cattle and even present-day NFL players, of whom a large number are Black men, have their bodies showcased and examined old rich white men who own NFL teams that they aspire to play for. But the invasion into Chris’ mind gives Rose’s mother an even higher level of dominance over him.
The inclusion of the technological advances in Black Panther and Get Out added an additional layer to them. Not only did we see aspects of racism, sexism, and misogyny, we saw those aspects in relation to technology. From Killmonger saying that Shuri scoffs at tradition, to Mrs. Armitage invading the body of her daughter’s Black boyfriend in order to take control of him with the intention to sell his body. Below I have linked a picture comparing Black players being examined at the NFL draft to slave owners doing the same with slaves being auctioned off.
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fepmgaa.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com%2Fimg%2Fphotos%2F2014%2F06%2F04%2Fnfl-draft_t580.jpg%3F8f1b5874916776826eb17d7e67de7278c987ca33&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fourweekly.com%2Fnews%2F2014%2Fjun%2F05%2Fnfl-draft-not-equivalent-slave-auction%2F&docid=97RdB2cBNoH6MM&tbnid=PjHOYNzfvX6Q8M%3A&vet=10ahUKEwjm8L3d8IPfAhVineAKHfqnBscQMwg7KAAwAA..i&w=511&h=503&bih=855&biw=1200&q=nfl%20draft%20slavery&ved=0ahUKEwjm8L3d8IPfAhVineAKHfqnBscQMwg7KAAwAA&iact=mrc&uact=8
Bria Clark
ReplyDeleteENGL 318
Dr. Jackson
What aspects of technological advances are evident and how are they political? Examples might include: computers, medical science, body invasion, the sunken place, etc. How are they used? Finally, what does their inclusion strongly suggest?
Black Panther was definitely a movie driven by Afro-futuristic and African Diaspora. Throughout the whole movie, there a nonstop wave of technology throughout the entire movie. Such as, vibranium which was the most important tech that helped Wakanda function. There were a lot of specific details when it came to the armor of the characters. For example, T'Challa's suit was designed to his advantage of having the ability to do so many things. This movie also showed that we can be expecting to see in the future. For example, Shuri was her brother's backbone. when it came to her innovative ways. I think she sends a message to young girls, especially black young girls that first anything is possible. She also opened the door for hopefully black girl engineers and scientists. Especially seeing that on a platform like black panther, it reaches. Black Panther was a movie that introduced another way of life, it introduced another world. It was truly a film that embodied the Afro-futuristic concept by having strong heroes in power. This movie gave so much to the black community. This movie also addressed the African Diaspora. Which describes the mass separation between African Americans and Africans. It was clearly shown between Killmonger and T'Challa's relationship. I think Wakanda was to inform African Americans about our home and to see how powerful it is and how we come from kings and queens and to always take pride in us.
Get Out was the most alerting movie I've ever watched. This movie really portrayed how black and white people interact. Even though it's a fictional movie, there was definitely some real sparks in this movie. I think the interactions between the white and the black people in this movie was very realistic in some ways, not all. The white people's ability to hypnotize the black people in this film was an accurate effect due to the things that we've faced as black people in this society. White people have been at the forefront of whitewashing this society. I honestly love how the director made this movie a message, but he also found humor in these situations.
I think the whole movie "Get Out" had so many relations with African Diaspora. Being that the black people in this movie were taken from their homes and put in a situation that they did not ask for, and having to deal with the hypnosis, related to the concept of slavery. So there was a lot of real-life messages and realistic situations throughout this whole entire movie. Digging deep in depth was the director's motive.
From a sci-fi standpoint, there are many technological breakthroughs in the films Get Out and Black Panther.
ReplyDeleteStarting with the movie Get Out, sci-fi tech advancements that stand out are the use of hypnotism, the flash of a camera, and the transplantation of one mind to another. These 3 advancements play critical roles throughout the film surrounding a political undertone. Hypnotism is used throughout the film to trap black people into the "sunken place." According to today's terminology, the "sunken place" describes someone is whitewashed or an old terminology, "Uncle Tom." Just as the movie, these terms describe a black man is who excessively obedient or servile. The camera flash used throughout the film is used to "wake up" the dormant black man. In reality, this coincides with the "woke" individual; an internet term that means to be culturally aware of current affairs. In the film, it is shown that the goal of the white people is to take black talent, and make it theirs. This is done by brain transplants. Whether is the mentioning of athletes or artists, certain dialogues throughout the film suggest that there's an envy or jealous white people hold against black people.
Within the film Black Panther, the advancement that is most evident throughout the film is Wakanda. It's a fictional, black civilization in Africa that is by far more technologically advanced than the rest of the world. The problem with this is that while these blacks possess this power within Wakanda, blacks across the globe and especially within America don't have access to these resources. In the film, while the battle takes place in Wakanda, it's ultimately a fight for blacks all over the world to feel empowered.
Benjamin Clement
ReplyDeleteEng318
In both films viewed during this unit we can see many forms of scientific breakthroughs from the sunken place to the use of vibranium. When watching the film “Get Out” the scientific breakthroughs of the film, although used for evil purposes, are amazing. The ability to calm an individual immediately and help them actually remove negative traits that are affecting their life is an underrated thing. Although it being the thing that causes the main character many problems, it could easily be used to help soldiers with PTSD or help remove depression over the lose of an appendage. The political aspect of this scientific breakthrough in the film is that even though they had a powerful tool that could be used to heal millions of people, they decided to use it to entrap people and make them passengers in their own minds. Showing that people with power don’t care about those they consider “other” and instead would rather focus on their own lives. After critically watching the film “Black Panther” I noticed just how critical many of the characters were of Shuri, the Black panthers sister and head of technological research and development, and how old she was. The technological advances in the movie are by no means far and few in-between and many of them have political and social implications around them. Two of these technologies were the optical camouflage and the vibranium used in medical treatment. Optical camouflage is used in this film to keep out the rest of the world and keep them from seeing the truth about Wakanda and its vast resources. Because of this and their uninterest in what they consider to be the outside world, people come and try to take their vibranium and technology. Although the world may not be ready for war machines decked-out in bullet/bomb/fire proof material, keeping the world from advancing in a positive way shows how Wakanda’s people viewed he world again as the “others” who should take care of themselves. Another aspect of respectability politics that is touched upon in this film is the relationship of age to intelligence/wisdom. Shuri was a brilliant person who constantly tried to make the already outlandish inventions better in any way that she could. Despite this she was publicly ridiculed by the mountain tribe from being, “a child,” signifying that because she isn’t as old as others in power positions that she is somehow lesser. Age is irrelevant when it comes to intelligence and although there is wisdom to be gained by experience that comes with age, age doesn’t measure the amount of experience an individual has.
Black Panther brings the spotlight of Afrofuturism, which draws on fantastical elements to explore both the history of the African diaspora and imagines a technologically advanced, alternative universe. The future for black people in America was supposed to be determined by three spaces: the hold of a slave ship, the plantation and the grave. The construction of a space of agency, joy, and true freedom has always been the central focus of black speculative culture. As exciting as Black Panther is, his light can never be brighter of the idea of Wakanda. Wakanda’s success is contributed to the unconquered African nation. When comparing it to the movie Get Out it is socially and economically different. Black Panther created a social divide between Africans and African Americans. Jordan Peele, the creator of Get Out. Illustrates afrofuturism in which white people use the improvements of modern day medicine to enhance their bodies. In the movie you depict African American women and men. In a state of entrancement. Stuck in between space; unable to move. Chris, the main character has to kill his way out to be free. Even though this shows him as being animalistic. Towards the end of the move Chris kills Rose. He is then rescued by his buddy. In the ending scene of Black Panther we see T’Challa kill his cousin Erik Killmonger for the throne. Even tho Erik did not grow up in Wakonda he wants to be buried with his ancestors in the ocean. Afrofuturism isn't always a happy ending but rather a mode of storytelling involving race and technology.
ReplyDeleteThere exist a common perception that African is a developing country. It is believed that Africa holds penniless, starving people, with no functioning military or government. According to the western world, Africans needs the help of “superpowers.” The notion that Africans are uncivilized, and require assistance was disrupted in the film. Wakanda has a formal justice system, a council, emergency protocol, efficient transportation systems, and numerous tribes unifying customs. The country actively avoided American intervention. Wakanda sustained itself. Black Panther may be categorized as Afrofuturistic because of the Technological advances that Wakanda held. Agent Ross, a U.S. State Department employee, stated that “Wakanda is a third-world country,” when Klaw, an antagonist, told him about the resources in the country. Shuri is a young black girl who dismantles stereotypes that involve race, and gender, but also, age. In media, scientists are portrayed as old, white men. Shuri used her ingenious technological skills to craft weapons, armor, and medicine, unlike anything that is available in other countries. Shuri created powerful weapons, yet she along with the rest of Wakandans only in cases of emergency. Wakandans do not wage war against foreign nations. Invasion and colonization is not the way of Wakandans, unlike the western world.
ReplyDeleteGet Out is a film that tells the story of a white family, The Armitage, who lures black people into their home, and kidnaps them. The black individuals are auctioned off and sold to the highest bidder. The technological advance in the movie is Dr. Armitage, the father’s ability to take the brain of a non-black person, and combine it with part of the bounded African American, and allow the non-black individual to exist as the black person. This surgery is political in that it represents white people’s fetiziation of black people. It is said that “everybody wants to be black until it’s time to be black.” In the film, bidders aspired to be more athletically inclined, better eyesight, sexual fantasies and some wanted to be cooler. The ones who suffered are the black people who lived inside “the sunken place.” Once a black person was hypnotized by the mother, Missy Armitage, they were trapped in a space that transcends time. This tool was used to maintain the functions of the black body while allowing the white section of the brain to speak and act for it. The black person lived, and they could see their lives passing by, but they were unable to speak, and their cries were silent. “The sunken place” was so torturous that in the few occasions that the black person was afforded the opportunity to come out, they screamed, cried, and went as far as committing suicide.
Below is a clip of how the main character, Chris Washington, found himself in the sunken place, and what it felt like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBwVWrBk_uo
Zila Sanchez
ReplyDeletePolitical statements are apparent in both “Get Out” and “Black Panther” in which they present alternative realities with real-world issues the masses can understand. Though “Get Out” is arguably more subtle, both films touch on the issues of race in a manner that is relatable to Black folks and digestible for others.
The 2018 film, “Black Panther,” presents a world in which the once unified people have been separated by white imperialism; therefore, the Black community is broken and the people’s mindsets have shifted so much that Wakandan citizens seem much more advanced in both technology and their societal norms. The purpose of presenting these two communities in such a manner that contrasts them so sharply is to emphasize the point that the downfalls of modern, “real-world” Black folks is due to them being “lost” from the empire that is Wakanda. Wakanda is the ultimate utopia of technological and societal advancement, with badass women warriors and guards, a female teenager as the entire brains of the country, and technology that outpaces anything the real world could ever have. Erik Killmonger gives the Wakandans a rude awakening when he enters the country with his ideals and values from the real-world which contradicts Wakanda’s morals. He is misogynistic, ageist, and violent.
In the 2017 film, “Get Out,” the setting and themes involve a much more familiar America. Though advanced technology isn’t necessarily used, there are still many aspects covered in the film as a political statement. Chris and Rose are an interracial couple living in the 21st century which still some problems in rural and small-town America. Rose’s family takes cringe-worthy precautions to make Chris feel included in their very white, financially comfortable family. Though they seem progressive, it becomes clear that they are still an ignorant family because the help around the house is Black and the big reunion they have that weekend lacks POC. Rose’s mother hypnotizes Chris which could be considered technology, and it reminds him of his dark memories. Also, the brain transplants are a way to exploit Black people for their genetic build. It’s clear the white people in this film hate Black people, but they would do anything to have what Black people are born with.
Kenedi Williams
ReplyDeleteEnglish 318
Dr. Hope Jackson
3 December 2018
Both films “Get Out” and “Black Panther” share the same quality of being the most talked about African Diaspora films meaning that the film progressively portrays the African-American point of view for other races to view. The films differentiate in the ways the directors Ryan Coogle (Marvel’s “Black Panther”) and Jordan Peele (“Get Out”) choose to present the portrayals to their audience.
In “Get Out” the mother and father of Rose Armitage, Dean and Missy Armitage both had occupations that were scientifically advanced, and both parents used their occupations to push their crooked agenda of taking the body and mind of the black America Rose choose. Dean Armitage used his neurosurgical skills to transfer the brain of a white person (who could afford the astronomical price for the surgery) into the body of a fit, healthy and youthful black person that was previously manipulated into a seemingly healthy relationship with someone of the oppressive race (Rose). Missy Armitage was a modern hypnotherapist that used her occupation to mentally prepare the black individual for her husband’s future surgery by gaining complete control of their subconscious and conscious mind. Although this exact situation is not likely to happen in real life, the dramatization adds to the movies outstanding artistic license. Also, I believe Peele revolved the entire film around the “dramatized” film aspect because in the 1700’s when blackface and minstrel shows were popular the portrayal of black people by white people was not anything other than dramatic and untrue.The overall inclusion of these details suggests by Peele that a seemingly normal white family is not a quality everyone still desires and actively attains to, and that white people generally desire to obtain what people within the African-American community possess naturally.
In “Black Panther” the entire nation of Wakanda is significantly more technologically advanced compared to the United States. Shuri a young, black innovator actively contributes to the advanced state of technology in Wakanda. Shuri also is a female and throughout the entire film T’Challa consistently shows his respect for women by having his royal guard consist of only females, showing the upmost respect for his mother, the Queen of Wakanda. I believe that the consistent comparison of Wakanda to the United States was intentional by Coogler in order to effectively display that the cultural norms of a person living in the U.S. are mostly toxic. An example of this in the film is the overwhelming differences in the characters of T’Challa and Erik Killmonger. T’Challa and Erik Killmonger are connected through blood but Killmonger was abandoned by the people of Wakanda as a result of that Killmonger develops a hatred of Wakanda and its people from the United States. From living in the United States Killmonger received a aggressive military education and mindset, this mindset consumes his entire personality and every interaction with another person. Killmonger has very little respect for anyone and is especially disrespectful towards females. All of the characteristics associated with Killmonger’s character are meant to be representation of America, while the contrasting positive characteristics of T’Challa’s are a representation of Africa.
Marquise Marner
ReplyDeleteENGL 318
Dr Jackson
In Black Panther, there was an abundance of advanced technology. This can be seen from the suits they wore when they fought their villains to the lab that the younger sister worked in. In her lab, she made new suits and new advancements for their weapons. She even healed the white CIA agent in the lab when he was shot in the back, and he was shocked that he was healed in a single day. This was political because Wakanda was believed to be the poorest country in Africa and the world, yet they were the most technologically advanced. They did not want to share their advancements in fear of colonialism. They’re used to their advantage in keeping their country protected and wealthy. Their inclusion strongly suggests that Africans are not as helpless as they are made out to be, and it also suggests that colonialism is awful. In Get Out, there was only body invasions and medical science that had any advancements. Even in the society, they still disregarded Black people and labeled them as disposable. In Get Out, they had mastered the idea of stealing a body and keeping their mind. This is an advancement because there is no open medical research that suggests body invasions can be successful. This means their medical science is very high, and there could be other things that they can find cures to if they can successfully transfer the mind of someone to the body of someone else. The Sunken Place is where the consciousness of the Black person go when they’ve had their body invaded. It’s like they can see everything and feel everything that’s happening, but they cannot do anything to change it. This is kind of like being a Black person in America if you are not politically and socially active in trying to change policies and advocate for change. I think the inclusion of the sunken place was a way to indicate that Black people need to advocate for change more.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe films "Get Out" and "Black Panther" were great examples of Afrofuturism. When speaking about the two films Afrofuturism representation, one must take a look at each film individually. Starting with "Get Out," from a sci-fi/fantasy perspective, this film had technological advancements in terms of brain transplantation and hypnosis. Although the methods used during these instances didn’t necessarily involve technology, the medical science perspective is what makes these two things very perplex. The brain transplantations that take place in "Get Out" are actually able to transplant a person’s full consciousness into another individual. This is something that I never would think possible with modern technology. Furthermore, the usage of Mrs. Armitage’s hypnosis to place Daniel into the sunken place was equally perplexing because she was able to enter and control Daniel’s mind with just the usage of a cup, spoon, and her voice. The Armitage’s hypnosis and transplants are exactly how I feel this film represents African Diaspora. African Diaspora can be defined as, “the dispersal of African peoples to form a distinct, transnational community”. In my opinion, this is what the Armitage’s were trying to do when they were placing the consciousness of white individuals into black people’s bodies. Though they were mostly driven by their desire to be like black people in certain aspects and have certain things black people possessed, inputting their consciousness’ into the black people in the film was still their own way of creating their own “community” of sorts.
ReplyDeleteUnlike “Get Out”, the technological advancements were much more obvious in “Black Panther” from the beginning. The advancements of the Wakandan technology surpassed those of other nations in the film with the usage of their vibranium. These advancements have been used to help Wakanda prosper and to protect the people. While watching this film, I was very intrigued and somewhat torn by the differences in T’Challa’s way of thinking versus Killmonger’s when it came to the subject of using their technology to help others. T’Challa was raised as a Wakandan with Wakandan beliefs and morals; therefore, his first sense of duty was to protect Wakanda. On the other hand, Killmonger was colonized, raised in the United States, and eventually made into a machine but with his own sense of morals. He felt that if Wakanda had the resources and ability, why not help other countries/people who need it? The differences in the feelings and ideals of these two individuals is another example of African Diaspora in the fact that these two are both of Wakandan blood.
Samuel Wilson III
ReplyDeleteENG318
Afrofuturism, to me, is a perspective coming through a Black person’s view when it comes to the future of science technology and arts.
In Get Out, the sunken place was a main focus of the film. The sunken place was entered into through hypnosis through Rose’s mom. A focus point of getting to the sunken place is to focus on the perceived failures of whomever wants to get there. For example, Chris felt like his mother dying was his fault, so Rose’s mom dig into that surpressed memory and then used hypnosis to get him temporarily stuck in.
The idea that she could control his mind and whites were able to control the mind of black people to prepare him for a brain surgery gave me a more important underlying thought- how white people could want to be like blacks or insert theirselves into black people and reap the benefits (the grandpa being the track star- reliving his dreams), but not actually want to be black.
In “Black Panther”, from the flying vehicle, to the vibranium beads, technology was far advanced. Even the healing methods used were of a quality that the rest of the world had not seen. The idea of the main villain trying to come to Wakanda to “get/remove “ the technology and all of it’s advances is political Because it goes back to the whole idea of white people colonizing without welcoming and stealing what’s not rightfully theirs. He saw how much prospering and how far ahead the Wakandians were and thought that he could spread that to his people- even if that meant for the wrong reasons and going about it the wrong way. I loved how the movie showed Black people in the light of power. From the kings, to even the women led warriors. I believe that this opened eyes, even if only briefly, on the thought of “maybe black people can be able to run a country and be successful, fearless, and smart.
Both Black Panther and Get Out exude qualities of technological growth and political fight. Black Panther more so focus on the technological advancement of society dealing with things such as: health, economics, whepons and protection. While Get Out gives you the Psychological warfare with whites and their privilege and lack there of. Housing their beliefs with in a fantasy of living and being an exotic being. Using the black body as an upgrade to something better, stronger, fitter, cooler, and etc. All technology is for gain, it’s weather it’s for positive growth or negative. Positives coming from black panther, using what they have to build up a community of people struggling. Negatives being presented through Get Out and diabolical plot of taking black lives and trading places pretending to be, in a sort of new age blackface. Their inclusion only suggest that we are superior beings, with minds and abilities that are a threat.
ReplyDeleteA moment that perfectly describes it all: https://youtu.be/5Xjgobq4QUU
Zwe Myat Chan Maung (Originally posted on Blog IV/Reflection & repasted here)
ReplyDeleteAlthough I had seen both “Get Out” and “Black Panther” before, as an amateur media consumer, never did I realize that there was respectability politics involved in both movies. It was not until the idea of Afrofuturism was brought up in the class that I came to understand how politically important these films for every black person. To begin with, “Get out” falls into the category of social thriller which was unconventional and nonconformity. The protagonist, being a black, was lured into a white family, and if he wants to fit into this environment, he was supposed to change who he was. For example, Chris had not given up on smoking when he visited his girlfriend’s house, and his so-called future-in laws were annoyed by this. He was persuaded by them that he might be able to stop smoking by being hypnotized. Similar experience happens day to day when someone of different race goes to a racist family, and he/she is looked down and unappreciated. King’s character also sheds light on how a black person has been forcibly shaped by other white people in the movie, and the word he said to Chris “Get Out” has social and political implications. As for Black Panther, technological advancement is at the heart of the film, and the role black women played goes against the set norms. The technological advancement of Wakanda and its Vibranium was so remarkable that the whole world could be destroyed in a snap of a finger. The role played by the antagonist also sheds light on the outcome of the diaspora. Finally, Black Panther is probably by far the only movie where black women are appreciated, respected, and treated equally, with their role elevated to as high as that of black men.
Keshawn Stanback
ReplyDeleteEnglish 318
Professor Jackson
I would like to start with the movie, "Black Panther." I like the fact that Wakanda is a civilized part of Africa that was never colonized, and has the greatest metal of all, which is "Vibranium." I also like the fact that Wakanda has the best technology that has ever been know to man. An example of this would be when T'Challa's sister was in the laboratory and she was working on the suit for the Black Panther. Another example of this would be when the sister again "Miraculously" brought the white pilot back to life in a sense.The advancement of technology was definitely brought to life in this film. Black Panther also gave insight on how the world of Africa could've been like a "Utopia." Get out was a spectacular film that displayed raw emotion in a "Afrofuturism" type way. Even though i had seen both the films, watching them again brought light to my eyes. Get out in a way showed us the technological side of white privilege and how it can heavily influnce the black community.
The entire concept of Afrofuturism focuses on a political social, technological and even the mental advancement of colored people. To start off, Black PAnther created a new role in respectibility policies. Women were seen completely opposite compared to the damaged suubmissive narrative they are expected to play especially when it comes to black women. Even then a black womans narrative is different from a white womens, Black Panther silences all. These women were warriors, which already offends respectabilty policies because a warrior is a mans job. A man is too protect his family, instead BP shows women. The shaved heads, the wisdom and tolerance, and the deletion in its entirety of the black woman being seen as ghetto, loud, even dumb.
ReplyDeleteAs for Get Out. Some could say its a movie that personifies everything black people find weird about white people and their 'culture'. The character Chris is an entire embodiment of the uncomfort we feel when being the only black person in the room. Get Out used a futuristic and technology ridden time period to almost make white privilege tangible. Also big applaud to Jordan Peele for being able to monetize white privilege.
Clarke Osborne
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