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Title details for Why Wakanda Matters by Sheena C. Howard - Available

Why Wakanda Matters

What Black Panther Reveals About Psychology, Identity, and Communication

by Sheena C. Howard
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In 2018, the Marvel Cinematic Universe finally delivered on something fans had long been waiting for: a feature film with a solo Black superhero.

Black Panther introduced viewers to the stunning world of Wakanda, a fictional African country with incredible technological advancements, and to T'Challa, a young man stepping into his role as king and taking up the mantle of the Black Panther title from his late father.

The unforgettable story, coupled with the film's mega-success, has undoubtedly shaped the future of superhero cinema, in addition to genuinely changing viewers' lives. Why Wakanda Matters gives this iconic film the in-depth analysis it deserves under the lens of the latest psychological concepts-as well as delving into the lasting cultural impact of this unforgettable story.

Edited by Sheena C. Howard, an award-winning author, filmmaker, and scholar, Why Wakanda Matters: What Black Panther Reveals About Psychology, Identity, and Communication features a collection of essays from leading experts in a variety of fields who offer insightful perspectives on topics such as:

  • Cognitive dissonance: The important messages within T'Challa's nuanced identity and eventual shift from nationalism to globalism.

  • Intergenerational trauma and resistance: How N'Jadaka (aka Erik/Killmonger) identifies with the trauma that his ancestors have suffered.

  • Social identity: How Nakia, Shuri, Okoye, and Ramonda—all empowered, intelligent, and assertive women of color—can make a lasting impression on women and girls.

  • Collective identity: How Black Panther has created a shared fantasy for Black audience members—and why this is groundbreaking.

  • Cultural and racial identity: What we can learn from Black Panther's portrayal of a culture virtually untouched by white supremacy.

    Fans of the movie and those interested in deeper discussions about the film will revel in this thought-provoking examination of all aspects of Black Panther and the power of psychology.

    • Creators

    • Publisher

    • Release date

      February 2, 2021

    • Formats

      • Kindle Book

      • OverDrive Read

        • ISBN: 9781950665617

      • EPUB ebook

        • ISBN: 9781950665617
        • File size: 3532 KB

    • Languages

      • English

    • Reviews

      • Publisher's Weekly

        Starred review from November 30, 2020
        Filmmaker Howard (Encyclopedia of Black Comics) brings together 14 essays that consider the “cultural-historical impact” of the 2018 film Black Panther in this well-crafted anthology. Howard organizes the essays into four sections covering collective identity, racial identity, intergenerational trauma, and “cognition and identification.” In “Wakanda, Pan Afrikanism, and the Afrikana Worldview,” Olísa Yaa Tolókun and Aynda Mariama Kanyama-Jackson write: “When we watch Black Panther, we see our spirituality, our sense of style, and our symbolism,” and detail how Black Panther reflects a common aspect of “Afrikana spiritual traditions” and ancestral reverence. “N’Jadaka and Intergenerational Trauma” by Olísa Yaa Tolókun explains that the film’s antagonist “identifies with the trauma that his ancestors have suffered.” Though most of the essays praise the film, Howard also includes critics— Charles Athanasopoulos argues, in “Black Radical Thought as Pathology in Black Panther,” that it “promotes political ideas that ultimately reinforce white supremacist and anti-Black logics that are at the root of our youth’s experience of racial battle fatigue.” The essays, a well-balanced combination of contemporary thought and historical analysis, will leave readers eager for another viewing.

      • Library Journal

        April 9, 2021

        Drawing on extensive work in the field of Black comics and media studies, filmmaker Howard (communication, Rider Univ.; Encyclopedia of Black Comics) has compiled an illuminating collection of essays on Marvel's Black Panther by scholars in various fields. Some pieces describe the film's connection to Black political consciousness and notions of Black solidarity. The most fascinating essays consider the movie's references to African cultural and religious practices. "Wakanda, Pan-Afrikanism, and the Afrikana Worldview: A Representation of the New Afrikana Nation" discusses numerous spiritual and cultural elements of Wakanda and posits that they symbolize the Black diaspora's collective potential. Other works turn a more critical eye toward the film; "Black Radical Thought as Pathology in Black Panther" argues that Black Panther unfairly demonizes radical Black activism in its treatment of villain Erik "Killmonger" Stevens. VERDICT While academic in nature, these essays are accessible to general readers. Howard's work is a solid addition to media studies sections in both public and academic libraries.--Nic Champion, Kirkwood P.L., St. Louis, MO

        Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    Formats

    • Kindle Book
    • OverDrive Read
    • EPUB ebook

    subjects

    Languages

    • English

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