Beyond Vibranium: Revealing Power Dynamics in Black Panther: ‘Wakanda Forever’ Movie (2022)

Authors

  • Benaiya Tristan Jacobus MAKARIOS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
  • Petronio Pirdon Manullang MAKARIOS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
  • Steven Febryan Setiawan MAKARIOS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
  • Emmanuel Tan MAKARIOS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
  • Abimanyu Noah MAKARIOS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
  • Brandon Ezra Maukary MAKARIOS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Keywords:

foucault, power structure, isolation, global responsibility, power dynamics

Abstract

This study aims to show how power operates through knowledge and control, which plays out in the movie "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)," for its precious source, vibranium. Employing the analytical framework by Foucault's theory of Power: Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison (1977). The analysis unveils a perspective towards ‘isolation vs global responsibility’ exploring deeply into the details of the movie. The visual effects and the cameraworks of the cinematography and the selected utterances were also conveyed along with the analysis of the movie. As a result: 1) The movie depicts Wakanda's view of vibranium as a global responsibility, aligning with Foucault's idea of power permeating the entire social body. 2) Wakanda's efforts to protect vibranium triggers the exercise of sovereign power, reflecting the centralized control over valuable resources. 3) The tension between ‘isolation’ and ‘global responsibility’, with Queen Ramonda resulting in refusal to trade vibranium due to its dangers and ethical concerns about sharing advanced technology for power abuse. The power dynamics in Wakanda help shape the identity and decision-making. The analysis of the issue of power dynamics of isolation, global responsibility in the movie leads to the insight and understanding about the ethics of sharing technology that provide rich material for a better good.

References

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Movie, 2022) | Credits, Release Date | Marvel. (n.d.). https://www.marvel.com/movies/black-panther-wakanda-forever

DeLuca, A. (2023) Breaking down the hidden messages in ‘black panther: Wakanda forever’, Temple Now | news.temple.edu. Available at: https://news.temple.edu/news/2022-11-11/breaking-down-hidden-messages-black-panther-wakanda-forever

Foucault, M. (1976). The Birth of Biopolitics: Michel Foucault's Lecture at the Collège de France on Neo-Liberal Governmentality. Palgrave Macmillan.

Foucault, M. (1977). Discipline and punish: The birth of the prison. New York, NY: Vintage Books.

Foucault, M. (1972). The Archaeology of Knowledge. New York, NY: Pantheon Books.

Foucault, M. (1982). The Subject and Power. In H. L. Dreyfus & P. Rabinow (Eds.), Michel Foucault: Beyond Structuralism and Hermeneutics (pp. 208-226). Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

Foucault, M. (1990). The Archaeology of Knowledge. Routledge

Foucault, M. (1990). The History of Sexuality, Volume I: An Introduction. Vintage Books.

Foucault, M. (2007). Security, Territory, Population: Lectures at the College de France, 1977-1978. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.

Foucault, M. (1978). The History of Sexuality, Volume 1. New York, NY: Vintage Books.

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Published

2024-02-28

How to Cite

Jacobus, B. T., Manullang, P. P., Setiawan, S. F., Tan, E., Noah, A., & Maukary, B. E. (2024). Beyond Vibranium: Revealing Power Dynamics in Black Panther: ‘Wakanda Forever’ Movie (2022). Boanerges: Makarios Education Journal, 1(2), 95–104. Retrieved from https://streamfly.tech/index.php/boanerges/article/view/16

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