Afrofuturism in Wakanda Essay

User Generated

hfre17

Humanities

Description

LENGTH: 1,500 words minimum

Based on the books, literature and films we have studied so far—or similar Afrofuturism works you find during your research—craft an essay discussing your understanding of the themes in Afrofuturism and their meaning, context and/or effectiveness. You should refer to the course work and at least two sources—which would include quoting from the works themselves. (Outside scholarship is required—and article or blog post, for example—but you must discuss at least one class work.) Be as specific as possible.

POSSIBLE APPROACHES: You may write a compare and contrast essay about two or more of the works we have studied (or comparing a work we have studied to another outside of class); an analysis of two or more works; or present a specific argument (i.e. argumentative essay) that you then use your analysis of works to bolster. You should have a thesis statement in your first paragraph and lay out your subtopics. Each paragraph introducing a new subject or idea should have a topic sentence.

FORMAT: Assignments MUST be emailed as a Word document (or Word compatible) or PDF. You must write DOUBLE-SPACED in a 12-pt font, preferably Times New Roman. The word count will be weighed more heavily than the page count, so do not rely upon specialty fonts to increase your page count. Again, it is best to use Times New Roman. Essays may be formatted in MLA or APA style, but all citations should be cited in a Works Cited page. DEADLINE: You will receive full credit for turning your paper in on time as long as I receive it by midnight PST on May 30. Late papers will be marked down. Here are some prompts (though you may choose your own topics):

• What does Wakanda represent in Afrofuturism? What are some of the benefits and pitfalls of Wakanda as imagined in Black Panther (film or series)? What social issues are addressed in Black Panther and how can they be relevant in the real world? Be sure to mention at least one other work from class.

• How is technology used in Dirty Computer and other works of Afrofuturism?

• How can Reginald Hudlin’s film “The Space Traders” and John Sayles’s The Brother from Another Planet be viewed through a contemporary lens? What statements are the authors making about the value of black lives in the United States?

• How do authors use science fiction to discuss the horrors of slavery?

• How is procreation discussed in Children of Men and/or other works? How do authors/filmmakers view women’s bodies and childbearing?

• What worlds are imagined in the music of George Clinton, Sun Ra and Janelle Monáe? What are common threads between their music and/or the film and literature we have discussed in class? OR: Compare/contrast music to books or films.

• What themes emerge in the post-apocalyptic Parable of the Sower and/or The Children of Men and other works? How does dystopian fiction provide a lens through which to view our contemporary issues, i.e. drought?

• Discuss the Earthseed religion in Parable of the Sower. What role does it serve? Do you agree with or disagree with its basic tenets? Why or why not?

• Parable of the Sower, Lion’s Blood and other works discuss community building. How do these authors’ visions of community resonate in our current world? What components make a community? Do you agree or disagree with the authors’ approaches?

• How might the study of Afrofuturism help direct and/or enliven the Black Lives Matter movement? USE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES FROM WORKS.

• Discuss ways in which class works use physical manipulation and human technology to depict an Afrofuturistic world. What do the technologies


Rubric

Effectively states a significant and well-considered thesis related to Afrofuturism. Expresses a clear opinion or question and logically lays out the essay’s subtopics early.

Fully develops each component of the thesis with solid arguments/analysis using at least one secondary source. Demonstrates insightful interpretation with persuasive, thoughtful arguments/analysis.

Maintains appropriate grammar and usage. (The paper is carefully proofread; does not have misspelled words, grammatical errors. The writing is college level.)

Demonstrates a purposeful, coherent system of organization.
FOLLOWS ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES.

Shows superior originality in thoughts and perception. Sentences are well constructed and clearly expressed. Has an elegant, well- stated conclusion.

User generated content is uploaded by users for the purposes of learning and should be used following Studypool's honor code & terms of service.

Explanation & Answer

Attached.

Afrofuturism in Wakanda- Outline
Thesis Statement: Wakanda is a representation of self-rule and an alternative to colonization
and hence a model of Black power devoid of neocolonialism and oppression from the West.
I. Introduction
II. Representations
III. Benefits
IV. Limitation
V. Contemporary society


Running head: AFROFUTURISM IN WAKANDA

Afrofuturism in Wakanda
Name
Institution

1

AFROFUTURISM IN WAKANDA

2

Afrofuturism in Wakanda
Afrofuturism, a complex idea that is hard to define but centered in the works of Black
people towards a greater future for themselves, is a topic that has gained much attention in
contemporary society. The place of afrofuturism in media has been enhanced by Black Panther
(2018), a film about an African country, Wakanda, where the development of Black folks
exceeds the rest of the world. This film embodies a strong theme of African empowerment and
conservation through this land which is hidden from the rest of the world. Wakanda, as a place in
afrofuturistic storytelling, embodies a complex identity of Black people and elicits a positive
attitude towards their empowerment while also providing commentary current social issues
affecting Black people and the world at large. Wakanda is a representation of self-rule and an
alternative to colonization and hence a model of Black power devoid of neocolonialism and
oppression from the West.
Representations in Wakanda
The first major aspect of Wakanda that brings it out as admirable is its presentation of
accomplished lifestyle which is the opposite of common presentations of Africa. The media in
contemporary society has driven an idea of Africa being a place of war, famine, and poverty.
While these may be true in some parts of the continent, they do not represent the full image of
the continent. Wakanda, therefore, works to create an alternative to this derogative understanding
of the origin of Black people. The land of Wakanda is an embodiment of pride in the homeland
and hence a statement against adverse images of Africa. It hence represents an alternative image
of Africa as shown in modern media and works to show that Black people are capable of
achieving on their own.

AFROFUTURISM IN WAKANDA

3

While still on the image of Africa, Wakanda’s status reveals the complex identity of
African people and hence tells a story of empowerment and struggle to beat problems. Just like
other countries in Africa and common media ‘Africa,’ Wakanda is faced by challenges such as
drought and wars. However, notably, the film mainly focuses on the advancement of this
country. Nigerian born author and feminist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2009), in her TED talk
‘The danger of the single story,’ asserts that “the single story creates stereotypes, and the
problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but they are incomplete.” In her explanation
of the single story, she highlights how stories about certain people have been shaped by common
mainstream representations which only tell one side of the story. Following Adichie’s
observation, Wakanda comes across as telling a complex story of a people who are creative and
innovative but also struggling with problems like other African nations. The setting of Black
Panther in Wakanda, therefore, emphasizes a positive and empowering view of the African
continent and the power Black people hold despite the challenges they face.
Other than the empowering view of Blacks, Wakanda represents ownership, aesthetics,
and culture as it relates to the African culture. The main characteristic of Wakanda that stands
out is its isolation from the rest of the world and the people’s ownership of their own wealth. The
country does not depend on external aid and also highly desists from interacting with the outside
world. Even more important, it has ownership over Vibranium, its natural resource which is used
for technological advancement (Black Panther). This ownership is important because it enriches
the country and makes it self-reliant. The ownership and drive of control of materials in
Wakanda is very similar to the world which Pumzi highlights. This community of Black people
is self-sufficient and produces just enough for consumption and survival for the people (Pumzi).

AFROFUTURISM IN WAKANDA

4

The presentation of ownership here is a statement against Black dispossession of their world
through colonization.
In addition to material possession, Waka...


Anonymous
Very useful material for studying!

Studypool
4.7
Trustpilot
4.5
Sitejabber
4.4

Similar Content

Related Tags