Black Panther and Philosophy - (Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture) by Edwardo Pérez & Timothy E Brown & William Irwin (Paperback)

About the Book

"When the character of Black Panther first appeared in Fantastic Four no. 52 in July 1966, legendary creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby didn't just write a story about another hero with extraordinary powers, they birthed the first Black superhero. For Lee, "it was a very normal thing," because "A good many of our people here in America are not white. You've got to recognize that and you've got to include them whatever you do." While it might've seemed normal to Lee, Black Panther's (and Wakanda's) significance cannot be overstated. After all, the first Black superhero isn't just a Black superhero, he's the King of an African nation endowed with otherworldly powers, and Wakanda isn't just an African nation, it's the most advanced civilization the Earth has ever seen. Indeed, it shouldn't be lost on us that when Black Panther was introduced (during the Civil Rights era of the 1960s) the thought of a Black President-or an advanced, futuristic African society-would have been, well, unthinkable for too many people"--

Book Synopsis

Explore the fascinating historical and contemporary philosophical issues that arise in Black Panther

In Black Panther and Philosophy: What Can Wakanda Offer The World, a diverse panel of experts delivers incisive critical reflections on the Oscar-winning 2018 film, Black Panther, and the comic book mythology that preceded it. The collection explores historical and contemporary issues--including colonialism, slavery, the Black Lives Matter movement, intersectionality, and identity--raised by the superhero tale.

Beyond discussions of the influences of race and ethnicity on the most critically and culturally significant movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this book presents the moral, feminist, metaphysical, epistemological, existential, and Afrofuturistic issues framing Black Panther's narrative. The explorations of these issues shed light on our increasingly interconnected world and allow the reader to consider engaging questions like:

• Should Wakanda rule the world?
• Was Killmonger actually a victim?
• Do Wakanda's Black Lives Matter?
• Does hiding in the shadows make Wakanda guilty?
• What does Wakanda have to offer the world?

Perfect for fans of the most culturally significant film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Black Panther and Philosophy will also earn a place in the libraries of students of philosophy and anyone with a personal or professional interest in the defining issues of our time.

From the Back Cover

Should Wakanda rule the world?
Did Killmonger have a point?
Do Wakanda's Black Lives Matter?
Does hiding in the shadows make Wakanda guilty?
What does Wakanda have to offer the world?

Directed by Ryan Coogler and starring the late Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan, 2018's Black Panther took the ruler and protector of Wakanda from the comic book to the movie screen. Earning seven Oscar nominations (including Best Picture) and winning three awards, Black Panther's nearly all-black cast (which included Oscar winners Lupita Nyong'o and Forest Whitaker, and Oscar nominated actress Angela Bassett) offered audiences the most socially and culturally significant film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Black Panther and Philosophy explores the characters and world of the Black Panther film and comics through the lenses of philosophy. Original essays on morality, justice, feminism, metaphysics, epistemology, existentialism, and Afrofuturism, tackle issues such as colonialism and chattel slavery, Black Lives Matter and the Black Panther Party, and intersectionality. With timely critical analysis, the authors not only illuminate Black Panther and Wakanda, but also help us navigate our interconnected world.

As T'Challa says, "this never gets old." So, if you want to return to Wakanda, fight alongside Okoye and the Dora Milaje, help Shuri test out the latest panther suit in her lab, or maybe you think Killmonger was more of a victim than a villain, then Black Panther and Philosophy will engage you while not only showing what Wakanda can offer the world, but also what Wakanda can teach us about humanity's future.

About the Author

Edwardo Pérez is Professor of English at Tarrant County College in Hurst, Texas, and Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at the University of Texas at Arlington in Texas. He is a frequent contributor to Wiley's Philosophy and Popular Culture series and website at www.andphilosophy.com.

Timothy E. Brown is Assistant Professor of Bioethics and Humanities at the University of Washington. He is a founding member of the Neuroethics Trust in the Center for Neurotechnology and leads diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the International Neuroethics Society.