Supplemental Post #3 - Megan Henckel

    This weekend I, like every die hard Marvel fan, rushed out to see the newly released Black Panther (which I loved). The film, with an immense amount of pre-release chatter and a monster opening weekend, is revolutionary for finally putting the spotlight on diverse characters that have been altogether absent from Hollywood superhero blockbusters. Despite the film’s role in bringing racial and ethnic diversity back into the forefront of a changing Hollywood, interesting are the ways that the film tackles gender issues in addition to racial ones. I was reading an article in The Hollywood Reporter entitled “How Black Panther Avoids Toxic Masculinity” which made me think about our discussion in last week’s class. Just for some context (no spoilers, I promise), it’s important to know that the film has multiple primary characters that are women, and that it does a fantastic job at representing its females as independent, strong, and intelligent while making sure their “femininity” (gentleness or emotions) remains intact. As a result the women in the film, from Black Panther’s warrior sidekick to his tech savvy scientist sister, are complex and crucial characters in the film’s overall narrative and significance. In the article, the author explains that T’Challa (alias “Black Panther”) is representative of a type of masculinity that differs from what is typical of other superheros within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. T’Challa is a sensitive individual who is in tune with his emotions while also being deeply masculine in the typical sense, as he is fighting in ritual combat or going full force on a mission to save the world. The macho type of masculinity, the type typically associated with brute manliness like we discussed in class, only serves to reinforce old fashioned norms of domineering masculinity and is therefore toxic to a society that is developing beyond the patriarchal ideals of years past. In Black Panther, T’Challa asserts a breed of masculinity that breaks common assumptions of traits and behaviors that are masculine. The author chalks up this difference in masculinity to the fact that T’Challa is surrounded by powerful, capable, intelligent women and thus he doesn’t have the same harsh edges that other superheros do. Where Tony Stark, Captain America, or Thor can be sarcastic during emotional moments, overly macho when arguing a point, or uninterested or challenged in personal relationships (especially with women), T’Challa contrasts such behavior and brings about a new era of the male superhero that echoes a well rounded idea of masculinity that is not relegated to “macho” manliness. I think that in a world where masculinity (and femininity) are socially constructed, having a major Hollywood superhero character breaking the assumed conditions of masculinity is refreshing and welcomed in our changing world and entertainment industry.
Here is a link to the article, I’d love to hear others thoughts!

How Black Panther Avoids Toxic Masculinity