Exploration Of Life Direction In Black Panther, By Ryan Coolger

1126 Words5 Pages

How the Past Shapes the Future: An Analysis of Black Panther’s Exploration of Life Direction People often remark that "history repeats itself," but what if it actually forms an unbreakable chain that shapes our present rather than just being a simple repetition? The film Black Panther, directed by Ryan Coolger, portrays how a person’s current choices are influenced by their childhood experiences, family trauma, exposure to different cultures and personal ambitions. The movie stimulates our thoughts about how our own past experiences influence our present-day decisions and beliefs by exploring how these prior events interact and influence Killmongers’ behavior. Black Panther contends that a person's past experiences and the decisions they …show more content…

For example, T'Challa's personal goal is to uphold his father's legacy as the king of Wakanda and protect his people from harm. This is a result of his upbringing and exposure to Wakandan culture and values, which emphasize duty and responsibility to one's community. As T'Challa says, "Wakanda will no longer watch from the shadows. We cannot. We must not. We will work to be an example of how we, as brothers and sisters on this earth, should treat each other." This showcases how T'Challa's personal ambition is rooted in his desire to protect and uplift his community, which is a result of his past experiences and cultural exposure. Moreover, Killmonger's personal goal is to take over the throne of Wakanda and use its resources to empower black people around the world. This is a result of his traumatic childhood experiences of poverty and marginalization in America. This leads him to seek power as a means of escaping his situation and making a difference in the world. A scene that depicts Killmonger's ambition for power is when he burns the heart-shaped herb, the source of the Black Panther's powers. This action shows that he is willing to destroy something that is sacred to the Wakandan people, just so he can ensure that he remains the only one with the power to rule over …show more content…

The characters of Killmonger, T'Challa, and Nakia represent how personal encounters, exposure to different cultures, and aspirations impact a person's choices and convictions. The movie emphasizes that childhood experiences leave a lasting impression on one's perception of the world, as exemplified by Killmonger's traumatic past and exposure to social injustice, leading him to crave power and vengeance. Furthermore, Black Panther illustrates how exposure to diverse cultures broadens one's horizons and drives one to pursue new personal objectives, as evident in T'Challa's decision to share Wakanda's resources and technology with the world. Finally, the film interprets how personal aspirations and objectives significantly influence one's direction in life, as exemplified by T'Challa and Killmonger's divergent paths. All in all, Black Panther's exploration of the past's impact on one's life direction reminds us to reflect on our experiences and how they shape our beliefs and