Representation Question Notes

Camerawork:

Long and mid-shots highlight the all-black cast as well as the African-influenced appearance of them.  Close ups show skin markings that make the characters seem exotic. Some shots, usually close ups and shot-reverse-shots avoid using a tripod to make the audience feel they are apart of this scene – putting the audience in the position of a member of the Wakandan royalty.  This makes comparing the scene to Alvardo’s ethnicity in media interesting: there is a clear intent to present the people of Wakanda as exotic and the scene focuses on the impending danger.  However, the camerawork implies that we are a part of this society, so we should not see it as exotic and we should not see Killmonger as dangerous because of his ethnicity (as he is actually Wakandan) but because he is a threat to the establishment and is clearly the villain of the film.  It could be argued that Killmonger, being raised in the US, is a threat because his background is exotic compared to those born and raised in Wakanda.

 

Sound:

‘They have like the music at the end sounds a bit rap like hip-hopy sort of stuff yes exactly and that’s like linked to black culture I spose. Exactly yes.’

                - Tommy

There’s also that bit with those instruments that aren’t like the stereotypical superhero film score when Killmonger says that thing. The music here is far more stereotypical and traditional to African culture. It’s not just a big band being dramatic like ‘usual’. Killmonger’s LA accent contrasts with T’Chala’s South African accent. This highlights the difference between them created by their differences in backgrounds and upbringings despite being cousins. The soundtrack also reflects these backgrounds.

 

Mise-en-Scene:

‘I mean they focus on oh my god please stop. STOP WRITING.’

- Tommy

The exterior and interior designs are very much a combination of tribal and modern technological designs. But we’ve covered all that in editing. Here we can discuss costumes. They are very much representative of what an outsider might consider to be traditional African or even tribal at times. This includes the choices of colours, patterns and even the scarification of the faces of some of the people of Wakanda. The clay(s) disk on the inner bottom lip of one member’s mouth has links to this as well. A lot of effort and research has been put into avoiding this being a blatant western view of all of this culture.

 

Editing:

We see a lot of the characters in the scene. I guess. Maybe? Yeah? Establishing shot of CGI buildings to represent the technological advancement of Wakanda. Designed to look ‘different’. We then cut to an interior shot, which follows the same theme. A formal environment for the ‘top dogs’ (Mr Knight terminology) – the elders and senior members of the Wakandan royal family in counsel. There’s a prominent combination of traditionally tribal design working alongside technological advancement. We have a lot of shots that establish facial expressions and one of Killmonger shot so as to highlight him as an outsider entering the room. We then go into a lot of shots that then establish the space and follow who is speaking and others’ facial expressions and reactions to what is going on. The background and its conveniently large windows allow us to see the ‘different’ skyscraper designs in the skyline thanks to their technologically advanced features, all of which of course being a product of post-production. All this is to create that sense of difference and otherness. This – a fictional ethnicity – isn’t being represented negatively by this otherness, the point of this is that it’s a big, strong and powerful and the people only pose as a third world country to try and keep their powerful resources away from people like Travis who would use them to start wars with people who touch his bag.