Name: Nsampu
Surname: Tshibambe
Has 120 Essay: Section B
Student number:u21450562
Introduction
In this piece of critical writing, the popularity and Cultural relevance of the
Marvel Cinematic Universes or popularly known as the MCU will be examine
by investigating the different factors like the history of American dominance
which include factors that led to it, how MCU films are generally well receive
by the younger audiences, the way representation of certain of certain
ethnicity ,races, culture can increased culture relevance in today society the
main source of this essay will be the recently major hit Black Panther.
Body
The production of famous films in 19 century started to be dominant by
American films industry that first factor that led to this dominance was the
studios system, American film industry start establish the idea of studio and a
collective of people produce and screening films and added sound to the films
which studios produced this led to dominance as it start to push out the old
way of independent films maker rather establish collective groups to produced
entertaining content .The studios who were mainly responsible for this
dominance was MGM, Paramount Pictures, Warners Brothers , 20th Century
FOX ,RKO Which each promote they values and goals someone could
receive by watching the films and understand the practices like being
Profitable, Creative controls to directors and actors , depiction of working
class, relied on reputation and flexible with production in that order those
values and rules push more studios to be produced and make films which are
quality and entertaining to watch and also very profitable. This revelational
thinking started in America which led to one of Hollywood most successful era
this era was dub the “The Golden Age of Hollywood”. A another factors that
increased the success of films was the devastating impact of world war 2 on
the America economy which cause the Great Depression which cause
massive job loss , one would wonder why someone would send the hard earn
money on a film especially during economical crisis because films provide
their audiences with escape from reality this led to movies relying on
Formalism which were so outlandish and gave audiences the entertainment
they demanded. The last factor that contributed to films success was the rise
of television .Tv`s had start to become very accessible by the average family
in the 1960s this gave Films industry a avenue to profit of this by adverting
upcoming films thus led to more revenues as family could save movie to go
see these films and also the ease access of tv allow the film industry to
broadcast past films which family can enjoy and it was popular enough
Hollywood would make sequel to these popular films these practices are still
use in today society but on more larger platform this could see as reason for
some of MCU films success.
MCU films success could be due it been well receive by younger audiences
and the way films are seen as a events .MCU films fit perfectly with it younger
demographic as the films are loosely based on famous comic book
characters in the Marvel universe these comic book characters main purpose
were to entertain a young readers at time by depict human type characters
being put in the realm of premontane and given supernatural ability to give
them agency over their lives also were give a abnormal sense of morality to
depict justified people who were seen as heroes for they heroic action thus the
name superheroes thus a movie adaptation on these characters would be
popular with the same younger demographics . MCU films are massively
popular due they major adverting of films and also the addition of post credit
scene which bring feeling of hype to viewers and make them want to see the
next films and the brilliant idea by executives to make these films in a
collective universe allowing room for crossovers between characters or a team
up these came all ahead in 2012 with the well culturally known “The
Avengers” these was seen not as Film rather as Event . As it was seen as a
historical event in today society thus furthers Avengers movies would been
seen the same way as a Events to behold.
MCU also speaks to larger critical contexts it does this by way in engage with
post coloniality this topic is majorly address in 2018 “Black Panther”. On
screen representation is important in culturally establishing films , as it can
influence how people see each other’s and how we see ourselves as truly
accurate , authentic representation can break down barriers allow new ideas
and create powerful role models this welly done in the Black Panther film as
representation of Black person playing the main role in big budget Hollywood
film and correctly representing culture of races depicted also including of a
majority Black cast strength this representation this led to this Black Panther
film seen as a cultural phenomenon as it even inspired a famous collective
saying “Wakanda Forever” which show massive collective spirt and even
made Chadwick Boseman such a inspirational role model even after untimely
passing he seen in a positive live cause of massive success of Black Panther.
Again, Black Panther does another amazing thing by representing
Afrofuturism as it uses Afrofuturism as a means of portraying blackness in a
way that it is not in resistance to whiteness, Afrofuturism places a black
perspective into the ever-important realm of science fiction depicting black A
people as been intelligent. Another amazing thing the films does addressing
the legacy of colonialism as imagery of slave’s ship, tanks and planes inform
the viewers that Wakanda is aware of dangers surrounded them this creates a
feeling isolationism, thus running away from the danger.
The visuals in this still of Black Panther depict the antagonist Killmonger a
person who was raise in America but has never forget his African heritage
looking at historical artefacts that originate from Africa showing him as us that
he has a feeling of lost and belonging and wish to celebrate his heritage that
why he placed in the very centre of the frame while white security guard look
away as to us he doesn`t care about the beauty of the artefacts
Conclusion:
This essay has go through all points that make MCU the powerhouse it is
today , this factors that led to it success show how the MCU has raising above
the rest and still remain successful