Proma Khosla’s essay has specifically targeted people who are enthusiastic about movies. In the first paragraph, Khosla has stated that the film “will be broadcast in movie theaters, on TV screens, and in the hearts and minds of audiences around the world who flocked to theaters to watch Hollywood’s first black superhero in action” (Khosla, 2018, para. 1). Given that “Black Panther” is regarded as the first Hollywood film to feature a black superhero, this article might as well be written for the ethnic minority, which has been underrepresented in cinema for decades. The writer has stated: “Black Panther is the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first black superhero, but crucially, he’s the first non-white (or at least white-passing) superhero headlining his own movie period” (Khosla, 2018, para. 5). Additionally, this article attracts cinephiles of all colors, considering that “Black Panther” has represented various races in every aspect.
This essay’s primary purpose is to persuade the audience into embracing the inclusion of ethnic minority in “Black Panther” film. The persuasive diction is portrayed in the first paragraph of the essay. First, Khosla compares “Black Panther” to a revolution that would entirely change the Hollywood industry (Khosla, 2018, para. 1). By arguing that “Black Panther” is the first film to represent a black superhero, Khosla unveils its uniqueness and, as such, captures the attention of the audience. Strong choice of words can influence the reader’s attitude towards the author and subject matter.
The author’s purpose to persuade the audience is also portrayed in the usage of several rhetorical devices. For example, “It will be broadcast in movie theaters, on TV screens, and in the hearts and minds of audiences around the world who flocked to theaters to watch Hollywood’s first black superhero in action” (Khosla, 2018, para. 1). According to the above sentence, the movie being broadcast “in the hearts and minds of audiences” is imagery intended to appeal to the reader’s emotions. In the sixth paragraph, the author writes: “As a non-black person of color, Tinsley said it ‘warms my little heart’ to see widespread enthusiasm for the film” (Khosla, 2018), par 17). The author has intentionally employed the above metaphor to make the subject more vivid and lively in the minds of the audience.
Tone usually refers to the writer’s attitude towards the topic. It is crucial to analyze the words and figurative speech as used by the author to understand this essay’s tone. The tone of this essay is exhilarated, as indicated by the author’s choice of words. The writer has used a rhetorical question in the subtitle that suggests excitement: “Excited for Black Panther?” (Khosla, 2018). By prefacing the essay with this rhetorical, the author assumes that the audience is already excited about the subject. Moreover, the essay’s tone is revealed by the author’s use of a metaphor. “As a non-black person of color, Tinsley said it ‘warms my little heart’ to see widespread enthusiasm for the film” (Khosla, 2018, para. 13). “Warms my heart” is a figurative language that denotes happiness or excitement.
For centuries, ethnic minorities were not represented in comics and movies. Notably, racial inclusion is a significant theme in this discourse. “Black Panther” included African, Asian descent, and indigenous characters, which appealed to many movie fans. Khosla has stated: “In its two years of building hype, Black Panther became a bastion of inclusivity and empowerment for people of all colors in the audience” (Khosla, 2018, para. 6). It is essential to respect the diversity and authenticity exhibited by various races.
Furthermore, the inclusiveness and representation of different races in the film have substantially debunked multiple stereotypes. For example, contemporary Africa is now seen from a modern, technological perspective and free from colonialism’s adverse impact. Apart from that, this inclusivity has played a leading role in women’s empowerment. “Black Panther” has featured intelligent, independent, and strong female characters. For instance, Princess Shuri is a young engineer and scientist inventing and building for her community (Coogler, 2018). As delineated by “Black Panther,” movies have the power to challenge particular beliefs and ideologies in society.
Khosla has represented how women and people of color in “Black Panther” may have considerably changed the film industry. Most importantly, minority actors, whose success had been prevented for decades, are now well-represented in “Black Panther.” According to Hecht (2020), individuals require the capacity to work with honor, knowing that their backgrounds are recognized and that their life experiences are acknowledged. As revealed in “Black Panther,” identification and inclusion allow every society members to feel part of it. As a result, inclusive representation in films has paved the way to perceiving and building strong social relationships.
In conclusion, Khosla’s essay has addressed the issue of inclusiveness and representation in Hollywood. Khosla emphasizes the representation of ethnic minorities by “Black Panther,” which is rare in mainstream Marvel movies. Greater diversity on the small and large screen can make society more diverse and tolerant as a whole. Since its release, “Black Panther” has been regarded as a fundamental step towards equality and tolerance.
References
Coogler, R. (2018). Black Panther. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
Hecht, B. (2020). Moving beyond diversity toward racial equity. Harvard Business Review. Web.
Khosla, P. (2018). ‘Black Panther’ is a huge victory for representation in film. Mashable. Web.