Erik Killmonger: a fuga do estereótipo e a construção de filmes representativos em Hollywood

Abstract

Hollywood cinema has perpetuated over several decades, since its origin, representations that demeaned and did not explore the complexities of black masculinities, as a reinforcement of racism practiced outside the screens. It examines the possibility of recognizing the character Erik Killmonger from the movie Black Panther (2018), through film analysis (PENAFRIA, 2009), as a contribution of complex representation in the face of stereotypes often spread by this industry. Through the use of qualitative methodology, the film previews and the separation of the scenes in which the character is inserted for analysis. The investigation carried out a chronological cut of Hollywood productions to verify how the representations of black men were produced over time in this type of media. He found that the films stimulated the dehumanization of this group through their narratives and character constructions. It was observed that the character Erik Killmonger reveals subjectivities through his aesthetics, speeches and composition of scenes, which promote discussion about concepts that surround the experiences of black men, such as diaspora, racism, sexuality and machismo. It concluded that the occupation of black people in the spaces of production of narratives stimulates complex representations, naturalizing them for the public that watches them.