The release of Black Panther in February of 2018 sparked a nationwide conversation about the film’s cultural impact on the African American community. I was intrigued by the correlation between modern political events such as the Black Lives Matter movement and a fictional superhero movie, Black Panther. As I looked back on the last 40 years of superhero films, I discovered a clear interconnectedness between plot and political climate. Others had discussed how with shifting politics came alternate plot lines; however, no one had explored the impact shifting politics had on superhero costumes.
I found myself discussing my research with whoever would listen while flipping through pictures of hero costumes. This made a TED Talk seem like a natural choice for my presentation style as it allowed me to use numerous visuals from superhero cinema along with the accompanying commentary I’d already been unknowingly rehearsing.
SKYLAR SHUMATE is a rising sophomore studying physical therapy at Boston University’s College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College. Born and raised in the small mountain town of Estes Park, Colorado, she has enjoyed exploring the city of Boston and hunting down its best coffee shops. She would like to thank her WR 100 professor Jessica Kent for encouraging her to pursue arguments not yet presented and her WR 150 professor Anna Panszczyk for showing her that just because the academic essay is not your cup of tea doesn’t mean writing can’t be. She would also like to thank her mother for answering the phone at all hours for a brainstorming session.