I am a huge Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) fan and with the releases of Black Panther and Captain Marvel, I saw clearly the differences between them and other Marvel Avengers movies.
Representation Makes People Uncomfortable
Black Panther and Captain Marvel were received similarly. I saw hard-core MCU fans state disappointment in both of these movies. One of the most common criticisms of them was that they “didn’t tie into the main story-line of the MCU”. After seeing both films, I was confused because I didn’t think that at all. Just like Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, and Ant-Man (among others), they were the stand-alone backstories of each hero.
But the truth is that these two heroes were different than all of the others, and some fans felt threatened, some annoyed, but mostly, people were uncomfortable.
With Black Panther and Captain Marvel, we had the first MCU movies without a main-protagonist white male hero.
Representation Matters
When Black Panther came out, I some fans said, “It was too obvious what Marvel was trying to do” in making an almost-completely black cast movie. And when I watched it and tried to think of any other movies with an all-black cast in it, I couldn’t even think of one. Not one.
People were uncomfortable with it, and we should be—because why don’t we have more movies like it? People everywhere deserve to look up to, imitate, and be inspired by smart, brave, powerful, and strong superheroes that look like them. For years, we’ve had a white-dominant narrative in our media. This shouldn’t be the only movie to change that, may it be the first of many.
Similarly, I saw of Captain Marvel that many MCU fans felt that “Marvel was trying to do what DC did with Wonder Woman”. Has anyone ever said that Marvel was just trying to do what DC was doing with any of their other movies? Nope.
I felt that people (mostly men) were really saying, “We already have a female superhero movie. That’s enough now.” Girls, and women alike, should have more movies of strong, powerful, independent, and intelligent female superheroes. We’ve watched male superhero movies for years, and now finally, we get to see superheroes like us.
Why Representation Should Matter To Christians
Storytelling is an intrinsic part of being human and we can see that demonstrated even when Jesus was on the earth. He was always telling stories, and in those stories Jesus made the story of God and His people relatable. He told stories about men, women, and children, about farmers, workers, shepherds, the marginalized–everyone. His listeners could see themselves in His stories. They could see, like never before, that they belonged in God’s story.
As bringers of the Gospel, and as tellers of God’s story, we need to see to it that our art, music, and writing are relatable to our listeners and the people around us. Because everyone is a part of God’s story, and the stories we tell with our media should only be more reminders that say: you are a part of His story, you belong here too.
Conclusion
Representation matters in our media no matter who it makes feel uncomfortable. We need diverse stories because we live in a world of diverse people made by God and He’s always included everyone in His story.
What are your thoughts on representation in our media? How do you feel that these movies changed the typical narrative for our media? How can the Church do better with this?
Andy says
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28
I’m Hispanic, but I don’t identify as the color of my skin. Maybe it’s what I am but not who I am. So I don’t go to movies hoping for representation, because that Latino actor is not me. I’m me and my identity is in Christ, not an ethnicity or grouping.
So I don’t have a problem with diverse casts, though it can feel a bit forced and pandering. It doesn’t bother me, but I definitely don’t crave diversity, especially where it does nothing to enhance a story.
As for your comments on the parables of Jesus, their representation was less about the farmers and workers (or any group in the story) and more about spiritual truths and allegories that transcend any earthly occupation (sometimes those farmers represented murderous pharisees! Luke 20) We are spiritual beings in physical bodies and I feel people, even Christians, care too much about physical associations and matters rather than spiritual ones.
I appreciate the thought provoking article even though I don’t agree. I enjoyed some of your comments on the inclusive nature of God and the Gospel as well. God bless!!
Blessing Mpofu says
Galatians 3:8 has to do with addressing the fact that ALL have access or can have relationship with God. It was about highlighting the fact that no one is excluded as a recipient of God’s grace. I don’t mind laboring this point: this meant that our ethnicity, demographic, socioeconomic status were and are not a barrier to God. Subsequently Galatians 3:8 and other similar scriptures actually make a case for representation.
One of the last things Jesus said on the cross was, “All may now enter…” And when the new heaven and earth comes in Revelation, there’s a crowd of many races, languages and people mentioned.
Being Hispanic, or any other ethnicity for that matter, doesn’t make you any less Christ follower or more. You can choose how to identify–and that’s OK. The thing is, part of the Message is, “Whoever you are, or how however you identify, God’s grace is also for you. You too, can belong”
Not going to movies because of representation is cool. But it might be good to recognize that there might be some people who feel excluded from the Message because they don’t see other people like them?
In the same vein, Jesus used parables to speak into that. The Good Samaritan, addressed the prejudice of His audience. If it was today he would’ve made a movie about this person who came from an underrepresented, patronized people. This Samaritan would help someone who identifies with His audience. Some of the reasons of that parable, was to give dignity to a people, teach that everyone was valuable and challenge His audience to embrace everyone.
You can’t love people you don’t see as people. Jesus saw people, acknowledged them and wanted others to do the same. There are many other examples, besides parables we could use, such as how he treated women in a culture than overlooked, even, treated them as lesser humans.
On what you said about the parables not being about the farmers but about the truth, I’d disagree with you. Jesus was purposeful in His story telling. And, in a big way, part of this post is about that. Being purposeful in how we’re telling the Story. We need to take great care, that we’re not reinforcing a narrow narrative about who (can) belong(s). Allison is challenging us to celebrate the vast diversity of which Christ was the perfect example.
The people Jesus highlighted in His stories were not mere props. They were there for reason.
I, personally love that you’re Hispanic, and celebrate that. I love that God made you Hispanic and we get to be siblings, and, that, even in our media, how we create as the Church should also celebrate that.
After all Jesus said our love for each other and unity with each other, as diverse as we, will make the world believe in Him. What better place to start doing that than by really seeing each other?
Also appreciate your thoughtfulness and civility on what can be a difficult subject for some, Andy. ????????
Blessing Mpofu says
Thanks for the reminder that our media (even in church teams), communications etc, holds up the mirror and communicates something more than one thing. Appreciate the challenge Allison.