Black Panther's Many Lessons in Urbanism

Black Panther is a smash hit with critics and audiences. In addition to long-needed perspective about race, the movie has presented urbanism in a new light.

1 minute read

February 24, 2018, 9:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Brentin Mock gathers a compendium of commentary on the urbanism angles of the current darling of Hollywood, Black Panther. As it turns out it's also a darling of urbanism. Mock explains:

As the story goes, Wakanda is the most technologically advanced nation in the world thanks to its heavily-protected stock of vibranium—a metal that’s stronger than steel and can manipulate energy to near-supernatural ends. Designers have been wowed by Wakanda’s mechanical marvels of hyperloop rapid transit, maglev trains, dragonfly-shaped spaceships, hoverbikes, skyscrapers orchestrated from chords of stone, wood, and metal, and other innovative spectacles.

A list of many articles—the Black Panther Reader, Mocks calls it—follows in the source article.

Thursday, February 22, 2018 in CityLab

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