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Black Genocide in Chicago - February 28, 2018 Edition of Chicago Street Journal.

Did you read this edition of Chicago Street Journal (CSJ)? It hit the streets in February and with the headline story "The Charge of Chicago Black Genocide" and it is still circulating throughout this city's communities. Call 773-595-5229 to be in the NEXT edition.

Did you read this edition of Chicago Street Journal (CSJ)? It hit the streets in February and with the headline story "The Charge of Chicago Black Genocide" and it is still circulating throughout this city's communities. Call 773-595-5229 to be in the NEXT edition.

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<strong>Chicago</strong> <strong>Street</strong> <strong>Journal</strong> <strong>February</strong> <strong>28</strong> - March 13, <strong>2018</strong> 15<br />

(Cont<strong>in</strong>ued from page 1)<br />

DePaul University’s Blair<br />

Davis discusses<br />

Marvel’s latest movie<br />

CHICAGO — Part <strong>of</strong> the reason<br />

Marvel’s “<strong>Black</strong> Panther”<br />

has seen so much success is<br />

because it came along at the<br />

right time both culturally and<br />

politically, said Blair Davis, an<br />

associate pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> media<br />

and c<strong>in</strong>ema studies <strong>in</strong> DePaul<br />

University’s College <strong>of</strong> Communication.<br />

His latest book,<br />

“Comic Book Movies,” will be<br />

available April 19 through<br />

Rutgers University Press.<br />

Davis has spent his career research<strong>in</strong>g<br />

comic books, classic<br />

Hollywood c<strong>in</strong>ema, B-movies<br />

and African-American c<strong>in</strong>ema<br />

and has written three other<br />

books on film topics. In this Q&A, he<br />

expla<strong>in</strong>s what makes “<strong>Black</strong> Panther” a<br />

cultural phenomenon, how it’s different<br />

from other comic book movies and the<br />

promis<strong>in</strong>g future <strong>of</strong> the genre.<br />

Q: What makes “<strong>Black</strong> Panther” such<br />

a highly anticipated comic book movie?<br />

A Davis: Audiences are treat<strong>in</strong>g “<strong>Black</strong><br />

Panther” like an “event” movie for several<br />

reasons.<br />

Marvel used the character's first appearance<br />

<strong>in</strong> “Capta<strong>in</strong> America: Civil War” as a<br />

way <strong>of</strong> launch<strong>in</strong>g a sp<strong>in</strong>-<strong>of</strong>f film <strong>in</strong> a way<br />

that its previous films haven't. Marvel<br />

characters usually get their own films first,<br />

and then appear <strong>in</strong> the Avengers films.<br />

Marvel handled “<strong>Black</strong> Panther” much<br />

differently, us<strong>in</strong>g him as a central focus <strong>of</strong><br />

“Civil War,” which was itself an event<br />

Blair Davis, an<br />

associate pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />

<strong>of</strong> media<br />

and c<strong>in</strong>ema<br />

studies <strong>in</strong><br />

DePaul University’s<br />

College <strong>of</strong><br />

Communication<br />

Director, Ryan Kyle Coogler and<br />

Aaron Cov<strong>in</strong>gton screenwriter<br />

film. This raised the bar for audiences<br />

much more for a “<strong>Black</strong> Panther” solo film<br />

than if they hadn't already come to know<br />

and love the character.<br />

This is also an “event” film because <strong>of</strong> its<br />

significance as a blockbuster superhero<br />

film with a predom<strong>in</strong>antly black cast and a<br />

black director. In our current cultural and<br />

political moment <strong>in</strong> which questions about<br />

diversity are at the forefront <strong>of</strong> discussions<br />

about race and the media, a big-budget<br />

film aimed at ma<strong>in</strong>stream audiences <strong>in</strong><br />

which black characters play a central role<br />

rather than just a support<strong>in</strong>g one is noteworthy.<br />

Add the fact that celebrities like Octavia<br />

Spencer bought up blocks <strong>of</strong> tickets to give<br />

away for free so that black children can see<br />

a hero on screen who looks more like them<br />

than a Norse god or blond super soldier<br />

does and you have a film that resonates<br />

much more strongly on a cultural level<br />

than the typical blockbuster. For example,<br />

on the night the film opened I did a panel<br />

as part <strong>of</strong> <strong>Black</strong> History Month about the<br />

history <strong>of</strong> black comics characters for the<br />

<strong>Chicago</strong> Bar Association, so “<strong>Black</strong> Panther”<br />

is be<strong>in</strong>g seen as a cultural milestone<br />

for a wide range <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>stitutions.<br />

Q: How might this movie be different<br />

from other comic book movies that are<br />

set for <strong>2018</strong> or have come out <strong>in</strong> recent<br />

years?<br />

A Davis: Beyond the important cultural<br />

differences <strong>in</strong> how audiences are approach<strong>in</strong>g<br />

this film, one big difference is <strong>in</strong> the<br />

way that director Ryan Coogler was allowed<br />

to make the film. Marvel's films<br />

have had a fairly standard look and tone to<br />

them, on the whole. The producers call the<br />

shots and expect their directors to adhere<br />

to the Marvel “house style.” Coogler is a<br />

talented director who fought to make<br />

“<strong>Black</strong> Panther” his own film, rather than<br />

just the producers' film. Early word from<br />

audiences is that the film has much more<br />

depth and heart than other Marvel films,<br />

thanks to Coogler.<br />

Q: Do you th<strong>in</strong>k there is or could be a<br />

saturation po<strong>in</strong>t with comic book movies?<br />

A Davis: I actually do not th<strong>in</strong>k we're<br />

approach<strong>in</strong>g a saturation po<strong>in</strong>t for comic<br />

book movies yet. If anyth<strong>in</strong>g, th<strong>in</strong>gs will<br />

keep build<strong>in</strong>g further. It's like the western<br />

<strong>in</strong> the 1950s, it's full steam ahead right<br />

now. And with “Logan” earn<strong>in</strong>g an Oscar<br />

nom<strong>in</strong>ation for best adapted screenplay,<br />

there's a shift <strong>in</strong> the critical status <strong>of</strong> these<br />

films go<strong>in</strong>g on as well.<br />

<strong>Chicago</strong>’s Home <strong>of</strong><br />

Chicken & Waffles<br />

3947 S. K<strong>in</strong>g Drive,<br />

<strong>Chicago</strong> IL 60653<br />

Tel: 773 - 536 - 3300<br />

<strong>Chicago</strong>'s Home <strong>of</strong><br />

Chicken and Waffles II<br />

543 Madison St.,<br />

Oak Park, IL 60302<br />

Tel: 708 - 524 - 3300<br />

Specializ<strong>in</strong>g In<br />

Intimate Gourmet D<strong>in</strong>ners—Bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />

Luncheons Birthday Parties—School<br />

Events—Wedd<strong>in</strong>gs—Banquets—<br />

Meet<strong>in</strong>gs—And More

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