Precis

As we began to think about Project Two, each person chose a topic and began to brainstorm about what their creative piece was going to be. The options were endless and varied from short stories to paintings. We wrote a summary in class to explain how we were to tackle the creative portion of our project and how we would chronicle this on our blog. This is my piece explaining my creative portion of the project and how it ties into connecting with my ancestral plane.

Project 2 Precis

              As I sat through the movie Black Panther, I was amazed at the culture incorporated into the story. While creating a culture all their own, the writers in this movie pulled inspiration from all aspects of African culture. The costumes, language and setting all reflected the place in which the characters call their home; Wakanda.

The piece of their culture that interested me the most was the visiting of the ancestral plane. This was a place in which a future king “visited” to connect with their ancestors and obtain some advice of leadership for the future. I found it especially interesting how the planes visited by the two future kings differed in setting and ambiance.  T’Challa’s plane was simple. A grassy plain consisting of some trees with his ancestors re-incarnated as panthers, all of whom were former kings of Wakanda. Eric Killmonger’s plane was the setting of his childhood apartment and the only other person there being his father. This was the place where his father cared for him and taught him of his native place and home country, but also the place where his father died. I found this idea of individual plains to be very intriguing and began to ponder what my ancestral plane would look like.

I hope to create a painting of my personal ancestral plane. An environment I often visit in my mind in times of need or stress. I hope to bring the imagery in my mind of a place I spent a lot of time as a child, to a canvas and really put this place into perspective. The main goal I have for this part of the project is to connect me to my past and childhood and to assess how much I have grown since originally visiting this place. I want to use this painting as a reminder to never forget your roots, just as I believe the future kings of Wakanda did to aid them in their journey in leadership.