‘Just because something works doesn’t mean it can’t be improved’: an ethnographic analysis of the health system in Black Panther’s Wakanda
The emergence of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) has introduced significant global challenges for healthcare systems, healthcare professionals and patients. This current climate creates an opportunity to learn from equitable health systems and move toward making fundamental changes to healthcare systems. Our...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMJ Publishing Group
2023-04-01
|
| Series: | BMJ Global Health |
| Online Access: | https://gh.bmj.com/content/8/4/e011733.full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832575426077130752 |
|---|---|
| author | Jennifer Jackson Carla Ferreira Samantha Perry Carla Ginn Melissa Scott Elke Jaibeeh Barah Zahra Upal Krista Phelps Carol Mei Haneul Woo Megan Tung Farida Gadimova Alexandra Ewanyshyn Twyla Ens |
| author_facet | Jennifer Jackson Carla Ferreira Samantha Perry Carla Ginn Melissa Scott Elke Jaibeeh Barah Zahra Upal Krista Phelps Carol Mei Haneul Woo Megan Tung Farida Gadimova Alexandra Ewanyshyn Twyla Ens |
| author_sort | Jennifer Jackson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The emergence of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) has introduced significant global challenges for healthcare systems, healthcare professionals and patients. This current climate creates an opportunity to learn from equitable health systems and move toward making fundamental changes to healthcare systems. Our ethnographic analysis of Wakanda’s healthcare system in Black Panther, from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, offers opportunities for system-level transformation across healthcare settings. We propose four healthcare system themes within the context of Wakandan identity: (1) technology as an instrument (blending bodies and technology, blending technology with tradition); (2) reimagining medication; (3) warfare and rehabilitation; and (4) preventative approaches to health (prioritising collective health, deprofessionalisation of healthcare services). The preceding themes represent core elements of Wakandan health systems that allow the people of Wakanda to thrive. Wakandans retain a strong identity and cultural traditions while embracing modern technologies. We found that effective upstream approaches to health for all are embedded in anti-colonial philosophies. Wakandans embrace innovation, embedding biomedical engineering and continuous improvement into care settings. For global health systems under strain, Wakanda’s health system identifies equitable possibilities for system change, reminding us that culturally relevant prevention strategies can both decrease pressure on health services and allow all people to thrive. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-84b5f47670fa49e8b8f5bc526ff447f3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2059-7908 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Global Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-84b5f47670fa49e8b8f5bc526ff447f32025-02-01T08:25:15ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Global Health2059-79082023-04-018410.1136/bmjgh-2023-011733‘Just because something works doesn’t mean it can’t be improved’: an ethnographic analysis of the health system in Black Panther’s WakandaJennifer Jackson0Carla Ferreira1Samantha Perry2Carla Ginn3Melissa Scott4Elke Jaibeeh Barah5Zahra Upal6Krista Phelps7Carol Mei8Haneul Woo9Megan Tung10Farida Gadimova11Alexandra Ewanyshyn12Twyla Ens13Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta Barah, Phelps, Mei, Woo, Tung, Gadimova, Ens, and Ginn, CanadaSchool of Nursing, The University of British Columbia Faculty of Applied Science, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaAlberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada1 Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, CanadaFamily Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, CanadaFaculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta Barah, Phelps, Mei, Woo, Tung, Gadimova, Ens, and Ginn, CanadaFaculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta Barah, Phelps, Mei, Woo, Tung, Gadimova, Ens, and Ginn, CanadaFaculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta Barah, Phelps, Mei, Woo, Tung, Gadimova, Ens, and Ginn, CanadaFaculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta Barah, Phelps, Mei, Woo, Tung, Gadimova, Ens, and Ginn, CanadaFaculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta Barah, Phelps, Mei, Woo, Tung, Gadimova, Ens, and Ginn, CanadaFaculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta Barah, Phelps, Mei, Woo, Tung, Gadimova, Ens, and Ginn, CanadaFaculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta Barah, Phelps, Mei, Woo, Tung, Gadimova, Ens, and Ginn, CanadaFaculty of Arts, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, CanadaFaculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta Barah, Phelps, Mei, Woo, Tung, Gadimova, Ens, and Ginn, CanadaThe emergence of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) has introduced significant global challenges for healthcare systems, healthcare professionals and patients. This current climate creates an opportunity to learn from equitable health systems and move toward making fundamental changes to healthcare systems. Our ethnographic analysis of Wakanda’s healthcare system in Black Panther, from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, offers opportunities for system-level transformation across healthcare settings. We propose four healthcare system themes within the context of Wakandan identity: (1) technology as an instrument (blending bodies and technology, blending technology with tradition); (2) reimagining medication; (3) warfare and rehabilitation; and (4) preventative approaches to health (prioritising collective health, deprofessionalisation of healthcare services). The preceding themes represent core elements of Wakandan health systems that allow the people of Wakanda to thrive. Wakandans retain a strong identity and cultural traditions while embracing modern technologies. We found that effective upstream approaches to health for all are embedded in anti-colonial philosophies. Wakandans embrace innovation, embedding biomedical engineering and continuous improvement into care settings. For global health systems under strain, Wakanda’s health system identifies equitable possibilities for system change, reminding us that culturally relevant prevention strategies can both decrease pressure on health services and allow all people to thrive.https://gh.bmj.com/content/8/4/e011733.full |
| spellingShingle | Jennifer Jackson Carla Ferreira Samantha Perry Carla Ginn Melissa Scott Elke Jaibeeh Barah Zahra Upal Krista Phelps Carol Mei Haneul Woo Megan Tung Farida Gadimova Alexandra Ewanyshyn Twyla Ens ‘Just because something works doesn’t mean it can’t be improved’: an ethnographic analysis of the health system in Black Panther’s Wakanda BMJ Global Health |
| title | ‘Just because something works doesn’t mean it can’t be improved’: an ethnographic analysis of the health system in Black Panther’s Wakanda |
| title_full | ‘Just because something works doesn’t mean it can’t be improved’: an ethnographic analysis of the health system in Black Panther’s Wakanda |
| title_fullStr | ‘Just because something works doesn’t mean it can’t be improved’: an ethnographic analysis of the health system in Black Panther’s Wakanda |
| title_full_unstemmed | ‘Just because something works doesn’t mean it can’t be improved’: an ethnographic analysis of the health system in Black Panther’s Wakanda |
| title_short | ‘Just because something works doesn’t mean it can’t be improved’: an ethnographic analysis of the health system in Black Panther’s Wakanda |
| title_sort | just because something works doesn t mean it can t be improved an ethnographic analysis of the health system in black panther s wakanda |
| url | https://gh.bmj.com/content/8/4/e011733.full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jenniferjackson justbecausesomethingworksdoesntmeanitcantbeimprovedanethnographicanalysisofthehealthsysteminblackpantherswakanda AT carlaferreira justbecausesomethingworksdoesntmeanitcantbeimprovedanethnographicanalysisofthehealthsysteminblackpantherswakanda AT samanthaperry justbecausesomethingworksdoesntmeanitcantbeimprovedanethnographicanalysisofthehealthsysteminblackpantherswakanda AT carlaginn justbecausesomethingworksdoesntmeanitcantbeimprovedanethnographicanalysisofthehealthsysteminblackpantherswakanda AT melissascott justbecausesomethingworksdoesntmeanitcantbeimprovedanethnographicanalysisofthehealthsysteminblackpantherswakanda AT elkejaibeehbarah justbecausesomethingworksdoesntmeanitcantbeimprovedanethnographicanalysisofthehealthsysteminblackpantherswakanda AT zahraupal justbecausesomethingworksdoesntmeanitcantbeimprovedanethnographicanalysisofthehealthsysteminblackpantherswakanda AT kristaphelps justbecausesomethingworksdoesntmeanitcantbeimprovedanethnographicanalysisofthehealthsysteminblackpantherswakanda AT carolmei justbecausesomethingworksdoesntmeanitcantbeimprovedanethnographicanalysisofthehealthsysteminblackpantherswakanda AT haneulwoo justbecausesomethingworksdoesntmeanitcantbeimprovedanethnographicanalysisofthehealthsysteminblackpantherswakanda AT megantung justbecausesomethingworksdoesntmeanitcantbeimprovedanethnographicanalysisofthehealthsysteminblackpantherswakanda AT faridagadimova justbecausesomethingworksdoesntmeanitcantbeimprovedanethnographicanalysisofthehealthsysteminblackpantherswakanda AT alexandraewanyshyn justbecausesomethingworksdoesntmeanitcantbeimprovedanethnographicanalysisofthehealthsysteminblackpantherswakanda AT twylaens justbecausesomethingworksdoesntmeanitcantbeimprovedanethnographicanalysisofthehealthsysteminblackpantherswakanda |