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The CIA drew a hail of ridicule and incomprehension when it unexpectedly posted a Twitter thread dedicated to the hit superhero film \u2018Black Panther\u2019. Some Twitter users even suspected the spy agency had been hacked.<\/p>\n
The Central Intelligence Agency\u2019s Twitter account launched into the bizarre thread during Sunday\u2019s Academy Awards ceremony, quizzing their 2.5 million followers on all things Wakanda \u2013 the fictional, high-tech, African country in the Marvel movie.<\/p>\n
\nDuring tonight’s #Oscars<\/a> we\u2019ll ask a series of poll questions to get your views on the feasibility of Wakandan technology today & share the expertise of a top CIA scientist, \u201cRebecca,\u201d on how #Wakanda<\/a>\u2019s tech matches up w\/emerging \u201creal life\u201d tech.#ReelvsRealCIA<\/a>#BlackPanther<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 CIA (@CIA) February 25, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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The agency announced that they had enlisted the help of a mysterious \u201ctop CIA scientist\u201d<\/em> named \u201cRebecca\u201d<\/em> to discuss Wakanada\u2019s technological advances and the feasibility of translating them to real life.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n \nWhy you wanna know? You wanna invade that too? @cia<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 zellie (@zellieimani) February 25, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nSure glad #Wakanda<\/a> isn’t real or I’m sure they’d be at the top of the list for needing “Democracy ” #Venezuela<\/a>#Syria<\/a>#Libya<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Chris Hay (@ChrisHay1299) February 25, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nI think if vibranium was real you guys would have orchestrated an overthrow of the democratically elected government of Wakanda so the US could steal all of it.<\/p>\n
\u2014 The Royal Bard (@The_Royal_Bard) February 25, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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READ MORE: ‘Stan Lee did more for me than any politician ever could’: Most personal send-offs to Marvel legend<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Over a series of more than a dozen tweets, the account polled its followers on what they think \u201cvibranium\u201d<\/em> is \u2013 the fictional metal that appears in the movie. Before pointing out the obvious \u2013 \u201cit isn\u2019t real\u201d<\/em> \u2013 and lamenting that vibranium would make great suits for \u201cspies.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n \nThe #vibranium<\/a> in Black Panther\u2019s suit protects him from kinetic damage, & vibranium sneakers are both super-quiet & amazing shock absorbers for jumping. Those would be great for spies, right?<\/p>\n
Too bad vibranium isn\u2019t real.#ReelvsRealCIA<\/a>#BlackPanther<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 CIA (@CIA) February 25, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nThe CIA wants you to remember that Black Panther is a work of fiction, something we already knew from the fact that it has a CIA agent as a good guy pic.twitter.com\/LrNxbDC2al<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Gevalt-left (@crookedroads770) February 25, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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The strange discussion then ventured further into spy territory (which, while still weird, is at least more in keeping with the agency\u2019s \u2018brand\u2019) with a poll asking which of the Wakandan technologies would be most beneficial to \u201creal-world spies.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
Are they actually looking for ideas? Have we stumbled into a CIA focus group? Are we all being tricked? At this point, who knows. Confused Twitter users questioned many things about the thread \u2013 most of all how the agency has nothing more pressing for their \u201ctop CIA scientist\u201d<\/em> to do than post tweets about a movie.<\/p>\n
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Sceptical Twitter users questioned the agency\u2019s motives for the bizarre series of polls. Some accused them of trying to appear more \u201crelatable\u201d<\/em> in an effort to spruce up its public image.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n \nThe CIA tweeting about Black Panther so they seem relatable. Good thing there isn\u2019t any historical context that makes this weird or anything. https:\/\/t.co\/Y1LsSGUJ1B<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Whitney McIntosh (@WhitneyM02) February 25, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nThe CIA’s blatant piggybacking off Black Panther’s success reminds me of the work of Jenkins and Shaw in tracing the agency’s longstanding effort to rehabilitate its image through Hollywood partnerships, as in their article “Zero to Hero”: https:\/\/t.co\/uOyvQm6Is6<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/wbFCZ4IO71<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Oscar Moralde (@oscar_moralde) February 25, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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Others thought this was just another way for the agency to control the public, particularly black people, by reminding them that Wakanda is an unattainable dream and African-Americans are a minority in the US.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n \nDamn! Are you going to tweet about Santa Clause next?!! Can we just enjoy the magic of the movies?<\/p>\n
\u2014 Alonda Thomas (@AlondaThomas) February 25, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nin trumps america, the CIA live tweets award shows just to be able to make sure everyone remembers that those powerful Black people in the Black Panther movie completely fictional. Can’t wait to see what they have to say about Star is Born. or Vice. https:\/\/t.co\/hW2QnWRbeH<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Arise (@rise804) February 25, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nas Black Panther wins Academy awards the CIA wants you to know \u201cvibranium isn\u2019t real\u201d bc they even hate to see an imaginary African nation prosper https:\/\/t.co\/qckAVflE1r<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Zaron Burnett III (@Zaron3) February 25, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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