Capitalism, A love story, the Hunger games edition

Contrary to the youtube video that we watched in class suggested, I felt like the Hunger games was a very pro-capitalist, anti-big government book and film. In the book, the government has total control over society due to the fear they have instilled into the people. The threat and lack of any real knowledge about what really happened to district thirteen keeps the population in line. District thirteen rebelled against the government and wound up being destroyed *spoiler alert* or so we think in the first book, they are actually just living underground. The government even has the power to take one boy and one girl child from each of the twelve districts and have them killed, well all but one, for the entertainment of the masses in a roman gladiator-like way. The masses are starving and unmotivated to do anything that might help the government. Katniss and Gale don't listen to the rules set up by the government, they leave the district, hunt, and barter illegally. In fact, they even try to sabotage the government once or twice. These characteristics of the system of government in the Hunger Games point directly at the flaws of a socialist or communist government of any government that is to powerful for that matter. A capitalist society has a government that is small and has minimal control, it is only there for absolute necessities. In capitalist societies, the individuals works for their own benefit and therefore they tend to work harder and have less problem with the government. We also see Katniss unallied going into the Hunger Games, and therefore she is able to protect herself and forward her own interests, even when it involves working with others for short periods. All of the other challengers die, there alliances do not help. (with the exception of Peeta, however he is working against his "allies" from the very beginning) These books stress the importance of putting oneself first, in terms of government and survival. You cannot possibly help others if you have not helped yourself first!

MAKE-UP BLOG POST#4: Selling Culture

The image above is the epitome of how ads use sex for sell, but what else does it tell us? So there's a man in a suit, standing dominantly over a woman, whose breasts are overly exposed in a teeny weeny bikini, topped off with a skyline as the backdrop. Who comes up with this stuff? The typical ad defines the world of gender roles we live in, playing on roles we are familiar with, as it suggests the man wears the suit, as the bread-winner, and the woman serves as a sex symbol who is beneath man (literally and figuratively). These roles have been in our culture for years and years, but the  media has played on these roles and these roles continue to dominate advertisements. But the ad may be doing more than we realize. What happens when these images become who we are?

With these images plaguing our everyday lives, they're hard to ignore. Whether we realize it or not, these images are the reason we are who we are today. They are vital to the set up of gender expressions. Anything outside of what media portrays as "feminine" or "masculine" is considered abnormal, but why is that? Simply because these ads have become our culture. Our culture sits on racks in magazines, flashes on the television during commercials and rides past us on buses. Living in this culture, anything outside of the "social norm" is looked down upon, developing generalizations based on common stereotypes. Sexual orientation is a prime example. This is where "gay" comes from. Those women in society that are less feminine are often perceived as "gay", as males less masculine as "gay" as well. Unfortunately, living outside of the norms has brought issues to society.

What does this ad do exactly? It sets up more barriers. It builds more walls. Tightens more chains. Sex may sell, but it's selling certain conventional images as well, like the one above. With the images connected to our culture, it's defining sexuality and shunning the unlike. This leads to institutional oppression when things differ from the dominant culture. As ads continue to play on popular gender roles and stereotypes, the sex culture grows. In the media, when sex sells, so does culture. A domino effect. Unfortunately, it's a two-for-one deal that our society has accepted.

Crippling Dependence

"Inside the woods they roam freely, and there are added concerns like venomous snakes, rabid animals, and no real paths to follow. But there's also food if you know how to find it." -Chapter 1 'The Hunger Games'

In The Hunger Games, nature is where Katniss is free. It is also where she is best at surviving on her own. Even with all of the added dangers, Katniss is still a better at surviving in nature by hunting and gathering than by working in society. Nature makes her independent and free which create a romantic for any red blooded american because independence and freedom are two highly regarded american ideals. They draw us in and make us fall in love with not only Katniss but the natural environment she thrives in. This attraction to nature, freedom and independence is the base of the Hunger Game's argument that we are crippled by our dependence on the society we have built.

Katniss does more than just survive in nature, she thrives in it. Katniss becomes more than just a girl with a bow but also an embodiment of nature. Throughout the book we see this representation grow stronger and stronger starting with the fact that she is independent of society. The book never mention Katniss working a job or trying to gain any sort of currency and by not relying on money Katniss remains clean and unstained by society. We live in a class based culture, middle class, lower class, upper class, the classes are based on the accumulation of wealth which is measured with money and by refraining from becoming reliant on money and only trading goods Katniss can be seen as someone who is outside of society. 

Katniss's weapon also has this same effect. The bow and arrow are thought to have been invented sometime between 40,000 and 20,000 BC. They are often staples of Native American or tribal cultures in which people would work together without ever becoming fully dependent on each other for basic survival. This is something unique to Katniss because the other tributes mostly use swords or small blades which wouldn't have been possible until the bronze age in 5,000 BC a time by which all types of governments and class based societies had been established like the Roman Empire 

(http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17423-timeline-weapons-technology.html#.UqfUOWRDs98).

The first way in which Katniss's embodiment of nature is used (and the other tributes embodiment of society) is to show her natural strength vs the Career packs weakness when surrounded by nature. Similar to Rouesseau's belief that a man from nature can defeat a man from society because the man from society has become reliant upon his tools and can't fend for himself without them. Katniss's victory in the Hunger Games demonstrates that and shows the weakening effects of society.

The Hunger Games also demonstrates how society especially one base on classes can be unfair to those who do the most to support it. The districts are the main example of this. The injustices done to the district such as mass poverty and under compensation for their hard labor effectively represent the injustice of the class system in America, where those who are on top rely on the lower classes but do not fairly compensate them for their work. Vital jobs in America can often be the least rewarding such as farming. “the net earnings from farming activities on 90.5 percent of all farms in America (with sales less than $249,000) was on average $2,615.” Trying to sell crops without a major retailer can also leave farmers wallets empty because “In 2005 only 6.5 percent of all farmers markets (not individual farmers or vendors, but the entire market) have annual total sales greater than $25,000. 71.4 percent of farmers markets produce less than $5000 in annual sales.” (http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2012/07/27/who-are-you-calling-rich-a-small-farmer-shares-some-hard-data/)

(Spoilers)

Even though the districts are so vital to the capital, the capital still treats them unfairly. But what if the capital couldn't rely on the districts? They would fall apart without means to fend for themselves which is just another way in which the weakness of society is displayed in books 2 and 3 of the series as the capitol come crumbling down during the districts rebellion. Not unlike the capitol The United States of America is also heavily dependent on foreign resources. “In 2012, about 40% of the petroleum consumed by the United States was imported from foreign countries.1 This was the lowest level since 1991” and “In 2012, about 57% of the crude oil processed in U.S. refineries was imported” (http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=32&t=6). Making us almost as vulnerable and dependent as the capitol.

The idea of society crippling us is one of Rousseau's arguments which is why it is helpful that this book takes a Rousseauian point of view that man is good by countering Hobb's negative views about the basis of man.

Hobbs states that man is greedy, divided and competitive but Katniss's action as a natural human state that it is actually society which give men these conditions and if man becomes independent of society then we can also become free of these conditions. Katniss is positioned against the capital and the capital is greed. They horde all of their resources and don't even give the districts enough to survive. Katniss's victory over the other tributes who are reliant on society can be seen as the selflessness of nature winning over societies greed. Katniss also overcome the divided districts by aligning herself with Rue and forming an actual bond unlike the Career Pack whose alliance is only formed out of need. Katniss's final victory over Kato can be seen as her and Peeta's survival winning over Kato's competitive nature because while Peeta and Katniss didn't want to be in the Hunger Games, Kato volunteered "for the glory of his district" and even threatens to kill Peeta even though he knows he can't survive the rest of the games.

Katniss vs the capital is a representation of nature vs society. Katniss's victory both in the hunger games and on a moral level support the Rousseau argument that nature keeps men strong while becoming reliant on society can weaken us. Through this the hunger games makes an argument that we are becoming too dependent on our society and our government to take care of ourselves. Our dependence on society strips us of our freedom and independence and thereby weakens the ideals our country was founded on.

Spread the Wealth

By: Melanie Bailey

The Hunger Games has become a worldwide phenomenon for people of all ages. The storyline involves romance, drama, death, bloody fights, and rebellion. In other words it incorporates a little bit of everything people would want to read about. Because of its popularity, people of every gender, race, social class, and title have read or heard about it. This book has been received in vastly different ways. People have found different “hidden meanings,” symbols, and ideas about society, which makes this novel an ambiguous story, and can be seen in positioning readers in different ways. Suzanne Collins demonstrates to the readers the unrest and injustice that is created by dividing society into groups that have vastly different privileges and power.

The Capitol represents the elite of the elite in Panem. Everything they could possibly want is given to them, and they don’t even need to work for it. The districts on the other hand are divided and grouped. District one is the “best” group, whereas district 12 has to work every day in order to put food on the table. This is injustice.  In order to overcome the injustice, survive, and feed her family Katniss has to break the Capitol’s rules and go hunting in the woods. Suzanne Collins demonstrates the injustice between the districts by appealing to the reader’s sense of emotion and ethics. The woods are described as containing flesh-eaters, venomous snakes, and no real paths to follow, yet Katniss has to go in them if she wants to survive. Oh the irony. The creatures in the woods are dangerous and frightening. The readers are dragged into seeing the sacrifices that Katniss is making on a day–to-day basis. This is contrasted to the way the people in the Capitol eat. 

This is the type of "bread" that the people in district 12 would have to eat. it was made of grains and not soft at all. This is an example of the unpleasant food that the people would eat just to survive.

When on the tribute train the food is described through Katniss’s eyes and appeals to the reader’s tastes, and sight. “The supper comes in courses. A thick carrot soup, green salad, lamb chops and mashed potatoes, cheese and fruit, and chocolate cake.” The food is described as fresh and filling, the kind of food Katniss has never had. Katniss at one point states that she could never find the ingredients in the woods and in the Hobb to replicate a meal that is nothing special to the Capitol. This is where the ethical appeal comes in. The Capitol gets any and every delicacy they can think of without lifting a finger, whereas Katniss puts her life on the line to get squirrels, and rabbits to eat.

The food the Gamemakers were eating. They decorate their food because to them its not a privilege to eat, it is a right.

 Thinking about eating squirrels as compared to lamb chops is where the reader is positioned. The reader is pointed into seeing the injustice that is taking place on a humanitarian level. Food is needed for survival, and the Capitol isn’t willing to make sure their workers are given an adequate amount to eat. The unrest is mostly demonstrated through Katniss. She wants to live, and she wants her family to survive. She is constantly working, and going against the Capitol by hunting in order to do the things necessary for survival.

Another way in which Suzanne Collins appeals to the reader’s sense of emotion and ethics is through Prim and Katniss’s mother’s apothecary shop. They use herbs and natural substances in order to treat major burns and other serious illnesses. “Since almost no one can afford doctors, apothecaries are our healers.” The people in district 12 work every day and put their lives on the line in dangerous coal mines while not receiving any real medical attention. This is injustice. On the other hand the people in the Capitol have medications to treat anything, which isn’t usually that serious, and they don’t share their resources. The Capitol shows no compassion or empathy to its people; they are privileged and do not share their power. This is another way in which Suzanne Collins gets the readers to see the problems that arise when there is a discrepancy.

In order to display the injustice and unrest between the districts Suzanne Collins utilizes Katniss’s first person narrative. This allows the reader to get deep inside Katniss’s thoughts and ideas. At one point Katniss has to make a tough decision, and by looking at her thought process the reader understands why she feels and takes the actions she does. “We both know they have to have a victor” is one of the thoughts that Katniss expresses and this leads to a moment that shows what happens when there is a discrepancy between social classes. Katniss is tired of the injustice that is taking place and the reader feels the same way too because of the point of view from the book. The distance to the reader is very close and they can put themselves in Katniss’s place. Katniss has a way of showing what all of the injustice and unrest has done to her throughout her life. She wants to take a stand and rebel against the Capitol for all they have put the lower districts through. She decides to do it by going against the Gamemakers at the end of the seventy-fourth Hunger Games.

The poison berries that Katniss and Peeta decide to eat to make their stance against the Capitol were described as glistening in the sun, which made them appear to almost have a majestic quality about them. This majestic quality could represent the effect they are going to have on the Capitol.  The way Katniss and Peeta positioned themselves with the berries, backs pressed together, also made the reader feel closer to them. The readers could visually become engaged while their emotions were being evoked

The reader is able to see what the Capitol has done by dividing the districts. Suzanne Collin’s uses strong diction, the audience can relate to. The point that she is trying to get across is relatable to the readers because she uses vocabulary that everyday people can understand. When she is describing the woods, the Capitol, or the berries she uses strong word choices that evoke a feeling for the reader, which helps the reader understand the message she is trying to prevail.

Different philosophies are taught every year in high schools that allow students to see where the ideas of human rights, democracy, and ruling class comes from. Most people in the United States and across the world have been exposed to philosophy in some way shape or form. Suzanne Collin’s book signifies a society that has injustice and unrest due to the grouping of various different social classes. The reason this has had such an impact is because it is relatable and desired by people of all ages. It has a bigger impact on the people who can look past the story of an imperfect society with a girl trying to make a difference, and see the different philosophies that are represented in the text. The readers have strong emotions because Suzanne Collins was able to create a certain identity among her readers. Only people reading the book would understand the significance of a Mocking Jay. Just like Stewart Hall describes, there were “insiders and outsiders” created. The outsiders were the people who didn’t read the book whereas the insiders were the people who thoroughly enjoyed the book and allowed themselves to read the text paying attention to the first person narrative, and how that felt, as well becoming absorbed in the material, and allowing to feel the emotional tension that was presented.  Because an identity was created the readers saw the problems that the division of districts created in society. The message has been passed onto others because of other components involved in the circuit of culture. People of ALL ages have read this book, and expressed their opinions to their friends. This book is consumed by everyone, and because of that the messages that readers are taking away from it gets passed along as well.

As Dick Hebdige states in Subcultures; the meaning of style “The term hegemony refers to a situation in which a provisional alliance of certain social groups can exert ‘total social authority’ over the subordinate groups, not simply by coercion or by the direct imposition of ruling ideas, but by winning and shaping consent so that the power of the dominant classes appears both legitimate and natural.” The idea of hegemony is present in the Hunger Games with the Capitol and the division of the districts. The Capitol has full control over the other districts, and the districts themselves are not equal in power and privileges. The Capitol acts as if this is a natural thing to do in order to keep the country of Panem functioning properly without rebellion. Hegemony and the ideas that it represents are familiar to readers in the world we live in today which makes them realize the inequality that is brought about by the separation of people.

China is a communist government where the government does exert total social control over its people. One way in which they do this is through limiting the number of children married couples can have to one child. If a family has more children than that, and disobeys the government there are consequences. http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/star-chinese-director-admits-defying-child-rule-21065070 To most of the Chinese people the power of the government seems natural, they are making that rule to limit the size of the population, but by doing so they are taking away the natural rights of people. In comparison the Capitol in Hunger Games also goes against the natural rights of people by having a lottery to see whose child is going to fight to their death. Whether the parent likes it or not if their child’s name is drawn they have to compete in the Hunger Games. The readers can relate issues in the book to real life issues and make the connection, which is why they are able to see the injustice and unrest.

This picture from the movie shows the distress and agony that is felt by the families who do have their child unexpectedly drawn to participate in the Hunger Games. 

Rousseau’s idea of a natural state is also recognized by many people. In the second part of his social contract Rousseau argues that progress and the start of civilization is what lead to inequality, murders, and wars. He thought that men in their natural state was better. This concept is shown in Hunger Games when Katniss is hunting in the woods. This is the one place where she is happiest with herself and at ease with the government. The reader understands the importance of this natural state through the choice of diction that is used and the senses that are provoked. Although she is in danger, she is not being controlled and has a choice about what decision she wants to make. The human contact is limited, and she is looking after herself. In the woods she is not a district number or a puppet for the Capitol she has the free will to do what she wants. This demonstrates the power of a natural state without government control. In the woods there is no injustice or unrest because there is no division among the people. 

Here is Gale and Katniss in their woods before the reaping. They are taking about a life on the run away from society and how much better it would be. They do not like the Capitol's control, and would be content with remaining in a natural state.

A way that readers today could relate to this is through the practice of yoga. Although it is not technically a “natural state” it is a time when people are at one with themselves not linked to the government, the need for survival, or money. People practicing yoga try to eliminate stress in their lives and while relaxing and becoming one with the world around them. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/yoga/CM00004 This is exactly how Katniss feels in the woods. She becomes one with her surroundings and eliminates pressure from outside sources. By being able to make the connections to the real world through old philosophies and newer practices the reader understands the need for less power in the Capitol.

           

 For centuries various philosophies and forms of government have been discussed and integrated into society. Because of this common knowledge and recognition among people the reader is able to see that the text offers multiple arguments about society. This is able to affect people because they understand the principles and terms behind the ideas. As human beings we constantly take in all of our surroundings and try to figure out what they mean. When we are repeatedly exposed to the same situations we are more able to respond in a rational way. By using old philosophies that relate to the real world today the reader is able to make connections through the text and come to the position that dividing society into groups with vastly different privileges and power only leads to injustice and unrest.  Readers see and feel the arguments presented because they are human. Even if these theories are not common knowledge to everyone the ideas behind them can be related to on a human level. The idea of injustice and unrest is an argument about the book because it has to do with the quality of life, survival, and freedom. We are programed to feel emotions, and when we see something that takes away from freedom we notice it. A part of our habits is reacting to the situations presented in the Hunger Games the way we would see other people react. Throughout the years people learn what is “right” and “wrong” and this alters our ability to see what is presented in Suzanne Collin’s book.

            

The Hunger Games argues that a division of society separating privileges and power leads to injustice and unrest. It is making the readers understand the negative effects of too much power and control over people with not enough free will. As was seen in the examples, there is a distinct line between the Capitol and the districts with the food they eat, the simplicity of survival, and the medications they are given. The Hunger Games is making the reader feel sad, and terrified with all of the inhumane acts that are taking place based on class status, which makes them realize why rebellion or change is needed.  They see that the fight of Katniss and Peeta is one of survival not just in the games, but for the people in district 12 as well. If they win the people of district 12 will get more food, and have an easier time surviving. The way Hunger Games is representing reality with the society they live in gives it agency to affect the way the reader’s position themselves, and think about the situation at hand. All of the suffering, inequality, and fighting that is represented allows the readers to think about what is going on, and find a relatable point in their lives. They see how horribly wrong the things are that are taking place, and because of that the reader has an independent capacity to act in a way that argues for equality, and goodness. The Hunger Games has the ability to shape culture by addressing prominent issues in society today, and demonstrating the negative effects that can take place when the free will of everyone is not protected. The Hunger Games is being “consumed” by masses of people. The messages that are in the book are being spread to all, and because of this it has greatly shaped and impacted culture.

A drive for Anti-Capitalism

The entire trilogy is about a social revolution – a push against capitalism.

Many people have connected the Hunger Games to propaganda for anti-capitalism, and I can see how these connections are formed. The basic idea of Hunger Games portrays Capitalistic views. The Capitol is high in power, rank, stature, and economic wealth and because of this the Capitol holds all of the power. 

The Capitol in Hunger Games is what makes the grandest profit. They run all of the districts and make the citizens work hard for little pay, and the capitol keeps majority of the profit.  By using the other districts to support their luxurious lifestyles, the Capitol develops to be rich, strong, and superior. No one from the capital would be caught dead working the land, in any style.

Even the layout of the city is supposed to evoke emotion. The designers talk about how when creating the image for the capitol they looked at images of communist Russia and it’s concrete structure for inspiration. As a child, we were all taught in History Class the horrible things that had occurred in communist Russia. By modeling the Capitol after the images we’ve seen about communist Russia, the designers create a clear connection comparing the capitalistic Capitol to Communist Russia. This connection causes the audience to think negatively towards capitalism.

Designing the capitol - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAQqQWNFN7A

The Capital

 The Capitol is a dictatorship. And the citizen chose to revolt again the capitol. Because the trilogy itself is about a revolt on the capitol, many people have thought the underlying message of the trilogy was a positive push against capitalism.

Now the entire book portrays the capitol in a negative light. They are controllers, they are evil, and they are even depicted as somewhat subhuman. And but that I mean with the way they dress, the grandness, bold colors, and pristine style, the Capitol’s people are made to look fake and force – in order for us to see them as different. This causes the audience to hate the capitol, and its dictatorship ways. Because of the way the capitol treats people, a form of hatred is generated in the audience.

Capitol Fashion

Because of the blatant hatred towards the Capitol and all of its people, the audience is excited to see the capitol overthrown. A passion for anti-capitalism builds in the audience. This trilogy is a cry against capitalism, with a love story subtly woven into order to slowly coerce the audience to take the writer’s position.

The Hunger Games itself is designed to scare people away from the idea of revolting, in addition to providing a show for the people of the capitol. By taking innocent children, and pinning them against each other, the capitol instills fear throughout the districts.

Changing the Odds

       The themes of The Hunger Games are universal ones. Suzanne Collins explores everything from oppression to suffering as a form of pleasure. With subtly, Collins’s visual rhetoric sends a forewarning to her readers about the possibilities of what our future holds. A common motif evolving within the novel was the image of appearance. Collin’s detailed imagery painted a picture of Katniss’s world, the world within the Capital, as well as the world of the Hunger Games. Each distinct world was particularly detailed to draw one common argument blatantly suggesting the presence of social class. Although the district is described with “black cinder streets”, for the working class and lacking everyday needs, in contract, the Capital is described as “glistening”, “bright”, full of people who looked as if they “have never missed a meal” The obvious contrast forces the readers to recognize the presence of social class, but even more, the inequality between the rich and the poor.
   
    Collins description of District 12 illustrates Katiniss’s state of poverty. From the beginning, District 12 is portrayed as a place of the working class, with the “men and women with hunched shoulders” and “swollen knuckles”. With houses described as “gray” and black dusty roads, Collins paints a clear image of the Seam of District 12 as the working class. Although a hard-working cohort, the remains impoverished, as Katniss suggests their luck to get two or three hours of electricity. Katniss’s social class is articulated as she tells of the district’s lack of food and starvation as doom for many in the district. Katniss has become accustomed to the lifestyle and is astonished by the contrast she is met with when she enters the Capital. Katniss sees the “glistening buildings”, “shiny cars”, as well as all of the “artificial” colors of the people and the Capitol. Collins depicts a clear contrast in order to draw the line between classes in The Hunger Games. The dark imagery of District 12 connotes the deprived and the unfortunate, while the bright imagery of the Capital connotes the wealthy and the privileged. Such images, such as of starvation, signify poverty, while images of cars are signifiers for wealth. Quite simply, the contrast of such signifiers in The Hunger Games creates a theme of social class and the disparity between classes.
                             VS.
                                           Collin’s contrast imagery forces the readers to recognize the existence of social class within the novel. 

    As readers, we are able to recognize the social classes because of what we have seen and learned. As our body’s act as a form of memory, what we’ve seen and experience become what we know and human culture. In the case of The Hunger Games, our experiences with social class that we live in makes the class system in the novel easily recognized. Such ways become set into our culture and become “universal and timeless” ways in our lives, as Hebdige explains. Class systems have been a part of mankind for all of history. The concept has been around in our societies, created dominant social group who first had complete authority, exemplifying a hegemonic situation, as Hedbige points out. The institution in complete authority in The Hunger Games is the Capitol. As history repeats itself and is constantly “retraced” in the “map of meaning”, as Stuart Hall suggests, social class becomes an everyday concept and the habitus of the human race. As an end result, recognizing social class based on the imagery as signification in The Hunger Games becomes effortless for us readers. 

    Ultimately, the visual rhetoric not only brings to surface the concept of social class for us readers, but it creates an argument about the dangerous possibilities that classification, in the wrong combination, may hold. Stuart Hall argues that classification is a part of our culture and it harmless until combined with power. Collin’s argument suggests a fear similar to that of Hall, who goes on to describe his fear of classification combined with power. This worry comes to life in extremes in The Hunger Games, seen, as the districts are impoverished, but the puppets and pawns of entertainment for the Capitol. Hall describes this as troublesome because it creates an opportunity for the lines of classification to cause reason for inequality. As seen in The Hunger Games, the line of classification between the Capitol and the districts causes a disparity in resources and even rights. The Capital is dominant over the district and because of the dominance, as Hall suggests, the Capitol is able to maintain order of the district. Collin displays Hall’s idea of the danger of power alongside classification through The Hunger Games, as tributes and districts are continuously oppressed and unequal. Although Hall suggests classification is normal and is a example of the “common sense code”, Collin’s novel forewarns that power combined with a class system is a recipe for danger, as Stuart Hall would also agree. Eventually, the visual rhetoric depicts social class at its worst in The Hunger Games cautioning about the threat of classification merged with authority, as the habitus of ‘classification’ is constantly ‘retraced’ in our culture and history. Collin’s argument attempts to inform us of how dangerous the threat can be and how it can lead to devastating results that will solidify inequality in social classes and forever oppress the oppressed.

 In all, it suggests that the odds will forever be in the favor of the dominant class.

Convince Me

Martha Anglehart, Cassandra Buehler and Alexandra Anderson

The slaughtering of innocent human beings, the fight for life, suffering as entertainment, inequality between rich and poor, and the importance of control encompasses the riveting themes of the popular book and movie series, The Hunger Games. Despite the themes being extremely mortal, readers are drawn to the enticing plot and character involvement. The games are very realistic, leading readers to be drawn to such a life-like story line. We learn early on just how difficult life is for many families in Panem and we learn that the Capital uses The Hunger Games to prey on the poorest of people and that the Capital controls every aspect of the citizens lives.

Control is the main overlaying theme of The Hunger Games. We see how the government, specifically President Snow, has taken control after the Dark Days and the citizens of Panem are at the mercy of him. The extent of his control is centered around the game that he created to keep the 12 Districts in line and to remind them what will happen when they try to defy him and the Capital. To instill fear into the citizens he not only forces two children from each district to fight in the games, he controls what their lives are like in their home districts.

(President Snow talking about why they have the Hunger Games)

He uses the tesserae as a means of control not only as the drawing for who will play in the games each year, but also as a way for the children of each district to help feed their families as they can enter even more times than necessary to receive more help, preying on the weakest and poorest of people. Adding to the already horrible fact that President Snow uses the children of each district as pawns in his reign of control, the fact that this is a story about  children who are forced by the government of Panam to play a ‘game’ that is made into a huge parade of entertainment for the people of Panem to watch. The Hunger Games are not just any game that we imagine children playing; these children have to do the one thing we as humans can’t imagine coming from children even if it wasn’t associated with them playing a game - they must murder each other to win - all in the name of ‘reminding everyone what happens when they challenge the Capital’.

(The first time we see these children slaughtering each other)

The complete control of the people by the government continues throughout the games. As the tributes compete for their lives in the games they not only have to fight against each other, but they have to fight against the Gamemaker’s creations, strategically placed to make the games harder for the tributes and of course for the Capital’s entertainment. The first time we see this is when Katniss has found her safe haven in a tree. The Gamemaker is not happy that she has found refuge close to the edge of the arena, so he instructs his workers to create a forest fire, forcing Katniss to leave the tree if she wishes to stay alive. As Katniss is running for her life, the engineers being throwing fireballs at Katniss, causing her to receive an injury on her leg. This is the first time we realize that the Gamemaker’s will stop at nothing to create a good show for the Capital and how little control within the games that the tributes have.

(Gamemakers altering the arena)

The next time we see the Gamemakers interfere with the games is with the creation of the mutts. Because the book is written in the first person, you are unable to see the Gamemakers deliberately create the beasts to stir up the games, but in the movie you see how the beasts are carefully engineered by people wearing white lab coats, who are praised for their work. The factors of the game are continually altered for nothing more than the pure enjoyment of the viewers. This once again, shows the audience that the games are out of the tribute’s control.

(Gamemaker creates the mutts)

The events following Cato’s death demonstrate the control possessed by President Snow and the Capital. After he dies, Katniss and Peeta believe they have won the games, but, the previous rule change is revoked by order from President Snow  and now either Katniss or Peeta must die. This is when we see how manipulative the Capital truly is and how they use the tributes as pawns in their game.  Katniss then takes matters into her own hands and manipulates the game. She knows that the Capital will not let both of them die, so she and Peeta start to eat the deadly nightlock berries. At that moment, Seneca Crane interrupts them and announces them as the winner of the 74th annual Hunger Games. Here we see Katniss try to take control away from the capital, which President Snow is extremely upset with. As a result, President Snow has Seneca executed as a way to demonstrate once again his complete power and control. When Katniss meets Haymitch before the ceremony Haymitch states,

“Listen up. You’re in trouble. Word is the Capitol’s furious about you showing them up in the arena. The one thing they can’t stand is being laughed at and they’re the joke of Panem (pg.356-357).”

We once again see how President Snow is infuriated with the loss of control he had with the results of the game and how he plans on getting that control back.

Each of these scenes showcases the lack of power the tributes and the people of Panem have. They are forced to do exactly what the government wishes, no questions asked. Even if they attempt to disregard the rules, or go against what the government wishes, the power of Panem will put them back in their place, by punishing, or creating different rules to demean any sort of freedom they may be attempting to obtain.

The books are written in first person narrative from Katniss Everdeen, which is why we read the story the way we do. As the games progress we become more and more emotionally connected with her and our connection makes it possible for us as readers to become part of what is going on. We start to hate the Capital. We see it as controlling, manipulative, suppressing, and even evil. We start to view the people who live there as greedy, selfish, and sick. But, how would we view the Capital and the Hunger Games if the story wasn’t written from Katniss’s point of view? What if it was written from Effie’s point of view, or President Snow’s? If that were the case we would most likely view the Hunger Games as a way for the government to maintain control, instead of the murder of innocent children, and we would think that the government maintaining control is a good thing. This is because we would see the glamorous side to Panem, not the impoverished, suppressed side we with Katniss as the narrator. The way we feel towards the games would change even if the story were written from a Career tribute’s perspective. We would find the games as a way to honor our district, instead of looking at them as horrific and terrifying, like we do from Katniss’s perspective. Having Katniss as the narrator also causes us to want to know what happens with Katniss, Peeta and Gale and through it all we lose sight of what we are actually reading about. We remove ourselves from our initial shock of this crazy reaping, what The Hunger Games actually are, and only want Katniss and Peeta to make it to the end, even though we know that means all of those other children will die. The first person narration by Katniss completely dictates  the way we view the Capital, the Hunger Games, and everything inbetween.

Even though we don’t want to, it is understandable how we can get lost in this story and set aside the fact that we are reading a mortally graphic story about adults who send children into an arena to kill each other because of how the story is written. In the first few hours of entering the arena, we find out that 11 tributes have lost their lives and instead of feeling sadness that 11 children are now dead, we are just glad that Katniss has made it into the woods safely. The attachment the readers feel to Katniss causes us to forget the immoral nature of The Hunger Games. We want Katniss to survive, but Katniss surviving means that everyone else must die. Because of this, we slowly become okay with the idea of the other tributes dying and even the idea of Katniss killing.

Hobbes would argue that The Hunger Games corrupts the fundamental principles of liberal thought. He believed that men should be naturally equalized, and that political power should be “representative” based on the consent of the people. This contradicts the formation of the Panem government, being that they do not create equalization throughout the people. District one is more well off than any other district. The amount of value they have versus the rest of the districts, especially Katniss and Peeta’s district is much greater. Hobbes also believes that the interpretation of the law should leave people to do whatever the law does not forbid. Again the government goes against this. They do not lawfully respect the guidelines set up. The government is not representative of the people, it is not doing what the people of Panem want. If it were Hobbes way, he would equalize the districts, and limit the amount of power the government had without being equally represented by the people. Hobbes would also argue that The Hunger Games are an example of how people act when in a State of Nature, or a State of War. Even though the tributes are being controlled by the government and the state of nature is actually the absence of government, the tributes represent Hobbes’ belief that people are inherently bad.

The first man who, having fenced in a piece of land, said "This is mine," and found people naïve enough to believe him, that man was the true founder of civil society. Rousseau asserted that the stage of human development associated with what he called "savages" was the best or optimal in human development, between the less-than-optimal extreme of brute animals on the one hand and the extreme of decadent civilization on the other. "...[N]othing is so gentle as man in his primitive state, when placed by nature at an equal distance from the stupidity of brutes and the fatal enlightenment of civil man." He would say this is why we like, support, and connect with Katniss. He would also argue that the government of Panem is nothing more than the true founder of the society. They took control and made the districts the way they are, leaving the people in the hands of their power. As he says the people are gentle,not willing to stand up for themselves, and therefore easily played with by the government, almost as if they are puppets.

Woodsworth would say  that The Hunger Games is written much like poetry, providing the readers with a sense of both pain and pleasure which keeps them coming back for more. We are drawn to the story of Katniss and Peeta, we gasp when they are in trouble, we smile when they are safe, we support Katniss and her rebellious behavior because we find pain in what the Capital is doing to these innocent people. He would also say that we are drawn to Katniss because of her natural piety because she is from the poorest district and is so far removed from what we know as the Capital that we want this young innocent girl to make it over any other tribute.

The Hunger Games reminds of the gruesome story of a government deciding the fate of its citizens and killing some but sparing others reminds us of the Holocaust and reading Maus: A Survior’s Tale. Maus was written as a comic book but it was not entertaining and did not become popular like The Hunger Games, but why? First, because it was a real historical event; but how is this story of Vladek’s experience fighting for his life any different than Katniss’ fight for her life? No one read Maus because they liked the story and found it entertaining; they read it because it was a story of a real survivor. The Hunger Games can be looked at much like the Holocaust, no it is not real, but the story of President Snow being the one in charge, his rules, his ideas, his laws - they mirror Hitler in a sense that they both had an agenda - they were both Gamemakers with innocent people's lives. We saw Vladek do many questionable things to survive, and as readers it was hard to accept sometimes. We knew those people suffered and many died because of Vladek’s actions, but we don’t question Katniss’ actions - is that because The Hunger Games is not real so we can differentiate between real and made up, and accept even the most horrible of stories just because something is not real and we know it?

As readers, why do we become okay with the idea of Katniss killing? Do we even start to want Katniss to kill? Are we obsessed with violence? Are we okay with the innocent and impoverished being used to fuel the  greedy needs of the guilty and  wealthy? For most, The Hunger Games is a book and movie series that is pure entertainment, but how? How do we as readers remove ourselves from what is actually going on? How do we overlook the fact that we are reading and imagining a game being played out; where the pawns are children and the entire population is watching for fun? What does our obsession with The Hunger Games say about us and our culture?

Our enjoyment of modern day reality television and turning people into commodities resembles the fact that everything about The Hunger Games is constantly in the media of Panam, from the reapings to the tributes training, to the actual events in the arena, because in both instances we are viewers of the Games like we view the Kardashians. Value is no longer dependent on their skill, or their strengths, but rather what they can provide for satisfaction for entertainment. The Kardashians may not have as many skills that a typical famous family or individual may have, yet their abnormal, extravagant lifestyle provides us with the entertainment we crave. This is similar to The Hunger Games with Katniss and Peeta’s spark of love, their incredible costumes, and their loving personalities, it draws the people of Panam to their peculiar lives.  Their value becomes determined by how much entertainment they provide, and as such they lose their identities as people. They are doing what is best for the sake of winning, demeaning who they truly are. The Hunger Games suggest that reality television is a form of objectification.

The way we react to The Hunger Games matters because it shows how as a cultural and society we can become easily mislead into being complacent as followers. Not just in our enjoyment of a story that that is morally inhumane in nature, but also how we can sit back and allow a group of people or one single person dictate our futures without a fight. We react this way because human nature is known to follow. It takes a truly unique and couraged individual to stand up for what is right, and fight against what the majority is doing. As seen in The Hunger Games and in Maus: A Survivor’s Tale, people will continue to follow even if it may be wrong. It is a slippery slope when listening to those who promote immoral behaviors. Both in Panam and in Europe throughout the Holocaust the population allows themselves to be led. Values go completely astray as when individuals take the lead and creates a path that innocent individuals follow, blinded by the happenings occurring.