Hunger Games Themes

     Last Friday, I attended a showing of Mocking Jay Part 1, the third installment of the Hunger Games live action movie series (based on the award winning novels written by Suzanne Collins). As I was watching, I couldn't help but notice themes in the movie that are present in the world today. The backdrop of a dystopian future America allows for tons of speculation about what the districts and their relationship with the capital actually symbolize. I walked into the movie with a generic understanding of what symbolized what but what I found was much more surprising. The smaller issues such as propoganda and violent demonstrations relate more to modern society than any other.

     The issue of genocide and violence is always present in both the book and movie series. The vengeful capital forces two "tributes" from the twelve districts of Panem (ages of 12 to 18) to participate in the Hunger Games, a televised event in which the tributes fight to the death, the victor claiming prosperity and fame forever. This is used as a way to keep rebels from rising up against the capital like they did in the "dark ages", a time where the districts waged war against the capital for it's unfair treatment. Today, we see this happening on numerous occasions. ISIS, a violent terrorist organization constantly beheads and brutally murders people that don't share their beliefs. This organization conquers cities throughout the Middle East, putting it's denizens in deep peril. There many similarities between ISIS and the capital, but their violent actions against those who have differing opinions are most prominent.

 

     Mocking Jay Part 1 focusses the majority of its time describing how the rebels, now hiding in the long lost District 13, create propaganda against the capital. Katniss, the protagonist of the series and face of the rebel army is regarded as the "mocking jay" and is used to represent the rebellion in ads and trailers focused on recruiting new members to their movement. This relates most with "Uncle Sam" and the I want you posters. These signs were used by the United States military to recruit new members to the army. Uncle Sam, the personification of all that is American is seen pointing to the reader, saying "I want you to enlist in the US army". The posters were an effective method of recruiting members to the all volunteer US army and can still be seen today. Both the mocking jay movement and the USA use propoganda to enlist members to their cause.

     Overall, there are many real word themes that overlap into the fictional world of panem from modern society. I would definitely recomend the Hunger Games series to anyon looking for a great new read. The books are perfectly translated into their movie adaptations and I had a great time watching them as well. Suzanne Collins has created a great new world of thinkers and I applaud her for her work.