I will be reviewing the film ‘The hunger games’ and how it tackles the sociological problem of class. The Hunger games is set in Panem, a country that is made up of twelve districts and the capitol which is completely reliant on the poorer districts for all the necessary resources to maintain a luxurious lifestyle . The twelve districts represent a working class or proletariat. The capitol which is made up of an upper class / bourgeoisie and all of these districts work for the capital who own the means of production this emulates modern day society ‘The bourgeoisie owns the means of production and employs wage labour’ (Ritzer & Stepnisky, (2014), p62) Each district is separated by a manual labour profession demonstrating [MARXIST THEORY CLASS …show more content…
This tradition resembles that of ancient rome when men would fight to the death not only for entertainment but as a way for the elite to reinforce their social position by demonstrating their power over proletariat. confirming the relationship of master/slave as been unchanged throughout history ‘realtions of subordination have thus existed is societies since the classical antiquity and are evident historically up to the modern day’(Ken Morrison,Formations of social thought, second edition (1995), pg58) the prize for winning the games is a years food supply for their district, this incentive makes members of the districts more likely to accept this exploitation rather than try to oppose it, just as slaves in the past would have an incentive for fighting which would be their life. Another reward for winning the games is gaining a place in the victors village, each district has a gated community that contains a houses instead of a shacks, any victors are then housed here. This slight increase of physical capital begins to show how social mobility can be achieved. For example Hamish was also a member of district12 however due to him winning the games he begins to excel through the social ranks by socialising with members of the capitol this increase in social capitol allows him to function within …show more content…
This keeps them in a favourable position with the capitol. It is noted that members from district one take pride I 'm competing in the games and quite often volunteer to take part. once in the games we see how their tactics are to target the weaker contestants comparing this with the tactics of the higher numbered districts who don 't seem to kill anyone unless in self defence and focus more on survival than killing. this enforces the idea that the higher up the social hirearchy you are the more your morals agree with those of the capitol. when in the capitol many things shock katniss and in turn the viewers of the film. for example katniss attends a party where she witnesses people eating a variety of foods and then consuming a drink to make them sick to allow them to taste more food, all whilst people in the districts are dying from starvation. hunger is a product of poverty and inequality this scene in the film reveals the extent of the social inequality. The wealthy have no concern for the
The book The Hunger Games is full of critical scenes. A critical scene is a type of scene that is necessary for the book to have a story. One very important critical scene is when Prim was chosen at the reaping. When she was chosen Katniss decided to take her place as a tribute. Why did Katniss take her place? What could have happened if she didn't take her place?
In 2012 the film The Hunger Games hit theatres and became a success. The success of the film was originally fueled by the fan base of the Suzanne Collins authored trilogy of the same name, but it soon gained popularity amongst those who had not read the trilogy as well. You could relate the movie to sociology in one of two ways. The first option would be to write about how the film became a cultural phenomenon or other theories relating to its success. This paper will be written using the other way, which is to write about the movie itself through a sociological point of view by writing about how culture, social control, and stratification are featured in the movie and how people with different sociological perspectives may view the film.
In The Hunger Games the citizens of the districts are forced to labour for the rich Capitol. “Men with hunched shoulders and swollen knuckles” and “black cinder streets” (pages 4 and 5) shows how people of District 12 suffer as they work as coal miners therefore face consequences of damaged bones. Another quote from page 21 of Collins book states, “It’s the capitol’s way of reminding us how totally we are at their mercy,” proves the fact that the Capitol live by controlling the lives of the people from these districts with President Snow a major reason for a split in the
The Hunger Games that follows, the term that defines a dystopian fiction. One main belief that defines Dystopian society is the development into a “hierarchical society” (“Dystopia”). A hierarchical society plays a big part in the story that outline the whole plot. For example, Capitol is wealthier than all the districts. Some districts are more privileged than others. The Careers, being tributes from districts one to three, are prepared and trained for years before the games. However, this is illegal, but because of the support towards District two from the Capitol, they are let off, along with District one and District four, the other richer districts. In this cas...
My group chose the movie, The Hunger Games, because we felt like it represented clear differences between today’s society and the society in the movie. This movie offers different mindsets and ideas compared to today’s modern society. For instance, the concepts of socialization, politics, and government are different in the movies society. In addition, the United States also does not select two members to compete to the death, nor split up groups according to power and wealth. Our government also does not allow the deviance like the movie does. The social changes are a huge factor as well in the movie. These are just a few concepts of sociology that will be discussed by the group that touch upon major cultural differences.
In a not-too-distant, some 74 years, into the future the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 13 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games; these children are referred to as tributes (Collins, 2008). The Games are meant to be viewed as entertainment, but every citizen knows their purpose, as brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts. The televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eradicate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. The main character throughout the series is a 16-year-old girl from District 12 named Katniss Everdeen.
In both books they share some traits, even though they may not look anything alike they are. both of these novels are dystopian novels and many characters share similarity’s.
Mahatma Gandhi once said “Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent then the one derived from fear of punishment.” Power is something that a lot of people tend to misuse. Power can be great at times, but most the time it can make bad things happen. People think just because they have the power to do something means they should do it, when really that is not the case. In the movie “The Hunger Games” power is used to abuse everyone and everything around.
The movie “The Hunger Games” has many similarities and relations to World Mythology. While it may not seem like this movie is as myth related as others, such as Troy and Thor, many of the themes and situations in the movie were inspired by the stories of the great myths and epics. The overall theme of the movie is courage, strength, and destiny.
The novel Anthem by Ayn Rand and the movie The Hunger Games directed by Francis Lawrence and Gary Ross are popular among teens because they can relate to them by the high expectations put upon them. In a dystopian novel or movie, there is a dystopian protagonist. A dystopian protagonist is someone who often feels trapped, struggles to escape, questions existing systems, believes or feels as if something is wrong in the place they live in, and then helps the audience realize the effects of dystopian worlds. These are both good examples because it takes us on a walk through the protagonist's life and only then do we see what dystopian really is.
Rees Brennan, Sarah. “Why so hungry for the Hunger Games”. Hunger Games Down with the Capitol. http://hungergamesdwtc.net/2011/05/read-along-why-so-hungry-for-the-hunger-games-what-draws-readers-into-the-series/.. Web. May 04, 2012
Human life in the story is not valued in this setting either, since teenagers are thrown into arenas every year to kill each other just for sheer amusement of the government officials. The main city that is within the capitol conforms to the same thought process and and behavior, making them appear dehumanized to outsiders. The citizens of the capitol don’t question anything the government does, and worships them to the point of referring to them as ‘peace keepers.’ Going outside of the barrier is feared, as well as expressing any independent thought because of every district being under surveillance by the government. The whole concept of having the Hunger Games is to spread propaganda and to make light of the bigger districts and officials. They use technological control to add unnatural elements into the arena such as programmed wolf-dogs, genetically made death wasps, and fire blasts. The cameras watching every district constantly is also a form of this type of control. The society in this series is controlled by corrupt bureaucrats by forcing everyone to give to the government in order to have food, leaving many places poor and destitute. Adolescents have to risk their lives just to keep authorities happy. And anyone who tries to speak against what is happening, let alone tries to revolt, gets killed on the
The sustenance provides an inner look on a person’s own worth and integrity. The need to be one’s self is a basic need and want of life, but it is also very difficult in achieving. That is why it is so important for Katniss to simulate the theatricality made by the capital, and give the people what they want, which is for the stimulated to be real. The question of reality is raised by Peeta, who realized that his fear is that, after all his memories were replaced and has been through physical and psychological torture, that he is still himself. We also know that the last time that he had asked this question was in the cave with Katniss in the first hunger games. It is because of the wealth of the capital that they have control over the 12 districts. Also in the game it is said that the higher the district you are, the poorer you are, and the lesser the advantage you have over the other tributes. This proving that the Capital controls the wealth of the districts and uses it against the districts. Even in the games, the rich battle against the poor because in the games, tributes from districts 1 to 4 team up against
The Hunger Games- “a futuristic dystopian society [Panem] where an overpowering government controls the lives and resources in twelve different districts” (The Hunger Games). The overpowering government lives in the Capitol of Panem and from there controls the citizens of the twelve districts through propaganda and other means. The Capitol has all of the economic and political power in Panem; they have complete control. The leader of the capitol is the harsh, dictator-like figure, President Snow. President Snow’s methods for keeping order in the districts are through Peacekeepers and the annual Hunger Games. The Peacekeepers are an army that monitors each district. Any sign of rebellion, and the Peacekeepers take care of it, usually by killing the rebel in some way. The annual Hunger Games are used to remind all of the citizens of Panem about the uprising in the now obliterated District 13. The Hunger Games, in a way, brainwashes all of the citizens, but a select few such as Katniss Everdeen, to believe that an uprising would be horrible and is not necessary and that the Capitol does what is best for all of the citizens. In
The main character, Katniss, volunteers as tribute for her district to save her sister from having to be tribute. Upon arriving in the Capitol for the games, she sees just how vast the gap between the Capitol and districts are. To fight against this class struggle, she begins to revolt. At first this comes in the form of small things, like shooting an arrow at a pig feast of Capitol higher-ups and refusing to kill her friend in the games, resulting in the first ever co-victors of the Hunger Games. Katniss’ actions soon lead to full blown rebellion in the districts, starting a revolutionary war between them and the Capitol. At one point Katniss remarks: “My ongoing struggle against the Capitol, which has so often felt like a solitary journey, has not been undertaken alone. I have had thousands upon thousands of people from the districts at my side.” (Catching Fire 90). In true Marxist fashion the working class needed to use a violent revolution to confront the class struggle against the ruling