Textual Analysis Of The Hunger Games By Dave Granlund

In a political cartoon that is displaying a message for Americans needing a reality check, Dave Granlund juxtaposes the playing of The Hunger Games film against the starving, homeless people who are in need. Through his juxtaposition, Granlund suggests that the Americans are more prone to satisfy their own needs before helping the poor and hungry Americans who are looking for help.

The exigency of the political cartoon stems from the United States’ failure to help the people that are starving and homeless while The Hunger Games film is making immense profit. Granlund illustrates this by showing the film, The Hunger Games is now playing, with two impoverished men outside. The throng trying to burst and fight their way into the door shows the deindividuation from the loss of their own morals, self-awareness, and responsibility. The crowd of people looking straight at the door ahead of them aren’t even taking notice the two destitute men standing on

He illustrates his intriguing diction with the man who is holding the sign. The man says, “After they see the fantasy, maybe they’ll come see the reality!” Granlund uses the words fantasy vs. reality. These two words have opposite denotations but similar connotations. Fantasy has a negative connotation with a hint of sarcasm because imagining a fantasy is an immature way to think since it isn’t real. Reality also has a negative connotation. In this context, the reality is horrible because of how poorly the less fortunate individuals are treated. He is shameful that the self-centered attitude of Americans has evolved this way with caring for one’s own enjoyment rather than helping others around them. He also shows his irritation with the man saying how “maybe” they will come see the reality. Maybe is the key word on the man’s statement because it has the two men thinking how they aren’t good enough to receive assistance and to be treated as a human