Hunger Games Reflection Essay

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erica’s Haunting Reflection
The book, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins can be deciphered in many different ways. Emily Lem and Holly Hassle’s view on this story is how The Hunger Games defy the norm by breaking down gender-related barriers. They argue that, “Katniss capitalizes patriarchal values that privilege traditionally masculine qualities…” (Lem-Hassel 118). This perception is not entirely wrong, but it’s not the main theme of the book. Bill Clemente and Valerie Estelle Frankel argue that Panem is a political, cultural, and metaphorical parallel to our nation of America. Clemente states that The Hunger Games “reflect on the political dissatisfaction and economic hardship that inform contemporary society” (Clemente 20). Frankel joins …show more content…

This is clearly seen in the movies that are made every year. Gladiator, The Lord of the Rings, 300, Saw, and even The Hunger Games are just a few of the movies that Americans love. It’s also seen in our love of violent contact sports, paying money to see events like Football, UFC fighting, and Boxing. The Violent video game industry takes in around eight hundred million dollars annually; thus showing America’s lust for violence and blood. This is paralleled with Panem’s love for the Hunger Games. The Capitol’s view on the Hunger Games is a ritualistic one; Celebrating violence and child warfare as a national holiday. This is seen when the Capitol forces the districts to turn the Hunger Games in to a festival and a sporting event (HG 19). It’s obvious to see where Suzanne Collins drew her inspiration, looking no further than the culture that surrounds …show more content…

Our world today has footprints of television stamped all of it. American’s indulge themselves in reality shows, televised sporting events, news broadcasts, and sitcoms. The “reality” of our nation seems to be force fed to us by all the different media providers. We are told what to buy, where to buy, what to buy with, what to do, what to watch, how to watch it, and how to live. Panems’ media is monopolized by the Capitol. The Capitol controls the ebb and flow of information throughout Panem. This is used mainly to propagate fear in the Districts in Panam, as well as to manipulate the people of Panem. The Hunger Games are one of the ways the Capitol controls the Districts. When the mayor gives his speech at the start of the reaping, he tells how there was a rebellion by all of the districts and how is was brutally quilled (HG 18) The Capitol’s stronghold of the media allows the spread of propaganda, of which everyone knows this; with the exception of the people at the Capitol. In America, this is seen especially during times of Governmental election. Messages of propaganda: which lift up certain people and put down selected people. Frankel writes about how scenes from survivor were cut out of the show, because the scenes were not “dramatic” enough to be shown (Frankel 53). America and the Capitol are prime examples of where the footprints of mass media can, and will lead to. The novel, The

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