ipl-logo

Dystopian Conventions In The Film 'The Hunger Games'

1755 Words8 Pages

A dystopian world is defined as a society filled with suffering and injustice, an overruling government and is usually set in a totalitarian or post-apocalyptic world. Dystopian texts are significant as they enable audiences to explore and visualise alternate worlds which face and challenge problems within our society in a worst-case scenario, serving as a warning to the potential risks and consequences to society if changes are not made to present day societal and governmental constructs, as well as providing readers with the opportunity to explore alternate realities, experiencing what may happen to society due to our actions and ideologies. Dystopias follow conventions such as oppression and inequality between the wealthy and poor, a totalitarian …show more content…

The film utilises dystopian conventions to examine themes of inequality, corruption, power and appearance versus reality. Overall, it is evident that The Hunger Games clearly reflects the conventions of a dystopian society, being a prime example of a dystopian …show more content…

The convention is utilized to challenge and represent topics such as segregation, more opportunities being provided for the wealthy, as well as to distinguish opposing parties that clash over differing ideologies. This convention is demonstrated through the use of longshot, a closeup scene which displays Katniss breaching her districts boundaries where this camera is then focused towards a sign stating “No access beyond this point” and the symbolism of the fence. The symbolism of the fence represents the lack of freedom the civilians have, paired with the longshot of the fence that only shows a small portion of its perimeter highlighting how oppressed and confined these people are. This is further reinforced by the closeup of the sign, emphasizing how citizens are not allowed to roam freely, but need to be kept in confinement. This displays how the District's citizens live in extreme oppression in contrast to the privileged citizens of the Capitol, enabling the audience to grasp the idea that the hierarchy of Panem is designed to segregate the mistreated majority, while enabling the wealthy citizens of the Capitol to be unrestricted, able to do as they please. Additionally, the use of dialogue and acting within the segment where Dale hands Katniss a bread roll when she states

Show More
Related
298 Words | 2 Pages

Violence has been a tool used by governments to control their citizens throughout history. The Hunger Games' Capitol employs the games to maintain power and order over its districts, much like past authoritarian regimes have used propaganda and public executions. The recurring theme of using fear and violence to maintain control is a common theme in dystopian literature, emphasizing the risks of unchecked government power. The rise in popularity of reality TV shows and competitions like Survivor and Big Brother raises the possibility of such gruesome events being televised for public consumption, as in the Hunger Games.

Read More
1086 Words | 5 Pages

Dystopia is a popular genre in which authors write about a fictional society that is perceived to be perfect and ideal by the vast majority of the people in it. Authors must intrigue the reader, and this is difficult because they have to somehow illustrate a future that is vaguely similar to ours. However, it has to be completely fictional, which makes it tough to formulate realistic storylines. Nevertheless, these authors use literary elements to counter these difficulties and produce realistic characters and you can see this when Ray Bradbury, Ayn Rand, and James Dashner use symbolism in their respected novels, Fahrenheit 451, Anthem, and The Maze Runner. This literary technique gives Dystopian Literature the uniqueness and adds the key elements to make the story flow.

Read More
1150 Words | 5 Pages

What is a dystopia? The definition of a dystopia is an imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad (google definition). Although some people may believe that where we live is a dystopia much like in Fahrenheit 451, in reality, where we live also contains features and characteristics meeting the qualifications of a utopia. We see this happen within government, relationships, school systems, and security people feel. In dystopias such as the society in the novels Fahrenheit 451 and “Harrison bergeron” we see similarities connected to our society starting with government and specifically how it restrains creativity.

Read More
1121 Words | 5 Pages

The Hunger Games movie is a dystopian society. The people in the movie are under an oppressive government and are forced to compete in the hunger games. Twenty four random people are chosen to compete to the death and there is one victor. The hunger games are used as a fear mechanism by the government to control the general population. As a result, the government uses fear to keep the people in line and try to prevent them from rebelling and disobeying them.

Read More
972 Words | 4 Pages

The final example is that the tour at the end is just to try and convince people that this is a good and generous thing the Capitol is doing. This is one reason as to how the movie is like a dystopian society. This is how the movie shares the characteristic of propaganda being used to try and keep the citizens under control with a dystopian

Read More
585 Words | 3 Pages

A dystopia is a futuristic universe in which the illusion of a perfect society is maintained through oppressive control of the society. Two characteristics of dystopian literature in Fahrenheit 451 and Minority Report include the society being an illusion of a perfect utopian world and the protagonist beginning to question the existing social and political systems. In both stories, the society has been manufactured to appear as though it is the perfect, unflawed utopia. For example, in Fahrenheit 451, the government set up the system of firemen to burn books in order to keep the society happy and ignorant.

Read More
513 Words | 3 Pages

ystopian literature is a subgenre of science fiction that portrays a hypothetical future society that is oppressive, dark, and corrupt. Dystopian works often government or societal structure that controls every aspect of citizens' lives, including their thoughts, emotions, and actions. It presents a world where humanity is subjugated by an authoritarian regime, and the protagonists must struggle against it. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is a dystopian novel that depicts a future society where books are outlawed and burned by the government to suppress individuality and independent thinking.

Read More
1211 Words | 5 Pages

Such openly rebellious actions immediately put themselves and their family in danger. DEFINE the archetype and TELL HOW the character fits the archetype PIECE #1 The Rebel archetype is used for an individual in a repressed society that seeks revenge over their harsh ruler on a time they have been wronged. The rebel is constantly defying their ruler and seeking for ways to overthrow their oppressor. Katniss fits this archetype because constantly throughout the Hunger Games, she finds ways to defy the government and show that she wouldn’t be a part of their games, and sparks hope into the lives of those suffering from the control of the government with her rebellious actions.

Read More
1357 Words | 6 Pages

Suzanne Collins incorporates and reinforces themes of a dystopian society throughout her novel, The Hunger Games. A dystopian society is an undesirable, oppressive and dehumanised society which is the central theme of the novel. This dystopian piece of literature explores social inequality and segregation within Panem, surveillance and monitoring exhibited by the Capitol and the annual Hunger Games. Readers observe the establishment of inequality between social classes and districts which is an integral part of a dystopian society. This is evident through the quote “Gale knows his anger at Madge is misdirected.

Read More
600 Words | 3 Pages

The novel “ The Hunger Games “ by Suzanne Collins presents the theme of violence, kakistocracy, inhumanity, & obscenity. She also introduces rebellion & defiance. In a broken society 12 districts are forced to fight one another each year, this is due to past rebellions which caused their society to become a dystopian one. The tributes from district 12 create an uproar and spark a start to a revolution they didn't realise they were creating.

Read More
1377 Words | 6 Pages

The main character reacts differently to fear. Under the influence of aversion, Katniss Everdeen is able to accomplish astonishing things. For instance when she volunteered as tribute in order to spear her sister’s life. Indeed, it was out of fear of losing her younger sister that she made the ultimate sacrifice. Another example was when Katniss decided to attend the feast of the games.

Read More
754 Words | 4 Pages

The Hunger Games is a fairly popular and typical tale that includes a heroine, courage, and bravery. This story can be read or watched through many different lenses such as a Marxist lens, feminist lens, or even an archetypal lens. Through these lenses one can see as a reader or viewer that this is not just a story that fits into one category, but one that can fit into many. Using the Marxist and feminist lenses a viewer can gain a great depth of knowledge into The Hunger Games story itself.

Read More
827 Words | 4 Pages

The Hunger Games trilogy revolves around universal dystopian themes such as :oppression, rebellion, class tension as well as appearance vs. reality ," Collins creates the world that on one hand seems quite improbable and extreme, but on the other, vividly reflects some specific issues in a real world, like social inequalities, ignorance and passivity of the people" (Macanić 7). Oppression is perhaps the most common and prevalent dystopian theme as it serves as a warning against a highly probable dark future through shedding light on the dark side of contemporary trends such as advanced technology and reality TV-shows .The Capitol 's oppression operates on two levels; districts and individuals. The districts in general and districts 11 and 12 in particular have suffered great injustices at the ruthless hands of the Capitol ; however, there is no greater injustice than The Hunger Games themselves not only are the people of Panem forced to surrender their children as tributes for the Capitol 's citizens viewing pleasure for a crime they had no hand in committing ,but they are also forced to watch helplessly as their children are killed in the most brutal of manners .In Catching Fire (2009) , President Snow decrees that " the male and female tributes will be reaped from their existing pool of victors" in order to get rid of Katniss once and for all ,and to further assert the Capitol 's dominance and quell any thoughts of rebellion(172).

Read More
1520 Words | 7 Pages

Theme # 1- No matter what tyrannical environment you live in, your identity can never be changed The Hunger Games focuses on the theme of identity and how it is immutable in any tyrannical environment. This tells the audience that no one can take away your identity and it can only be controlled by you. In the movie, 24 tributes are forced to enter a game where they kill each other in order to survive which led them to losing their identity and becoming pawns to entertain the people of the Capitol.

Read More
982 Words | 4 Pages

The hunger games by Suzanne Collins is typically called a dystopian novel. Since it sheds the light upon a utopian society that is controlled by the government. A society that is fooled by the totalitarian government of the Capitol in order to maintain power, and prevent the uprising of the Districts.that authority is practiced by making people from the districts live in a dehumanized state using another form of dystopia which is propaganda for the reason that they showed them the penalty of disobedience. Another characteristic of a dystopian society that we can see in the novel are keeping the players during the games under surveillance at all times, and everywhere. The last thing that make "The Hunger Games" a supreme example of a dystopian society is the fact that freedom is restricted by forcing the families from the districts to send their kids to death, also known as the hunger games.

Read More

More about Dystopian Conventions In The Film 'The Hunger Games'

Related Topics

Open Document