hunger games and society and sports
After watching "The Hunger Games", what sociological themes did you see? Even though we as a country/world do not have a contest in which selected individual’s battle to the death, how can you relate the principles and contexts of "The Hunger Games" to our society or other societies around the world? How can you relate the "districts" to society? Do we (in the United States) have "districts"? If so, how do the "districts" relate to sports? How can you relate the power of the Capital to the past cultures discussed in Chapter 3?
The Hunger Games itself can be compared to the battle of Gladiators in Ancient Rome inside their amphitheaters or coliseums. Where warriors or chosen prisoners fight to death, usually by the order of the King or whoever is in power, as mirrored by the game makers and of course by Snow. The fact that they live in Panem which most likely derives from "panem et circenses" which means Bread and Circuses which is how the Romans would control the population, as long as you give people food and entertainment you can control them, which is exactly how our world and the world in the book operates. Give them food, which is what they gain from the competition and entertainment which is the game itself then no one will question the leaders at the Capitol much like the government.
Meanwhile the pursuit of freedom by the people of Panem against the tyrants of the rulers can be associated to the birth of democracy. Democracy has been fought for in many countries throughout history. There have been many great wars within countries caused by citizens wanting to live with a democratic government. In Panem they have no say of what goes on and this can be compared to North Korea of today’s world in which their government can basically do what they want and is merely a dictatorship.
Furthermore, Katniss and Peeta's act of attempted suicide as star-crossed lovers illustrates how desperate and determined people are to escape the horrible life they live.
The Hunger Games itself can be compared to the battle of Gladiators in Ancient Rome inside their amphitheaters or coliseums. Where warriors or chosen prisoners fight to death, usually by the order of the King or whoever is in power, as mirrored by the game makers and of course by Snow. The fact that they live in Panem which most likely derives from "panem et circenses" which means Bread and Circuses which is how the Romans would control the population, as long as you give people food and entertainment you can control them, which is exactly how our world and the world in the book operates. Give them food, which is what they gain from the competition and entertainment which is the game itself then no one will question the leaders at the Capitol much like the government.
Meanwhile the pursuit of freedom by the people of Panem against the tyrants of the rulers can be associated to the birth of democracy. Democracy has been fought for in many countries throughout history. There have been many great wars within countries caused by citizens wanting to live with a democratic government. In Panem they have no say of what goes on and this can be compared to North Korea of today’s world in which their government can basically do what they want and is merely a dictatorship.
Furthermore, Katniss and Peeta's act of attempted suicide as star-crossed lovers illustrates how desperate and determined people are to escape the horrible life they live.