In recent years The Hunger Games seems to have taken the empty space left in popular culture by the ending of Harry Potter. The Hunger Games examines many different themes, such as the consequences of war and violence and the dichotomy of a nation with both extreme wealth and debilitating poverty. One theme that is rarely mentioned, however, is that of spectacle and celebrity culture. The Capitol citizens and the attention they give to the Games are an extreme representation of the way our society consumes entertainment and popular culture. The trilogy can be read as an indictment of the spectacle, yet the attention given to the novels, the films, and the actors involved (particularly Jennifer Lawrence) sometimes seems like a scene from the Capitol.
In my ongoing research, I am examining and analyzing the use of spectacle within The Hunger Games and how it relates to the way the books and films are received in our society. The fact that journalists write serious articles questioning whether or not Jennifer Lawrence is “Katnissing” everyone is very interesting because it shows that the spectacle aspect of the story is more or less ignored. We discuss violence, class divisions, and feminism while ignoring the spectacle, because examining the spectacle would bring into focus just how much spectacle rules our own society.
About the presenterMegan Harinski
I am a graduate student pursuing a Masters degree in Media, Culture, and Communication at New York University. I’m currently working on my thesis, which examines the use of spectacle within The Hunger Games, as well as the spectacle surrounding it in our society.