The Hunger Games is Back but This Time IRL
Image Courtesy: Lionsgate
The hype for the Hunger Games franchise has re-emerged across social media as the prequel film The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ release date nears. Though the dystopian genre has since faded from its height in the mid-2010s, the deeply woven messages about society are stronger than ever, and so is the existing fanbase. The consumption of post-apocalyptic content is reminiscent of a time when wild fiction seemed far from reality. Yet, now, the resemblance of a flawed society is uncanny.
As the internet collectively analyzes the symbolic works of Suzanne Collins, the socio-political commentary placed throughout has become glaringly obvious. In a divided nation experiencing violence, suppression, and natural disaster, we may desperately need a symbol of hope and rebellion like that of the Mockingjay.
The country of Panem within the Hunger Games represents a totalitarian state where the government controls its people completely. Although the United States is a democracy that gives power to the people, visible cracks in the system have begun to widen, exposing the flaws that harm those within.
A government that infringes on its citizens' rights of speech, expression, and equal opportunity through legislation is undoubtedly following the wrong path. Cities across the nation have faced corrupted law enforcement in which police enact violence and brutality reminiscent of ‘peacekeepers.’ The actions of authority to limit LGBTQ expression, diversity initiatives, and health care have sparked unrest among advocates. Fighting for movements like Black Lives Matter and a woman’s right to bodily autonomy has defined the modern-day rebellion, where there is strength in unity.
Within the Hunger Games lies a system fueled by class division, where districts represent extreme differences in economic status based on location. While the people of the capitol are adorned in eccentric fashion and reap the benefits of a totalitarian system, those in district 12 experience starvation, death, and a lack of resources. These same extremes are found across cities in the United States where wealth inequality is on full display, often within the same area.
Though the actions of people have greatly determined the state of the world’s systems, nature is, without a doubt, one of the most powerful forces. Living on a withering planet constantly threatened by climate change, overconsumption, and limited resources forces humans to face the harsh reality of their actions on this Earth. Though Panem is set in a post-apocalyptic time, our planet today is speeding toward a damaging fate if no changes are made.
The fictional world of the Hunger Games is not only the stuff of novels but rather a reflection of the reality we must take control of. People are more than pawns of a political agenda, and as we watch the moves and countermoves of those in power, we must question: are there really much worse games to play?
Strike Out,
Matilda Pollard
Boca Raton
Matilda Pollard is a Content Writer for Strike Magazine Boca. She is a proud Pisces who loves all things creative. Her hobbies include trying new foods and watching classic rom-coms. You can reach her at mpollard280@gmail.com
