When I've had conversations about the Hunger Games*, other works similar to (or not similar to) the series have always been part of the conversation. While certainly not unusual for me to make comparisons, I find it striking that I always do with Hunger Games. I never felt compelled to describe Harry Potter as combination of Chronicles of Narnia, A Separate Peace and Star Wars, at least not until right now, but very few Hunger Games conversations did not include mention of The Lord of The Flies, "The Lottery", Star Wars, Spartacus, The Truman Show, "The Most Dangerous Game", Nineteen Eighty-Four, or Survivor.
So I'll kick off the Hunger Games discussion with a few questions:
1) Have you made comparisons of the Hunger Games with other works? If so, with what?
2) Which of the above have you read or seen?
3) Why do you think this work elicits so many comparisons?
4) What else do you want to talk about regarding Hunger Games?
Next big discussion point: The ick factor. How hard is it to get past the idea that you are reading, for pleasure, a violent work which has a point that violence should not be entertainment?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
9 comments:
I have never fully read Nineteen-Eighty Four (I tried in 1984. I was in 6th grade, I didn't get it, but points for my 6th grade teacher for having it on the shelf), and may or may not have watched a full episode of Survivor, but I have read or viewed all of the other comparisons listed.
I read all three of the Hunger Games series (simultaneously with the Mister over spring break) and have not seen the movie. I probably will, but don't need to.
Your last statement, concerning the Ick Factor, was perfect.
Once again I am participating in the discussion from Haiti! (Last one was Juno’s Daughters). The only one I haven't seen/read is A Separate Peace. But what I thought of while reading the book was the Lottery, and Survivor. Also a friend reminded me of Logan’s Run.
3) Why do you think this work elicits so many comparisons?
Because there’s so many other works with the same concept!
4) What else do you want to talk about regarding Hunger Games?
It seems like a good starting place to study how revolutions come about, such as all those in northern Africa this past year. It would make a good project for a high schooler to parallel the condition of the districts in the Hunger Games with an actual country such as Libya or Egypt. We can’t really envision what’s it’s like for the people in those countries, Hunger Games is a way to examine how people are living etc.
Ick factor - Not hard since I read other somewhat violent books in the science fiction category, and I know this isn’t real. The ick factor for me was the decadent people in the capitol and knowing there are similar people like that, and that there are groups that force children to fight in wars.
Running Man is another similar story. And I also thought of Logan's Run. Maybe HG is a derivative of these other stories, repackaged in an alluring way for young adults? The ick factor to me is that the target audience is 11-14 year olds. I guess it will make a good video game?
All the marketing aside, I did enjoy reading it and will probably read the others.
First of all...you really should read 1984! I read it in junior high as well, but re-read it recently and liked it. But yes, I really like your comment about comparisons because I did find myself thinking Truman Show, 1984, The Lottery and also Brave New World. Just the idea of a futuristic dystopia I think lends itself to comparisons.
I would like to discuss why is this so popular!? Maybe I just had too high expectations for it.
As far as ick factor, I'm concerned about seeing the movie. Reading the violence didn't really bother me. But I do wanna go see it.
Janet - let me know if you see the movie, and what you think
One friend who knows me well did not mind the violence; another friend thought it was violent and sad, so I'm really nervous about seeing it
Peggy
The Island is a movie with the same concept, though people hope their name will be chosen for them to go to a beautiful island, instead it is a horrible medical place, and 2 people escape. I wish the movie was for adults and more serious & gloomy like 1984 to convey the oppression of the capitol.
I'm really late to chime in, but don't have much to say that hasn't already been said more succinctly anyway. When I first heard about the series I did not ever think I would be interested in reading it, but one day I picked up the library book Tim had and couldn't put it down. Very suspenseful.
I never finished 1984 either, but HG did make me think about The Lord of the Flies and Brave New World.
HG makes me want a better definition of what makes a YA book, a YA book. I would not have thought, if I had not been told, that the target audience was so young.
Debbie, I think your point about how revolutions come about was really good. And Janet made me want to try to get through 1984 for real this time.
I am reading the second book and got so furious with the Empire Strikes Back ripoff. When Han is being dipped in carbonite Leia says to him "I love you" and he says "I know". Ripped off word for word between Gale and Katniss. How lazy!
Post a Comment