The Role Of Censorship In The Hunger Games Dystopian Society

For many years teen fiction has gotten a bad reputation for being nothing but fluff. However, teen fiction can be just as nuanced as some of the classics that are taught in the traditional classroom. This is no more apparent than in that genre of teen dystopian science fiction. The Hunger Games trilogy, the quintessential story of government oppression, shows how entertainment can be used to manipulate the unsuspecting public. The Capitol uses forms of entertainment to rule over and manipulate the district and Capitol’s citizens and the tribute/victors.

The whole idea of The Hunger Games builds on the disadvantages already faced by the poor and barely affects the wealthy. This can be seen in many ways in our own global society. The tesserae system in The Hunger Games is a caricature of New Zealand’s own welfare system. The totalitarian government is analogous to Hitler’s infamous power in Nazi Germany. The actual ‘games’ - a central focus in the first novel are even comparable to reality TV shows like American Idol. The Hunger Games is both a barbaric distraction for the well off, and an active reminder of the magnitude of control the Capitol holds for a vast majority of the population of Panem.

Although the government in The Hunger Games paints an extreme totalitarian government, the idea of government corruption is still present in our society today, even in America. Governments are far from perfect and the American government is riddled with lobbyists that sway decisions in their favor and place their needs over the commonwealth’s. Gary Hart, a former US senator, recalls his time in office and observes that the US government is “perversely and systematically dedicated to special interests, earmarks, side-deals, log-rolling, vote-trading, and sweetheart deals.” These terms share an overall theme of exchanging favors, offering deals too good to pass up or funneling money into corporations to secure a vote. It becomes harder to believe that the government is operating in a democratic way. Money, rather than the desire to improve the country, plays a significant role in running the country. Bribery and underhand dealings for favors and political rivalry prevent progress and improvements. Social welfare programs funded by lobbyists, which are meant to help common Americans, are only funneling money to governors to persuade them to make or break certain executive decisions. Such dealings are dubbed “dark money” and allow “corporations to push past legal barriers and gather enormous influence” (Hart, 2015, p.2). Furthermore, President Obama finds it hard to implement any of his plans to control gun violence or reduce taxes partly because the majority of Congress members

Making several appearances on the American Library Association’s ‘most contested books’ listings for its controversial and confronting content, The Hunger Games trilogy has become one of the most discussed Young Adult fictions since its debut in 2008. Through Suzanne Collins’ use of provocative themes of class and extreme poverty, confronting depictions of violence amongst children and the challenging of stereotypical gender roles, the novel discusses the hardships faced by children living within her harsh, yet thrilling, constructed universe. The raw and violent nature of the narrative attracts concerns from adults spanning the globe, raising questions regarding the suitability of The Hunger Games as Young Adult fiction. Through a

In Canada, as in other democratic societies, people enjoy freedom of expression and many are against the practice of censorship. Despite the fact that there is often quite a lot of controversy when a book is banned or challenged for various reasons, one thing is clear that censorship is necessary, even if we don’t like it. As a matter of fact, controversy around censorship more often arises in a grey area, where arguments can be made and are made either to support or refute banning a certain book.  The Hunger Game, a fiction by Suzanne Collins, is a case that has aroused a lot of controversy among the public. Its movie adaptation has a (censorship) rating of PG-13, which could also be taken as an acceptable approach toward the book.

The extreme dystopias found within the movie Pan’s Labyrinth directed by Guillermo del Toro and the novel The Hunger Games written by Suzanne Collins suggest that in light of a dystopia, a glimpse of a utopia can always be found beneath the ruble. The similar ideas between Pan’s Labyrinth and The Hunger Games such as: the role of choices, defiance, and fear; all serves as a template for what a utopian future could resemble.

Collins’ The Hunger Games, a dystopian society fiction, features a female hero, Katniss Everdeen, who is set apart as a hero due to social class, gender and the selfless act of offering herself for the annual games. She is forced to grapple with her sexuality, extreme violence, and ethical dilemmas due to the political hierarchy. All the while she is keeping popularity with said political enemies due to the dystopian terror-filled sport run by those very individuals. This novel focuses on the disparity between the classes where the upper class is kept apathetic to the underclass, because of the conditioning from the hierarchy to view this demoralizing “game” as pure entertainment. This creates a passivity of the upper class that helps in aiding Katniss’ rebellion against the political system.

Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games, published on September 14th, 2008, satirizes a major issue of our modern society. Staged in Panem, the post-apocalyptic world created by Collins, each year, every one of the twelve districts are obligated to randomly draw the names of one boy and one girl to compete in an annual, broadcasted event wherein the twenty-four adolescents participate in a fight to the death. In the end, a victor will emerge, earning instantaneous fame and fortune. While the Hunger Games is simply an extravagant form of entertainment for the citizens of the Capitol, the participants will pay the ultimate price -- with their lives. Whilst it is uncommon to encounter any form of entertainment that is as brutal as the Hunger Games

Blood, war, and death are the words that are conjured when one thinks about the Hunger Games. The infamous movie, as well as its sequel, received several recognitions for its enthralling story plot. Katniss Everdeen, a subject originally from District 12, fought against all trials in the 74th Annual Hunger Games and prevailed as a victor, along with her loved companion-Peeta Mellark. Additionally, the aforementioned movie contains several studies of sociology that calls for a rich analysis. Overall, the notion of chance, context, and choice were prevalent themes throughout the Hunger Games series that enables one to analyze it from a distinct, sociological retrospect.

Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and picture a society where liberty, no longer exists. A society that keeps you from seeing the outside world, trapped, between a fence and barbed wire. Where poverty grows thicker every day and the most you can call home, is a beat-up shack. In the science fiction novel, The Hunger Games, written by, Suzanne Collins, the future North America was known as “Panem” annually selects a boy and girl, ages ranging from 12-18, from each of the twelve districts to compete in what the district citizens know as the “Hunger Games.” The novel is revolved around a 16-year-old named Katniss Everdeen, who volunteers to compete in the games after her twelve-year-old sister's name was chosen, Alongside her is Peeta Mellark, who in the past has had quite the dramatic history with Katniss. After they are chosen, they are sent to the capital to undergo intense training to prepare themselves for the 74th hunger games. Throughout this essay, you will read about the two main characters, Katniss, Peeta, and how they go through significant changes throughout the book and later on read about how their relationship changes as time go on.

Students today are given expectations that are unrealistic for all to achieve and the stress of trying to live up to these expectations is becoming detrimental to student’s health, stress level and social interactions. Author and radio host Marilu Henner once said, “being in control of your life and having realistic expectations about your day-to-day challenges are the keys to stress management, which is perhaps the most important ingredient to living a happy, healthy and rewarding life.” Growing up in the public and even private school system, students are told too often that in order to success in school, we have to partake in extracurricular activities, maintain a 4.0, and volunteer in the community all while working a part time or full time job. High levels of stress can be harmful for students, whether high school or college, these stresses are piled on by parents, teachers and even peers. In order for future generations to succeed, we should take action now that allow them to succeed in all areas of life and forego the mindset that one’s person success trail is the same as another’s.

The feeling of failure is inevitable, by allowing kids to learn coping skills at a

Teens are expected early on to do “everything right” and to have their lives planned out. Today, teens are expected to know what they want to do after high school- where they want to work. For an example, in the breakfast club, Brian is pressured to have the best grades and to already have his life together. When he was on his way into detention his mother said, “well mister you figure out a way to study” (Hughes, 1985) even though he couldn’t. At school there is a scope of scholastic weights teens feel, from requirement for flawless grades. Teens must do well because it is assumed that all teens will/must go to the best college if they want to “succeed” and that puts on a ton of pressure on them. Most teens that go to school suffer from panic attacks and anxiety due to all the pressures they must succeed. For an example, in the breakfast club, Brian suffers from depression and brings a gun to school after getting a failing grade in a shop project. He joins the ranks of

my life as a student and becoming a teen have been hard and difficult, well now days what teenagers life isn’t hard and difficult right? i think other wise in a way i’ve learned how to deal with obstacles with school, family, and even relationships. i sometimes fail and tumble at times to where i think this is where i give up and can’t do it anymore but i have support from family and friends. growing up in school was tough in a way were i wasn’t the same person i was in middle school, i used to settle for failure and think it was okay but now failure isn’t an option anymore i choose to think failure is just another bump in the road i can over come.

As time flies we change, our knowledge, dreams, and experiences with certain things have a major role in what and who we are. A typical teenager will think that the “Teen Years” is the hardest point of their life where they have to give up or just simply accept defeat. But that’s not the case for me, I have the courage to surmount fears, and that has influenced me positively towards my school achievements and responsibility, “In order to Succeed, your desire for success should be greater than you fear of