The conflict between the wealthy and powerful and the poor in the Hunger Games, is fairly obvious. When we watch the movie, we are angered and upset at the entire premise: a world where children are forced into a futuristic gladiator arena and told to fight to the death. Why does such a terrible premise work?
Marx would argue that alienation is partially responsible. In the movie, the people outside the Capital are separated into districts of varying degrees of wealth. The wealthier districts enjoy luxuries as well as training centers for their children to learn to fight in the Games. The poorer districts barely scrape by with enough to eat each day.
These people are kept away from each other by walls that are guarded by armed soldiers. There is no communication between them. Now, in his essay, Marx talked more about the alienation of the worker from what he produces. However, his theory could be applied to the bigger picture. These people continue living and working exactly as they have been for decades under the brutal regime of the Capital.
It's not until Katniss unintentionally unites them that a revolution begins. When she convinces Peeta to eat the poisonous berry with her, Katniss defies the Capital and all it stands for. After the Games, she must travel to each of the districts and give a speech. President Snow wants her to put on a show and pretend she and Peeta are in love. However, once again unintentionally, Katniss sparks revolution. When she expresses sympathy for Rue's family, she shows that she has concern for people in other districts besides her own. As the film progresses, each district is shown giving the sign Katniss used. Suddenly, each is united in their hatred of the Capital. And that's exactly what such a power fears. They try to squash the rebellion with armed forces, but once united, the people continue to push.
The alienation of people from each other is one way a totalitarian regime keeps its power. When the people unite together, they outnumber everyone else. This is what the regime fears and will use any means necessary to stop it. Of course, with power comes wealth and with wealth comes better guns, but once a group of people, who have been forced to live in terrible conditions get going, they're tough to stop.
I really liked how you related alienated labor to alienated societies. These are very similar in their experiences. One major thing that Marx addresses is the lack of passion in work for alienated laborers. In the alienated societies in Hunger Games, they do have some passions but typically not for the work they do.
ReplyDeleteRachel, I agree with Brianna that your connection between alienated labor and alienated societies is a great one! It seems as if the powerful's worst fear is the thought of the lower class banning together. It is very interesting that, in the Hunger Games, no one ever attempts to fight the system until Katniss accidentally does so. Also, as to Brianna's point about passion, I can definitely see the prospect of passion between societies in the Hunger Games, but I think that is due to the fact that it is between the individual people and what it is that they are fighting for, as opposed to the work they have to do.
ReplyDeleteI think Brianna and Teresa pretty much covered how I feel about the facts of your blog post. The Hunger Games is probably one of the best movies to compare this "alienated labor" business to. We see the power of the government and, in the other films and books, the strength of people when they are united as one. The alienation won't last forever, if we don't allow it to that is.
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