The topic we discussed was brought on in part by one of the movie trailers shown at the start of the showing, Divergent. We were talking about why our generation (the current teenagers to 20 somethings) has such a liking for the type of story embodied by Hunger Games, Divergent, Uglies, and so many more? For clearly these stories find liking with popular opinion, for we are seeing not only the movie renditions of them coming out, but also the increase of novels with similar appeal.
Of course, there are many factors to this: the young, independent and empowered (generally female) protagonist which invites us in to experience the story through a possible peer perspective. This is not to be discounted, as it also is a common theme in many other popular books (Twilight, City of Bones, Kane Chronicles). However, none of them have quite the same appeal as the Hunger Games series has garnered. In an effort to explain this, I compare these stories with those of 50 years ago.
If this is, indeed, a question of why our/my generation prefers it, then it will be instructive to look at our generation's experience and circumstance, especially with relation of past generations. Now, being no real historian or anthropologist, and too lazy to do much intensive research for my blog post, I haven't really looked any of this up. Disclaimer out of the way, my concept of the generation of 50 years ago (and the time between then and now) is characterized by "happily ever after." Need I say more than Walt Disney? Indeed, the "disney" plot structure is characterized by the princess, the damsel in varying degrees of distress, who ends up requiring the rescue of the swashbuckling prince. Which, inevitably, succeeded. Viewers were granted the fleeting feeling of danger resolved in safety and, more often than not, true love.
All of this we already know and are familiar with; the "happily ever after" is a tagline and expectation that is increasingly coming under attack in today's society, because of gender roles, political correctness, and an increasing level of self awareness. However, it is not because of these reasons that our current generation is attracted to such a different world. No, the reason is: exploration of our own mortality. This is what I've been working towards this whole time.
In past decades, war, economic uncertainty, and civil strife were large factors in people's lives. Many were unsure whether their loved ones would be alive the next day, whether they would have enough food to survive until next week, or whether their basic rights would be upheld. Thus the entertainment industry, and public opinion, turned their attention to the safety, the certainty, and the happiness contained within that phrase "happily ever after." Their lives, (to generalize), were anything but. There would be absolutely no draw to a world or a story with dark, frightful and uncertain themes. Everyone was already living it; they wanted that which was out of reach.
In stark contrast, the generation of today lives in (not perfect, but relatively superior) a time of peace, prosperity, and plenty. Today our focus lies on the world's problems, because our lack of problems allows us to focus on the problems of others. We worry about the global environment, we strive to be politically correct, and instead of thinking about where we might get food tomorrow we think about buying a more expensive car than the one our neighbor has. It is not my objective to make any commentary on these modern day attitudes, rather to acknowledge their existence. How does this relate to Hunger Games? Well, I'll take myself as the example of my generation. I've never been to war, nor even considered the thought. I've never had to worry about my next meal. I've had professional and competent health care my entire life. I personally have the blessing of having a complete and hale family, that has also supported me in every moment. I'm content with the existing system of government and life, because my basic needs are covered. There's really no time in my life where I haven't gotten something I wanted really badly, because the resources have been at my disposal to obtain them.
Enter, then, Hunger Games. I start reading the book, and am sucked into this entirely strange and compelling world. A headstrong girl whose father died must battle against a government that oppresses and punishes its citizens to keep them submissive. A life of struggling for the next meal, of depending on oneself for any progression in life. And then, the games themselves. I threw myself into the intoxicating Hunger Games, fascinated and appalled by the brutality and cold blooded attitude of these children-turned-killers. Why does this pique my interest so? Because: A) it is so alien to my life and experience, and B) it makes me contemplate my own mortality. Having the opportunities that I do to read a book for leisure and then contemplate it afterwards, I ask myself the questions: How would I react to the same situation? Would I volunteer in place of my siblings? Would I have the strength to kill someone before they killed me? Would I have the mental fortitude and sanity to make it through the games without becoming scarred for life? All of these, in the end, are just entertaining queries, smoke blown away by the warm, prosperous wind of reality. I don't need to have compelling answers to these questions, because there is never a time in my life when I will have to put them into practice.
We, the fans of the hunger games, enjoy the story as just that, a story. An interesting read. A fascinating chain of events. A great "what if?" A sense of vicarious thrill as we momentarily put ourselves in Katniss' shoes and sense the adrenaline running through our veins... all the while laying on our couch eating potato chips and drinking canned soda. But you know, there's another group of people who enjoy the games just as much as we do, and they're not reading the book. No, that's because they are in the book. Yes, I speak of those in the capitol. This caused me to double take when I realized it: the capitol encapsulates us, in the modern day. We have no physical needs that go unfulfilled. We spend our time eating and socializing and generally distracting ourselves from the fact that we have no idea what we're really doing here. Now don't get me wrong, I don't think many people in the history of the world have really known what they're here about, but we're the first ones to actually have the time to think about it. What do you think about when your next thought isn't about the fact that you haven't eaten in a day?
As a society, we are strong. We keep progressing. "Panem today, Panem tomorrow, Panem forever." We languish in the environment our prosperity has created for us, allowing the most trivial of pursuits to divert our attention.
However, as people, as individuals, we are lost. We enjoy what our society and culture have bequeathed upon us... and nothing more. Once in a while comes something that upsets the rhythm, that breaks us out of our patterns and habits, and makes us think about who we truly are, about why we're really here. The key to all of this is that most of the time, we don't divert all that much attention to it. We read hunger games, and instead of going into an identity crisis it merely persists as a subtle tickle in the back of our mind. We give it just enough of our attention for it to excite us without really considering the reasons why. Because, were we to really mull it over, it would cause us to take a real look at what we're doing, and why. Which is exactly what President Snow doesn't want for the capitol. So the games are there, and those in the Capitol are just delighted by the show of it all, meanwhile safe with their avoxes and ridiculous clothes and endless food.
For the capitol people, they serve as a harmless diversion. But that should not be what they end up being for us. See, we don't have a dictator over us giving us the hunger games to keep us in check. It truly is a story. The attention that we give to it shows that there is a subconscious tugging at our brainstems, stemming from something in this book.
When I first started writing this post, I was working towards a conclusion of our interest being linked to our fascination with our own mortality. However, now I am seeing that it is much more than all that; while our interest is piqued by the death and uncertainty that is presented in Games, that is not the end of it all. We have a basic human need of self realization, coming to terms with who we are, what we are to do in this strange world, and why we are here, human, in the first place. These books are so interesting because they start us on a path to personal empowerment, to personal peace. By pulling us a little out of our trivial worlds, it gives us the opportunity to step back a little bit more and really get a handle on this whole 'existence' thing.
In our state of luxury and plenty, what we really need is identity. So much of the time that just gets left by the wayside. But Hunger Games, and stories with similar themes, with their death, danger, and courage, bring us out of our routines. They make us reflect on our history, on our present condition, and our future. They make us conscious of the fact that our lives really are so much better than they might be otherwise...and then leave us the chance to continue exploring on our own.
I would encourage anyone who makes it all the way here to ponder their own purpose, their own sense of understanding and identity. I have my own answers, which are unashamedly based squarely on my understanding of God and His plan for us. But I believe that everyone needs the chance to really start thinking for themselves, and on themselves. To seek for those answers. That, in this day and age, is what we as humans most lack, and are most seeking for (even though we may not even know it ourselves). The world of Hunger Games creates an interrupt, shattering the enclosing dome between us and the vast openness that is this universe.
Well, that's the end of my rambling. Prizes and cookie points (like brownie points, but more likely to have chocolate chips in them) to anyone who actually made it this far. As I said, the main reason I write these is to have somewhere to store and develop my thoughts. If you thought my thoughts were worth reading to the end, then thank you :)
