I first read Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games trilogy in the late 2000s, as they were released. They’re action-packed, thought-provoking, gritty, violent, and showcase an absurd balance of excess and poverty. The series ranked third on the American Library Association’s 2011 list of challenged books. Some parents and teachers have pushed for the books to be banned, claiming they are “anti-ethnic; anti-family; insensitivity; [with] offensive language,” (The Week, April 10, 2012) among other things. Despite the negative press, the books have grown into a franchise.
Photo by J. Garnett
Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are not superheroes, wizards, or demon hunters, yet they aren’t from our world, either. Collins’ dystopian setting is a compelling one, and her characters have grabbed the attention of pre-teens and teens (and more than a few adults). As books, The Hunger Games trilogy was a force to be reckoned with; the addition of movies has spun the series into overdrive. Jennifer Lawrence, the actress behind Katniss, has said how terrifying it was to portray such a beloved character. “It’s not very often that you play roles that are famous before you even get there,” Jennifer said in a PopSugar interview.
The merchandise on offer is quite impressive: t-shirts, jewellery, nail polish, bags, socks, pillowcases, laptop decals, and a Barbie doll. There are countless fan-made YouTube trailers and clip reels. Phrases from the books and films have filtered into pop culture, including “May the odds be ever in your favour,” spoken by Effie Trinket.
The Hunger Games reaches its fans with a female character who’s strong, honest, hardworking, and believably flawed. It has demonstrated intertextuality in a big way. The influence of The Hunger Games isn’t limited to merchandise – archery is on the rise as an activity. Merida in Disney’s Brave and Hawkeye in Marvel’s The Avengers have pushed this trend even further. It’s been announced that Mockingjay will be split into two films, so this phenomenon is likely to pervade youth culture until at least 2016.
References
Cheezburger.com. (2012). You Win For Best Principal Ever. [image] Retrieved October 20, 2012 from http://cheezburger.com/6636136704
PopSugar. (2012, April 17). Jennifer Lawrence Interview On Josh Hutcherson Rating Her Kissing Skills & Hunger Games. [Video file]. Retrieved October 20, 2012 from http://youtu.be/GYNcxdSDzAI
Staskiewicz, K. (2012, July 10). ‘Mockingjay’ to be split into two movies, release dates announced. Retrieved October 20, 2012 from http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/07/10/mockingjay-split-release-dates/
The Week. (2012, April 10). Should school libraries ban The Hunger Games? Retrieved October 20, 2012 from http://theweek.com/article/index/226616/should-school-libraries-ban-the-hunger-games
TweenTribune. (2012, April 23). Hunger Games makes archery cool. Retrieved October 20, 2012 from http://tweentribune.com/content/hunger-games-makes-archery-cool?page=7&destination=
