Mirrors and Media: Desensitization and dehumanization in ‘The Hunger Games’

The release of the film adaption of Suzanne Collins’ “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” has reignited uproar over the Hunger Games franchise. Collins’ socially critical commentary is enlightening and cleverly strung throughout each piece of the franchise.  

People are calling Suzanne Collins this generation’s George Orwell. The way she crafts stories into pieces that analyze and call out society for its intrinsic flaws is nothing short of astounding and has left generations in awe of her work. 

Collin’s newest adapted works’ storyline is a prequel to the original trilogy, answering questions, offering a new perspective from the Capitol and fostering a new understanding of the horrors of the Hunger Games. The latest movie adaptation does not disappoint and holds up against the other films.  

In the series, the Capitol is a luxurious utopia, but viewers can easily see through the glimmer and quickly feel the citizens’ dripping apathy and egoistic mentalities. On the other hand, the districts are stuck in cycles of poverty and torment due to the Hunger Games and how the Capitol constricts the people of Panem. 

A primary analogy and theme throughout “The Hunger Games” series is how the Capitol manipulates mainstream media to fulfill the agenda of Capitol leaders, further implementing the divide between the Capitol and districts. 

In “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” viewers understand how the controlled media orchestrates a new narrative that portrays the games as a heroic and valiant opportunity to serve your country. Contrasting with the stark and cold-blooded nature of the games, this narrative only further brainwashes the Capitol people and only deepens the disparities between them and the districts. 

The warped entertainment aspects of the Hunger Games are nothing but cruel. In “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” the games were developed over time to better adhere to viewers and generally increase their entertainment value. 

Suzanne Collins wrote “The Hunger Games” to mirror society with those in power representing the Capitol and its citizens. Although it may seem extreme, there are many scenarios in which people are desensitized to violence and overlook the reality of serious situations.

Desensitization to death and violence because of frequent exposure is a common thread that Collins implies throughout the series. Regularly witnessing harm, especially toward children, only enables the violence, according to Science Direct. In our world, this appears as viewing violence on social media or TV and the glorification of violence in movies and video games further amplifies desensitization. 

Cultural desensitization leads to perilous ends. The only way to create change is to engage in real conversations with others and support the people’s voices. Hard conversations are necessary for growth, whether personally, interpersonally or societally.

In our world, this is most prevalent in scenarios where continuous harmful actions are still occurring without effective attempts to end, only enabling the cycle. An example of a tragic problem that affects many and consistently occurs in society is mass shootings and, specifically, school shootings.        

Dehumanization is very heavy in the entirety of “The Hunger Games.” The tributes are stripped of their humanity as they are paraded around the Capitol or thrown in an arena to be gawked at. The act of stripping one of their humanity is prevalent in racism, transphobia, homophobia and any other instance when someone attempts to target another because of hatred and ignorance. 

Collins uses the prequel to emphasize the only thing louder than oppressive systems is the voices and unity of the people. This comes up in “Catching Fire,” when the rebels frequently exchange lines about remembering who the real enemy is, and this idea finally brings the end of tyranny in Panem with the sinking of Katniss’ arrow in President Coin’s heart at the end of “Mockingjay.” The quiet unity of the people and the understanding they grew to have that the Capitol was their enemy was a powerful force when it came to the fall of oppressive governments in Panem. 

At all levels of a tyrannical and dystopian government, the system forces people to conform, creates major economic class discrepancies and promotes ideals that slowly erode the foundation and stability of a society.