The Hunger Games

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Name: The Hunger Games
Abbreviation(s): THG
Creator: Suzanne Collins (1962-)
Date(s): 2008-2010, 2012
Medium: book, film adaptation
Country of Origin: USA
External Links:
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Contents

The Hunger Games YA book trilogy, written by Suzanne Collins, consists of The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay. It tells the story of Katniss Everdeen in a dystopian world, where children from each district of Panem are taken as tribute, and forced into a gladiatorial fight to the death. Over the course of the series, it becomes a tale of revolution and the overthrow of the oppressive Capitol.

The first part was adapted as a live-action movie and released in 2012. Adaptations of the remaining parts are in progress.

Fandom Overview

The largest and most active of the Hunger Games fandom exists on Tumblr. Because of its roots as young adult literature, it is especially popular with teens and twenty-somethings. A lot of fanfiction is centered around the love triangle of Katniss, Peeta and Gale. Side characters are also especially popular.

This article or section needs expansion.

Pairings

Discussion & Controversies

Team Peeta/Team Gale

One of the aspects of the novels is a love triangle between Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark and Gale Hawthorne. As a result, ship wars sometimes occur between those who prefer one pairing over the other. However, the larger criticism has been towards the media for their imposition of these labels and the perception of pitting one group of fans against another. These critics say that the novels are about far more than a love triangle, and resist the implicit comparison to Twilight. They will often report themselves as Team Katniss or Team Prim (referring to Katniss's younger sister).

The Race Debates

These debates are part of the larger Race and Fandom and Social Justice discussions.

With the casting of Jennifer Lawrence in the lead role as Katniss Everdeen for the films, many fans were distressed because in the novel, Katniss is described as being dark-haired, grey-eyed, and olive-skinned, while the actress is white, blonde-haired, and green-eyed. This has led to accusations of racism and white-washing in the films. Casting calls asked specifically for "Caucasian, between ages 15 and 20, who could portray someone 'underfed but strong,' and 'naturally pretty underneath her tomboyishness,'" further fueling the debate.[1] Collins has stated that she does not imagine the characters as specifically biracial, but that has not been the end of the discussion.[2]

Another race debate took place with the casting of Amandla Stenberg as Rue.[3] Rue is described as having dark brown skin and eyes, and compared frequently to Prim Everdeen. Because Prim is blonde-haired and blue-eyed, some fans were under the impression that Rue shared these physical characteristics. As a result, these fans were disappointed in this casting, despite its textual accuracy. While most were accepting, some were angry, leading some observers to question whether they were being racist.[4]

The Panem Companion is sometimes cited in discussions of the Race Debates and/or was inspired in part by them.

Did Gale Kill Prim?

Fuck Yeah The Hunger Games Confessions

In one scene in the end of Mockingjay, bombs kill Katniss's sister Prim, who is serving as a medical worker. These bombs were designed by Gale, as a weapon against the Capitol. Much debate has been made about whether or not Gale is responsible for Prim's death, with the discussion taking on particular importance in light of ship wars, as much is made of whether Katniss could be with someone who is responsible for her sister's death. Boredom is fairly common in light of the frequency of this debate.

The larger discussion here is on violence in revolution, and whether it is necessary or right, tapping in to the larger themes of the series. On one hand, commentators such as those in the confession argue that war is war, and that people die, and that Gale isn't to blame. On the other hand, several fans have analysed Gale's actions in relation to the principles of international law as they currently stand, and find him guilty of targeting civilians, and as such of war crimes. [5] [6]

Fanfiction

One particularly common type of fanfiction in the Hunger Games fandom is the "Submit Your Own Tribute" or SYOT genre, in which readers are encouraged to create characters for the author to use in replicating a version of the Hunger Games of a different year. This is a collaborative fiction that the source material is particularly well suited to, as it requires 24 characters to go into each games.

Fanvids

Other Fan Activities

Websites and Communities

General & News Sites

Tumblrs

LiveJournal Communities

Resources

References

  1. ↑ The Hunger Games Film Whitens its Warrior, by Deb Jannerson.
  2. ↑ Team 'Hunger Games' talks: Author Suzanne Collins and director Gary Ross on their allegiance to each other, and their actors -- EXCLUSIVE by Karen Valby for Entertainment Weekly.
  3. ↑ Rue, Race, and The Hunger Games, written by Cassandra Neace.
  4. ↑ Racist Hunger Games Fans Are Very Disappointed by Dodai Stewart on Jezebel.
  5. ↑ Gale Hawthorne you stand accused, by raptorific on Tumblr.
  6. ↑ Response to Gale Hawthorne you stand accused, by butwordsarewind on Tumblr.
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