Random Post 2: The Hunger Games and 2020

The Hunger Games has been some of my favorite movies for a long time now. I do not want to admit how many times I have seen them. All you need to know is that I pretty much have the script memorized. It is possible that during Covid, I watched them on a loop as I recovered from an injury. As I was watching, I started to notice a suspicious similarity between the events in the movies and the events of 2020.

One similarity is the theme of social and economic inequality. In The Hunger Games, the people of the districts are oppressed and impoverished, while the ruling elite in the Capitol live in luxury. In 2020, the Black Lives Matter protests emphasized the injustice and systematic racism that exists in this country. People took to the streets and risked their lives to fight for what they believed in. Citizens all over the country stood up and showed up for this cause. In The Hunger Games, similar activism and the fight against injustice took place. Citizens began to fight against the oppression from the Capitol. They created unique and effective plans in their districts to take down the capital.

Another similarity is the use of technology and media to control and manipulate people. In The Hunger Games, the Capitol uses technology and media to control the population and create a false sense of unity and loyalty. In 2020, the use of social media and the internet allowed for the spread of misinformation and has contributed to a divisive political climate. This misinformation presented itself with facts about Covid, BLM, and the presidential election.

Covid also brought lockdowns and curfews. There were fines and punishments for breaking these rules. With the start of the rebellion in The Hunger Games, the Capitol issued lockdowns and curfews for their residents. There were guards walking the streets at night to enforce these curfews.

In The Hunger Games, there is a type of fictional genetically engineered insect called Tracker Jackers. They are essentially hornets whose venom creates hallucinations, dizziness, extreme pain, and even death. In 2020 we had an issue with something now called murder hornets. They are the world's largest wasps and came from a nest in Washington. They have since been contained.

Lastly, in 2020 we saw rioters storm the capitol building following the defeat of Donald Trump. His supporters tried to keep him in office by stopping a meeting to count electoral votes. More than 2000 rioters stormed the capital, vandalizing and assaulting the building and people inside. In The Hunger Games, citizens also stormed the capitol to fight back against the oppressive regime.

Dystopian movies are some of my favorites. It always interests me to entertain extreme circumstances and end-of-the-world scenarios. However, if you take a step back, a lot of these movies comment on issues that we have currently in society. We are so different from the dystopian films we adore. That is a scary thought.