"The Hunger Games" (Film 75) and Teaching

The low-key birthday celebration continued Monday with a viewing of "The Hunger Games." I went and saw this film the day it came out and was not disappointed at all, especially after reading the entire book series (that's right it's another book adaptation, but this one is done well, and right) two summer's ago. I think the entire series (trilogy) of young adult books about a dystopian world in two days. Suzanne Collins wrote the series obviously years after great literary classics as "1984," "Brave New World," "Fahrenheit 451," and even "Ishmael," which are all novels that I have thoroughly enjoyed more than once. 

I saw "The Hunger Games" in the theatre with my ex-girlfriend, who I'm convinced just didn't really "get it" and thought it was boring. Regardless, the film was done very well and I was thoroughly impressed and enjoyed it. Jennifer Lawrence was absolutely born to play Katniss (the main character) in the dystopian society of District 12 (a part of the post-apocalyptic world of Panem, where countries like North America once existed). The Capitol is the highly advanced metropolis (in contrast to District 12, where Katniss is from) which exercises complete control over the rest of the nation. The run the Hunger Games which is an annual "Event" that takes place to remind the common people how in control the Capitol really is. The Hunger Games places a boy and a girl, 12-18 years old, from each District into a televised battle to the death, where only one victor can/will remain. (That is until Katniss volunteers as the tribute, in place of her sister and a "faux" love story develops between her and Peeta, the boy chosen from District 12. The one victor rule is thrown out, for the sake of the story.) 24 Tributes are treated like royalty and trained well before being thrown into a forested "arena" in order to fight to the death, while everything is captured on "hidden cameras" and played on every Districts large-screen TVs throughout the Districts. Sponsors can be earned by the Tributes, depending on how well liked they are by "corporations" (aka lobbyists) who can send in supplies in order to aid the Tributes. 

That's really all I want to divulge for plot details to the film. It is truly great, and you have to see it to find out what happens. But, given its huge popularity I would say you've probably already seen the movie and/or read the books. I must say, I really enjoyed it because I read the books first, though. Do that! The film has been made to entertain you, since it spends almost the entire length in a blood-bath of these Tributes and it spends a lot less time diving into the moral implications that the book does so well, which is interesting to me, because I truly thought that's why Suzanne Collins wrote the book (and she was one of the chief writers of the script here, as well). Too bad! Hollywood really missed a great opportunity to educate its viewers and make them think more critically. As a teacher, I can never help but critically think when I read or watch things. 

What I want to talk about, instead, is the background to the series and world that Suzanne Collins created because I was drawn to the series because of what I knew about it. 

Collins was inspired while channel surfing years prior and while was turning from channel to channel she found herself watching reality TV shows on one station and the footage of the invasion of Iraq on another 24-hour news channel. The lines began to blur between the two in what she considered a very unsettling way. The also uses the Greek mythology of Thesus for the inspiration of Katniss.

I have always been drawn to/a fan of dystopian-themed books and/or movies. Being a fan of "independent" films that present life and situations as they usually are and not always with "happy endings" that Hollywood provides for us, the idea of "dystopia" attracts. And just knowing the concept of dystopia, you are prepared to look deeper for an understanding of real world issues. Dystopias are usually characterized by by dehumanization, totalitarian governments, an environmental disaster (which is not exactly fully explained in the book or movie, but it's safe to assume that something catastrophic happened through war to separate the Districts). Collins places all of these elements into the world she created, which are presented almost perfectly within the film, thanks to great cinematography. There are definitely political and social issues in the Panem world, thanks to the Capitol and their stranglehold on everyone. It all really rings completely true with the world we are currently living in, thanks to our government becoming "too big for its own britches" and losing touch with reality the the people its meant to govern. The Capitol that we live with has lost touch with reality in many unfortunate ways, because like in the film, only the people are found to suffer the consequences. Our own financial gaps have been increasing between classes to the point where there really is no longer a "Middle Class," so to speak, like I truly believed there was when I was growing up. I believed it, because I thought I was living within a comfortable bubble of "middle class-dom," with a family that was fortunate to afford all the things they needed and most of the things that we wanted. 

Collins' "The Hunger Games" world has Katniss dealing with the loss of her father 5 years prior to the actual story, but important background information. It also tackles issues of extreme/severe poverty (relevant), oppression (relevant), starvation (relevant), and the effects of war on people (relevant). One of the biggest themes that we get to see Katniss play out is the idea of self-preservation, which, although, there are some depressing things going on (hello, 23 kids kill each other for the hopes of being the lone survivor in this sick and twisted game), brings the viewer a sense of hope. Knowing that Katniss is the main character of the story, you pretty much know she is going to be the winner of the Hunger Games, but there are definitely some good twists and turns to the story. 

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On a personal note: 

It's that time of year where I begin hearing about budget cuts and I begin to wonder if I'm going to have a job next year. Such is the stability of job security when you are the low-man on the totem pole, everywhere I go (it doesn't help that I have to keep changing districts and the cycle continues). I've never exactly worried about finding another job, though. Here's the thing: my life has always seemed to run on an extreme line of luck that I cannot deny exists. But also, I'm good at what I do, and people recognize that (everyone, except one particular school in Hollis, which never seemed to have my back in anything I attempted to do for them and the students). And I'm not saying I'm good to toot my own horn and sound conceited. I've been told by several people that I'm doing exactly what I should be doing, career-wise. In fact, just this week I was praised multiple times by people I respect. It started Monday morning, when another teacher asked me how I can be so patient and calm when dealing with behaviors and students who just don't seem to want to listen to anything an adult has to say to them. "I want your Zen," I believe was her exact comment. That's a strength of mine that I have always clung to. A few years back, when I was working one-on-one with a student in a classroom, the teacher said, "You have the patience of Job." That I do, sometimes to a fault, though. I always tend to see the good (that will eventually come from my ability to reach these kids). If I reach out enough (times), they students will see the good they have in themselves. I've always taken pride in my ability to manage a roomful of kids. It's just in my personality. As I was discussing my concerns over next week with another teacher, she told me to take stock in the fact that I'm good at what I do, I can relate to the kids and they love me (this coming after I said, maybe I just need to throw in the towel if I lose my job, again, due to budget cuts, because it is an awful fact about education that does not seem to be changing any time soon- nobody "important" seems to want to invest in education, i.e. put money and time and effort into saving and/or fixing the broken machine that is education, and believe me I have a lot of ideas and opinions on how this can be done, which I try in my classroom, but that's only one tiny tiny step in the right direction. Fortunately, I work in a school filled with like-minded people who truly "get it" and by "IT" I mean that ultimately we are there to provide and support these children and make them (feel) successful.) I can say with strong certainty that I have seen my own students change greatly over the past few months that I have been with them and I know there are many variables to consider when looking at growth and change, but I think my constant presence in their lives has helped tremendously, because with my approach to teaching and to them, as people, I have created a wonderful environment that they appreciate being in for the 6-7 hours I get to spend with them and vice versa. 

So, I haven't given up hope and I am keeping the faith that I will be privileged enough to return to my school next year and stay for the coming years because I know I've been making a positive difference.