We'll have time to discuss the opening of The Hunger Games in class, but most of our discussion of Bowling for Columbine will have to be done on the blog. Columbine is a documentary which explores what was then (1999, doc released 2002) the deadliest school shooting in US history (the Sandy Hook shooting was deadlier). The film is specifically about this, but it's more generally about the role of gun violence in American life at the end of the 20th century. How might you connect the hunger games (in the book) w/ Columbine (the historical event)? I'd particularly like you to think about the surveillance footage, much of which wasn't released prior to the release of this film. Also, I'd like you to think about how Michael Moore uses humor in the film for this very serious topic. How is he a "character" in this film?
Another question I'm interested in is the exploration of bullying and teen culture more generally in both films. Recently, a kid tormented by bullies in his Bronx classroom, killed one of his classmates and sent the other to the hospital. It's suggested by reporting on the story that much of the bullying arose from homophobic prejudice. Likewise, Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris who perpetrated the Columbine attack were victims of bullying and there has been much speculation about whether one or both of them, too, were gay or questioning of their sexuality. I think a lot of this bullying centers around simplistic ideas about what it means to be "masculine." In Goodfellas, Joe Pesci plays Tommy DeSimone who was actually a large man. However, it's not hard to imagine that if the real-life Tommy were Joe Pesci's size, that he might overcompensate in violent acts to prove how tough/masculine he was. I'm wondering if The Hunger Games explores ideas of gender and how that's related to violence? How about sexual appeal of minors? A lot is made of the beautifying of the "tributes" before they go into the arena. Why? And is it significant that the hero of this book is a girl and not a boy? That it's a girl who turns out to be the toughest and most dangerous person?
Moore has become somewhat of a public figure since this film, often being interviewed, and he recently had a limited engagement Broadway play called The Terms of My Surrender and just this past weekend got into a Twitter feud w/ our president. Based on the film, these comments, and anything else you know about Moore, what do you think his politics are and how do you arrive at this conclusion?
In the first Few pages of the hunger games it portrays a dark and grim life . Shortages of food electricity ,hygiene but there is a small glimmer of happiness which is her little sister . the main character loves he so much that she searches for her in her sleep and describes herself as a snarling cat /protector of her sister . while reading this I had to ask myself why are things so bad from how the main character describes things it sounds like a rural town during the depress ion or even a concentration camp. It doesn't sound like she thinks things are going to get better either.
ReplyDeleteIn the opening it seems like the person is leaving after waking up.the person speaks about putting their braids under their cap.they also speak about their father died in an explosion.
ReplyDeleteIn the Hunger Games, They focused on sexual appeal of the participant because this is a game/money making business and beauty attracts the people's attention. It is significant that the hero in this book is a girl not a boy, because it makes more intriguing, no one was expecting the girl to be so tough and become the hero of the Hunger Games.
ReplyDeleteBoth Hunger games and the Columbine shooting is about power. In Hunger Games, it's about the power of the people in the capitol who made the ugliest games the form of entertainment and in the Columbine, the two shooters used their gun as a form of their anger relief by killing their fellow students. In both cases, there is a lacking of human feeling. people are doing horrible stuff to entertain themselves even if the consequence brings death for others. This kind of people don't like to listen to others to understand the result of their deeds. We don't see any option of conversation in the Hunger Games where the people from different districts are just the helpless victims of the capitol. The powerful people in the capitol are not open for any discussion where the district people can share their perspectives on the most ugliest game they have to participate. About the gun violence, the people who believe they are exercising their constitutional right by carrying all those dangerous guns which gives them the chance to kill people sometimes to show their anger on certain issues, sometimes to feel more safer, sometimes accidentally, etc. The availability of gun can be a reason for many mass shootings in the country is not an option for the people who support the NRA to discuss any solution regarding this issue. They are not open to discussion what we saw in the interview of Michael Moore with the president of the NRA. The moment he realizes that Moore is talking not in favor of his stands on guns, he stops the conversation. The combination of both the Hunger Games and the Columbine gives an image of fake humanity.
ReplyDeleteBullying is never okay. The first place from where it is pointed out is the parents and the school authority. As a student, specially as a teenager handling bullying is a lot harder than handling any other kind of physical torture. This is a big challenge for a teenager to deal with this kind of situation. Truth is they should never be left alone in this kind of circumstances with being helped by their parents and the teachers. We saw the consequences. It cannot be justified because the other kids who were the initiator of the bullying are themselves kids. They must have been stopped by the authority with the help of a program or discipline that would leave them with no choice but to follow the rules. The Columbine school authority seems to be very reckless according to the students view who are interviewed by Moore. When somethings vicious like Columbine happens there should have many discussions to open to close all possible way to repeat the incident. Parents, school authority, gun control, teenage and parent or teenage and teacher's relationship every aspect has a role to play in this event to be happening. All those people from all different arena should be open for a discussion that can prevent the repetition of any incident like Columbine.
One of the main connections I noticed between The Hunger Games and the events surrounding the Columbine shooting was the role of public media. With the Columbine shooting, it seemed that news outlets were jumping at the chance to get all the information and then televise it immediately. Also, when Michael Moore interviews a cameraman for a local new channel, the cameraman tells Moore that they would chase a gun story versus someone drowning. In The Hunger Games, the brutality and viciousness of the children are constantly broadcast for the world to consume. It seems as if Collins is commenting on America's fascination with violence and trying to be an observer of violence from the comfort of your own home, in which you aren't in any danger. In the world of The Hunger Games, there's a glorification of brutality and that can be compared to the popularity of wrestling, boxing, or mixed martial arts fighting. This brutality seems to be geared towards a hypermasculine view point and brings to question the role of toxic masculinity in American culture.
ReplyDeleteWhen discussing "masculine" many people think about sports, "action," "aggressive," "strong," and "force" to name a few associations. These words and their correlation to masculinity create something very toxic for young boys who are led to believe that if they do not show "A," "B," and "C" characteristics of masculinity then they are deemed less then, feminine. In a society where men are usually the hero in most stories and are usually glorified as such, young boys want to replicate this and be praised for being "masculine"; therefore, when it is removed from them, young adult men are thrown into a panic of not wanting to portray themselves as anything else, as if it is the worst possible thing. The "anything else" refers to femininity. Considering that popular culture often glorifies masculine narratives, this then creates a narrative that femininity is less than, so to show any signs of being feminine, you are "less than." Which couldn't be more incorrect, and is why strong female roles are important in popular media. This is why the hero in The Hunger Games is female to show that femininity isn't always a passive virtue and is aggressive and strong in it's own right.
Excellent response, Alex. You do a great job of arguing for why the hero needs to be a girl in this story. I'd say Cato is a prime example of "toxic" masculinity.
DeleteMichael Moore uses humor throughout the film in different ways. sometimes the humor comes from what he says while narrating. For example, he uses sarcasm at one point he asks why wasn't bowling blame for the shooting since it was reported the boys were bowling before committing the mass shooting. There's also the "corporate cops" skit and the cartoon about the history of the United States. He uses humor to alleviate the seriousness of the documentary and the sadness that it can cause. He uses humor to make the documentary more entertaining and easier to watch. Michael Moore seems to be on the left when it comes to politics. He is for gun control which is usually the position of people on the left. he also made a documentary called "Fahrenheit 911" that was critical of George W. Bush's administration. I have heard people on the right criticized him and like you said he just got into a twitter feud with the president
ReplyDeleteI think Michael Moore uses humor in his file because people don’t take gun violence as serious as they should. He says things scarsticaly. For example, when he interviewed the producer for cops, instead of them filming black americans as the ones always committing the crimes, he suggested corporate cops arresting the guys in the nice suits. I guess he uses humor because people only see things one way & adding humor would have people look at things a little bit more differently to see things in another prospective. Black Americans arent the only type of people commiting crimes.
ReplyDeleteI remember Columbinev, it was sad hearing these cowards killing their former students. However,if they it because of bulling that is also sad . Growing up I was a victim. Of bulling. It was very bad, the name calling, the beating it was just terrible I wanted to run away from home because of the bulling. It is really sad when bulling ends up in murder or suicide. I think the hunger games murder seems uniform but it is plain murder like Columbine. It is mind bothering that every year that these young people have to lose their lives because of this stupid tradition.
ReplyDeleteThere is somewhat theory about a situation where bullying happens. Like I mentioned in my comment about "Don't look back", when people are put into a closed community, bullying is very likely to happen. Stress plus closed (less freedom) condition accelerates bullying. I understand the Moore's statement, why the number of gun murder in the US is higher than other countries. The US people may feel more stress and fear. Especially if the people feel themselves packed in a closed situation, this number may increase more. The Hunger Game depicts the kids who are from a very well classified zone (called District) kill each other without any doubts or hesitates. Only the person who shows strong hesitation in the game is Katniss. Her attitude can be celebrated by the audience even though the audience themselves create the game. She is strong and brave rather than her physical performance. The similarity I can see in both More's documentary and the fiction book, Hunger Game, is about what makes people crazy and drives them to kill (or hurt) others.
ReplyDeleteWell we live in a world where sports such as UFC and even WWE includes a lot of violence and graphic content is viewed in many homes. But you ask why a female and not a male, well I believe like in these 2 sports, there has been a type of women revolution. For example, most recently in the UFC the most talked about fighter was not Conor McGregor or Jon Jones, it was Ronda Rousey. Rousey had an incredible 11 fight win streak in which she either knocked out or submitted her appointment an along the way winning championship titles. Whereas in the WWE, women have been given bigger roles and have been pushed up the card on live events to the point where many female superstars have been given the opportunity to main event the show.
ReplyDeleteGood reply, Henry. The WWE, like The Hunger Games, is fiction (even though it pretends to be a sport). It seems that a lot of women in WWE are sexualized. Do you think Katniss is sexualized?
DeleteHunger games was a life or death situation to benefit an audiences entertainment, whereas Columbine was an act of defense do to being bullied and made fun of. Not agreeing with what happened in Columbine but, for a shot of 15 minutes of fame where the whole world can view the killings of innocent people. In Hunger Games it was for survival and a better life family and for the one who wins the championship. That is the culture in the society of Hunger Games, but in real life such as Columbine if we had a chance to prevent this terrible shooting from taking place, what could have the town provided besides gun production and free arm to anyone and everyone, what could they have done to help the teens who are troubles an in great despair. Maybe adding an extra curriculum activity that is mandated for all students to have every marking period, to discuss, issues that troubles them and get them professional help if they need it.
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