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A2 Media Case Study - The Hunger Games (Representation)

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Elle Sullivan
Elle Sullivan

The document discusses the representation of gender in the film The Hunger Games. It analyzes the character Katniss Everdeen, finding that while she is biologically female, her personality traits and skills are more typically masculine. She is strong, defiant, independent, and skilled in hunting. In contrast, Peeta displays more stereotypically feminine traits like being emotionally open and focused on communication. While Katniss shows some nurturing behaviors, she generally subverts expectations of femininity through her dominant role and focus on survival in the games.

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A2 Media Case Study - The Hunger Games (Representation)
Representation: Katniss Everdeen The film offers a positive representation of women. The character of Katniss is strong and defiant. She progresses the narrative, is a woman of action, is intelligent and independent (not relying on men). It was the first film to hit box office revenue of over $350 million, with a female action lead.
The Hunger Games: Female Heroine • Has a female protagonist AND challenges gender stereotypes. While Katniss is indeed a female, she is characterized by her masculine qualities throughout the entire novel/film. • Katniss has more stereotypically “male” traits – she’s a hunter, she doesn’t like displaying emotions or being romantic, she kills more often and is more focussed on survival. • Peeta, by contrast, is the gatherer, more emotionally open, more romantic, better with words.
Katniss = dominant • 39.35 - Commanding – “Throw that metal thing over there”. • 1.05.30 – Peeta tells her not to go for the bow. She doesn’t listen. • 1.47.30 – “I’m not gonna let you go”. Peeta tries to dominate. Katniss doesn’t do as she is told. • The only time Katniss does as Peeta tells her is when she is drugged at 1.24.40 (Naturally this is for survival reasons but it could be as a result of impairment??)
• These characteristics all paint the picture of Katniss as a female who is female only by sex; her personality traits, desires, and even physical appearance all identify closer with masculinity than femininity
But… she does show stereotypical female traits • 1.30 – Introduced to Katniss – Nurturing mother-like figure. Comforting Prim who has had a bad dream. • 5.30 • Spaceship arrives over the woods, Gale puts his arms around Katniss and guides her to the shelter of the trees. • 41.46 • Nervous (not as clam as Peeta) when waiting for demonstration task. • 1.36.00 • Nurturer, again. Rue’s death (similarities to Skyfall - but how is it different?) • 1.40.25 • Crying – but why? • 1.45.50 • Nurturer, again(!). Looking after Peeta, caring and nursing him back to health.
Why is the following clip important? “He made me look weak!” 55.45
Subverting Gender roles? • She’s the hunter • She kills with a bow & arrow • She is less openly emotional • She is less romantic • She is more likely to use things for her own personal benefit, but is she selfish? • She’s the one more set on survival • She comes up with the plans once her & Peeta are together • She is not as good with communication (words/language) compared to Peeta.
A2 Media Case Study - The Hunger Games (Representation)
Princess: Peeta Peeta claims he doesn't want the games to change him. He becomes a Proppian princess in parts of the narrative, where he is saved by Katniss.
• He gathers while Katniss hunts • His only kill in the 74th hunger games was an accident. • He is more openly emotional. He lets the world see him cry. • He tells Katniss how he feels about her, even when he knows the entire country is watching. • He is more romantic. Katniss is portrayed as having never given much thoughts to boys until the beginning of the book. Even in the book, she really only thinks about it because she has to play a role for the cameras. • He’s physically strong, but in a different way than Gale, who might be considered the traditional male lead model. • He’s the more passive one in the relationship. Katniss takes charge. Partially because Peeta is injured, but also partially because that’s the way their personalities would play out in most circumstances. • He’s better with words and language.
Questions? • Does the film imply that in order to be successful in the Hunger Games as a female, Katniss has to take on anti-feminine qualities? • Why isn’t it possible for Katniss to be portrayed as a feminine figure? Why does she have to be cold, unemotional, unforgiving, and unsympathetic in order to win the Hunger Games?
Cato: the villain Earp & Katz's theory in 'Tough Guise' suggests that men are often represented as violent. This is supported, in that the most violent tribute is Cato (who seems to actually enjoy the violence) - he is shown smiling at a girl before we hear her scream (as his group presumably kills her) and then laughing afterwards.
More baddies President Snow Seneca The people in positions of power in the film tend to be men (the gamemakers and President Snow). This reinforces a male hegemony and patriarchal notions of power. However, the patriarchy in the film is represented as being violent and immoral. The audience is positioned to disagree with it.
Stereotypes subverted: the helpers Cinna Haymitch
Effie Stereotype 45.00
Others Ethnicity controversy! (See ‘audience’ slides’) Rue Thresh Gale Primrose
A2 Media Case Study - The Hunger Games (Representation)
Representation of sexuality…? • Interesting article on how THG “ perpetuates ugly LGBT stereotypes” • Read the comments though – not a lot of LGBT’s agree.
Representation of places District 12 Poor The Capitol Wealthy

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A2 Media Case Study - The Hunger Games (Representation)

  • 2. Representation: Katniss Everdeen The film offers a positive representation of women. The character of Katniss is strong and defiant. She progresses the narrative, is a woman of action, is intelligent and independent (not relying on men). It was the first film to hit box office revenue of over $350 million, with a female action lead.
  • 3. The Hunger Games: Female Heroine • Has a female protagonist AND challenges gender stereotypes. While Katniss is indeed a female, she is characterized by her masculine qualities throughout the entire novel/film. • Katniss has more stereotypically “male” traits – she’s a hunter, she doesn’t like displaying emotions or being romantic, she kills more often and is more focussed on survival. • Peeta, by contrast, is the gatherer, more emotionally open, more romantic, better with words.
  • 4. Katniss = dominant • 39.35 - Commanding – “Throw that metal thing over there”. • 1.05.30 – Peeta tells her not to go for the bow. She doesn’t listen. • 1.47.30 – “I’m not gonna let you go”. Peeta tries to dominate. Katniss doesn’t do as she is told. • The only time Katniss does as Peeta tells her is when she is drugged at 1.24.40 (Naturally this is for survival reasons but it could be as a result of impairment??)
  • 5. • These characteristics all paint the picture of Katniss as a female who is female only by sex; her personality traits, desires, and even physical appearance all identify closer with masculinity than femininity
  • 6. But… she does show stereotypical female traits • 1.30 – Introduced to Katniss – Nurturing mother-like figure. Comforting Prim who has had a bad dream. • 5.30 • Spaceship arrives over the woods, Gale puts his arms around Katniss and guides her to the shelter of the trees. • 41.46 • Nervous (not as clam as Peeta) when waiting for demonstration task. • 1.36.00 • Nurturer, again. Rue’s death (similarities to Skyfall - but how is it different?) • 1.40.25 • Crying – but why? • 1.45.50 • Nurturer, again(!). Looking after Peeta, caring and nursing him back to health.
  • 7. Why is the following clip important? “He made me look weak!” 55.45
  • 8. Subverting Gender roles? • She’s the hunter • She kills with a bow & arrow • She is less openly emotional • She is less romantic • She is more likely to use things for her own personal benefit, but is she selfish? • She’s the one more set on survival • She comes up with the plans once her & Peeta are together • She is not as good with communication (words/language) compared to Peeta.
  • 10. Princess: Peeta Peeta claims he doesn't want the games to change him. He becomes a Proppian princess in parts of the narrative, where he is saved by Katniss.
  • 11. • He gathers while Katniss hunts • His only kill in the 74th hunger games was an accident. • He is more openly emotional. He lets the world see him cry. • He tells Katniss how he feels about her, even when he knows the entire country is watching. • He is more romantic. Katniss is portrayed as having never given much thoughts to boys until the beginning of the book. Even in the book, she really only thinks about it because she has to play a role for the cameras. • He’s physically strong, but in a different way than Gale, who might be considered the traditional male lead model. • He’s the more passive one in the relationship. Katniss takes charge. Partially because Peeta is injured, but also partially because that’s the way their personalities would play out in most circumstances. • He’s better with words and language.
  • 12. Questions? • Does the film imply that in order to be successful in the Hunger Games as a female, Katniss has to take on anti-feminine qualities? • Why isn’t it possible for Katniss to be portrayed as a feminine figure? Why does she have to be cold, unemotional, unforgiving, and unsympathetic in order to win the Hunger Games?
  • 13. Cato: the villain Earp & Katz's theory in 'Tough Guise' suggests that men are often represented as violent. This is supported, in that the most violent tribute is Cato (who seems to actually enjoy the violence) - he is shown smiling at a girl before we hear her scream (as his group presumably kills her) and then laughing afterwards.
  • 14. More baddies President Snow Seneca The people in positions of power in the film tend to be men (the gamemakers and President Snow). This reinforces a male hegemony and patriarchal notions of power. However, the patriarchy in the film is represented as being violent and immoral. The audience is positioned to disagree with it.
  • 15. Stereotypes subverted: the helpers Cinna Haymitch
  • 17. Others Ethnicity controversy! (See ‘audience’ slides’) Rue Thresh Gale Primrose
  • 19. Representation of sexuality…? • Interesting article on how THG “ perpetuates ugly LGBT stereotypes” • Read the comments though – not a lot of LGBT’s agree.
  • 20. Representation of places District 12 Poor The Capitol Wealthy