Expert: Society’s Acquired Taste for “The Hunger Games”
March 12, 2012
By: Allison Matherly
“The Hunger Games” opens nationwide March 23, and is the much-anticipated theatrical
release based on a trilogy of the same name. However, should society be celebrating
a story where children kill other children in the name of sport and entertainment?
Pitch
“The Hunger Games” opens nationwide March 23, and is the much-anticipated theatrical
release based on a trilogy of the same name. However, should society be celebrating
a story where children kill other children in the name of sport and entertainment?
Expert
Rob Weiner, associate librarian and pop culture expert, Texas Tech University Library,
(806) 742-2238 ext. 282 office, (806) 780-8775 mobile, or rob.weiner@ttu.edu.
Talking Points
- Books based on a similar concept, including “The Lord of the Flies.”
- Movies, such as “Battle Royale,” that may have influenced “The Hunger Games.”
- Comparison to other series in pop culture, like “Harry Potter” or “Twilight.”
Quotes
- “The concept of children against children is not a new one. The biggest similarity
comes from the controversial “Battle Royale,” where children are forced to kill one
another and only one is supposed to survive.”
- “There’s nothing logically moral about kids killing kids in a contest, but the concept
is reminiscent of other stories and films.”