Reflections of the Surveillance and Oppressive Authority in Hunger Games Trilogy

Abstract

This study focuses on hunger, social breakdown, political oppression and Michael Foucault’s concepts of surveillance and discipline in the The Hunger Games Trilogy, which is about rebellion and survival under a totalitarian regime. This paper aims to illustrate how The Hunger Games trilogy (The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay) examines the reflections of oppressive authority both in today’s and the future world and tries to reveal the connection between the districts in Panem in the films and today’s countries, based on Foucault’s concepts. Suzan Collins' civilization is portrayed by hunger and a ruthless central authority that is guarded by the Capitol and governs 12 surrounding districts. Panem is separated into 12 districts, which are controlled by the Capitol, the capital. As penance for their earlier disobedience, the 12 districts send a boy and a girl, ages 12 to 18, to fight to the death in the Hunger Games each year. Because of the economic situation of the districts, the Capitol easily dominates and controls them, and despite the fact that there is enough food in the Capitol, it does not supply the districts. Poor economic conditions caused by the Capitol in districts cause famine, thus residents occasionally opt to search for food regardless of being observed, yet the problem of starving persists. Drawing from Foucault's ideas on surveillance, discipline, and the panopticon, this article will explain the living conditions of citizens in Panem, the surveillance of the Capitol, and the relations between the Capitol (United States of America and some exploitative countries) and the present (exploited nations).