The Hunger Games Resurgence
TikTok’s famous “For You Page” (FYP) is known for being unpredictable yet terrifyingly relatable. So when the The Hunger Games edits – cuts and scenes from the popular dystopian franchise – popped up on FYPs a month ago, it was a nice surprise to say the least. Of course after seeing one edit that may or may not have been liked and watched several times (RIP Finnick Odair), the algorithm made every other video have some relation to the franchise. There have been popular videos that have been bringing up the old debate of Team Peeta versus Team Gale, peoples’ dream celebrity tribute line up, or even creators discussing the numerous analogies and symbols for capitalism Suzane Collins slipped in, thinking no one would notice.
Before discussing how The Hunger Games became the iconic franchise it is today, it's important to note why it is suddenly flooding everyone's social media pages. There are several different reasons that all contribute to the resurgence of the dystopian world of Panem. These include the return of The Hunger Games on Netflix, the upcoming release of prequel film The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, or the simple fact that people never stopped obsessing over the films and books.
Not only did Netflix bring back all four films, they then took. them. off. Netflix added the films in March 2023 and immediately warned it would only be available for 31 days. So how did this small detail have such an impact on its resurgence? Adding the movies gave everyone plenty of time to fall back in love and binge the series, but it also meant the trend had a deadline on its relevance. People were reminded of their love for the franchise and were then teased with only being able to watch them for a month, regarding that The Hunger Games is not on ANY other streaming platform. This gave influencers like @Luckyleftie, who’s entire page is dedicated to all things Hunger Games, just the right amount of an audience to generate enough buzz and take over everyones FYP.
Netflix knew what they were doing when they added the movies, allowing everyone to be reminded of the world of The Hunger Games with just enough time before the release of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Collins’s novel was published in 2020 and was almost immediately in line for movie production full of A-List actors such as Euphoria star Hunter Schaffer and English actor Tom Blyth playing young President Snow. The movie is set to be in theaters on November 17, 2023.
Collins was able to create a chilling yet low-radar criticism of capitalism in various aspects throughout the series. Readers and viewers were consistently shown the stark difference in wealth between the capital and the districts. We see this through Katniss’ perspective when she is first brought to the capital after being reaped for the games. After leaving her district where she spends the majority of her time scavenging for food anywhere she can, she is shocked to see how easy food is to come by. She notices the beauty in colors, cleanliness and abundance of everything, versus the gray palette she is accustomed to in her district, which is in a similar state to the rest of Panem.
Collins also establishes how money is used in different areas of Panem. In Katniss’s district, each coin is used towards their survival. While in the capital, everyone is decked out in the most colorful and elaborate costumes imaginable. We see a majority of these costumes when the people of the capital are cheering for the tributes, who are being forced into a death sentence. Their gross display of wealth was shoved into the faces of children as young as 12 years old. This extreme use of wealth for clothes is also seen in our society. Celebrities spend thousands of dollars at the annual MET Gala to be dressed in clothes that also cost an absurd amount of money. Some celebrities use the event to create the most elaborate costumes, seemingly sparing no expense for their shoes, makeup and costumes. Collins utilized the people of Panem to criticize the elites who contribute to the capitalist system that allows the rich to get richer and forces the middle and lower class further into poverty. Not only did the capital profit from the games, but they used their suffering as entertainment. The children who participate are not viewed as real human beings. To make matters worse, the survivor of the game is then forced into servitude to the capital for the rest of their lives.
Overall, Collins was able to create a world that used extreme symbols and characters to criticize global capitalism, hidden behind the worldwide debate of Team Gale or Team Peeta. Thanks to TikTok’s algorithm and the power of Netflix, everyone has remembered the many reasons they fell in love with the world of Panem. This resurgence has not only brought back great memories, but has allowed us to make our preparations to be welcomed back into the games this fall.
Written by Maddie Townsend, Designer: Maitri Modi, Social Media: Sofia Felker