The Hunger Games movie had a very thought provoking scene in it where Gale and Katniss briefly discuss how the annual Hunger Games affect on the balance of power. For anyone who hasn’t read the books or seen the movie, the Hunger Games is an annual competition where one boy and one girl (from now on referred to as “tributes”) are selected out of each of the twelve districts to compete to the death for the title “Champion” and a surplus of food for their district for one year. This is the Capitol’s way of punishing the districts for rebelling several decades ago. The people in the districts are forced to watch the games and anyone with money is able to sponsor a tribute. Sponsors are often the difference between life and death during the games, because a sponsor’s money can be used to buy medicine, water, or other supplies.
Before the games start, Gale states that if no one watches, they don’t have a game and it would be all over. Katniss laughs and tells him it would never happen. At first, I thought only Katniss was right. It goes against our nature to ignore something like that, and to ignore a tribute from the poorer districts would be to condemn them to death since the richer districts actually train and volunteer for the Games. But, after some thought, Gale is correct too, IF everyone were to stop watching, the Capitol would no longer be able to use intimidation to control the districts through the Games and the Games would no longer exist, but would it really be better?
24 tributes go in and only one comes out. 23 casualties a year with the Hunger Games in place, now ignoring the logistics that make this impossible, what if everyone stopped watching? The Capitol still holds the majority of the money, and would still control the “peacekeepers,” a small army that monitors the districts and squishes rebellion. There is no way to communicate between districts except for the tributes who have all been groomed with an “it’s them or me” mentality. Would people be any less afraid if they were not forced to watch their children kill each other? I guess it depends on just how large an army the Capitol controls.
What are your thoughts on the matter? What would happen if everyone in The Hunger Games could stop watching?
-Eliabeth
Ermilia 
I nodded vigorously when he said that. I think for things to change, people (large groups of them) need to be radical. Not watching the games would be a huge step in the right direction. Easier said than done, though. It would take a lot of courage, and it would probably have to be done several times before something was done. People would be imprisoned or killed.
Great post!
Thanks Sara, I think you make a good point that repetition would be a big part of the success. I hadn’t considered it beyond the single attempt to get everyone to stop watching.
Agreed. It would take of effort/planning/strength to pull it off but it could be done. Like any tv show, it needs an audience to survive. I found it interesting that the Capitol could control the playing field, eliminating the chance for all the tributes to rebel and just not kill.
Exactly, or flee to the edge and turn it into a camping experience. I really like what they added to the movie, the concept that they allow a survivor because it gives the people hope to cling to, and then giving the winner’s district something. I didn’t think the book was missing that until I saw the movie.
I wish it were so…. but human nature speaks to the contrary. There are many of us who willfully choose not to witness pornography, violence or cruelty, but apparently there are also many out there who choose to do so. Freedom of choice does not assure that the right choice will be made.
“Freedom of choice does not assure that the right choice will be made.” So true! It’s like watching a train wreck or a fire, some people describe it as “you can’t look away,” but I think you said it best. Some people chose not to, just as some people chose to inflict pain, break the law, drive drunk, etc.
“Reality” TV is beyond absurd, and it’s like the more ridiculous it gets, the more the ratings soar. Find “true love” by picking from 20 e-date auditions. “Survive” on an island where natives have been living for centuries. Lose 300 lbs. Live Kim’s life.
The whole point behind the Hunger Games is that Katniss was right. It will never happen.
That’s really what makes the thought of an apocalypse scary. It’s not trying to survive without TV or electricity or any of that. I know how to do that. It’s trying to survive people who believe in the value of pornography, violence, and cruelty. Among them, I am a victim.
I agree with you on the “reality” TV *emphasizes air quotes.* I often wonder how much is scripted, like you know at some point the bachelor or bachelorette has made up their mind, but they can’t tell the audience that and they have to string the rest of the people along.
Unlike you, I could not survive without electricity. My sixth grade teacher thought I was depressed because when she had us write an essay about if everyone in the world was exactly like us, and I said humanity would die off. Ignoring the fact we would be unable to reproduce, I microwave dinner, I didn’t know anything about medicine at the time, pass out when I see blood (so suddenly becoming vegetarian would quickly lead to a food shortage).
The way I see it, if all the districts were to stop watching, that would basically amount to revolution, which is what they do anyway. So if they have to revolt anyway, I figure they should do a proper job of it and actually rise up and overthrow their oppressors.
You make a very good point. Thanks for commenting Michelle.