1. INTRODUCTION
THE CONCEPT OF DYSTOPIA:
Dystopia (Greek word dys meaning bad and topos meaning place) or alternatively, cacotopia,1 can be defined as an imagined world in which the society is oppressed and an illusion of a perfect society is maintained through corporate, bureaucratic, technological, moral or totalitarian control.2 It is a word coined by British philosopher John Stuart Mill. In the dystopian society freedom of thought, action and association (as propounded by Mill) are restricted, a figurehead is worshipped, citizens are under constant surveillance of the state and there is an environment of distrust everywhere. The concept of dystopia has been used in many genres of fictional movies in order to draw the attention of the viewers …show more content…
The movie has been directed by Garry Ross. It is about a game of survival, arising out of a treaty of treason which was signed after suppressing the uprising of the districts, of Panem (post apocalyptic version of North America). According to this treaty, each district would offer a male and female, between the age group of twelve and eighteen, at a public “Reaping”. These “Tributes”, in the custody of the Capitol would have to fight and kill in a public arena, till only one winner would remain. This carnage would be telecasted in Panem. The district of the victor would get some concessions in food for a year. Against this backdrop, Katniss Everdeen, from District 12 volunteers to participate in the 74 Hunger Games, in place of her sister (Primrose), who had been selected by the draw of lots. The movie revolves around Katniss, who is the protagonist. She represents the ‘Dystopian Hero’ who questions the existing social and political system and helps the audience to recognize the negatives of the dystopian world through her perspective. At the same time she has to distinguish between the reel and the real behavior of the tributes around her (including that of Peeta Mellark, from her district) amidst an environment of distrust and
THE CONCEPT OF DYSTOPIA:
Dystopia (Greek word dys meaning bad and topos meaning place) or alternatively, cacotopia,1 can be defined as an imagined world in which the society is oppressed and an illusion of a perfect society is maintained through corporate, bureaucratic, technological, moral or totalitarian control.2 It is a word coined by British philosopher John Stuart Mill. In the dystopian society freedom of thought, action and association (as propounded by Mill) are restricted, a figurehead is worshipped, citizens are under constant surveillance of the state and there is an environment of distrust everywhere. The concept of dystopia has been used in many genres of fictional movies in order to draw the attention of the viewers …show more content…
The movie has been directed by Garry Ross. It is about a game of survival, arising out of a treaty of treason which was signed after suppressing the uprising of the districts, of Panem (post apocalyptic version of North America). According to this treaty, each district would offer a male and female, between the age group of twelve and eighteen, at a public “Reaping”. These “Tributes”, in the custody of the Capitol would have to fight and kill in a public arena, till only one winner would remain. This carnage would be telecasted in Panem. The district of the victor would get some concessions in food for a year. Against this backdrop, Katniss Everdeen, from District 12 volunteers to participate in the 74 Hunger Games, in place of her sister (Primrose), who had been selected by the draw of lots. The movie revolves around Katniss, who is the protagonist. She represents the ‘Dystopian Hero’ who questions the existing social and political system and helps the audience to recognize the negatives of the dystopian world through her perspective. At the same time she has to distinguish between the reel and the real behavior of the tributes around her (including that of Peeta Mellark, from her district) amidst an environment of distrust and