STS THY- in10se

Cecilio Gabriel F. Magsino

2013-14820

Reaction Paper: “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”

By definition I would say that the film “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” is indeed science fiction. We understand science fiction is a genre of fiction that portrays science, and technology in an imaginative context. Although plausible in the near future, majority of the elements of a science fiction film should still be contrary to what society deems as reality and should give the audience a sense of disbelief. To me the film achieved this by showing advances in society and technology that I would not believe to be possible or probable. The advancements in technology, communications, and transportation in the film such as holograms, aircrafts that to defy the laws of physics, arenas that can sustain their own ecosystem, and dresses that can catch on fire without harming the wearer and then change into totally different dresses, are all examples of what is contrary to society’s reality and I would say it sparks disbelief as well.

The film is also a commentary on past, present, and future human society because of the social hierarchy and example of government shown in the film. A commentary on the past human society as it imposed the hunger games which served as means of entertainment for the people as well as an exhibit of the Capitol’s strength and power over the people. Much like how the Republic of Rome had gladiators in the Coliseum to both entertain the citizens as well as make them fear the emperor. Commentary on present human society in a sense that the industries by the districts are the same as the industries we run in our country today. Besides that is the idea of revolution against an oppressive government which is why we celebrated the 150^th anniversary of the birth of the greatest revolutionary of our country which was Andres Bonifacio. Finally, it’s also a commentary on the future because the film was set on a post-apocalyptic world and the film gave us an opinion on how human society would survive after a worldwide catastrophe.

I would say that science and technology would succeed in the world of the 13 districts in a way that they were able to build advancements in transportation like the bullet trains and aircrafts shown in the film. They were able to make holograms as means of communication and surveillance possible. And even make an arena that can completely sustain its own ecosystem as well as produce artificial weather conditions as well as “natural” threats to the organisms inside. It is society that was shown failing in the 13 districts. With the dictatorship under “President” Snow and the 10 out of the 12 districts on the verge of rebellion, I would say that society in the film has failed. Failed in a sense that they could have all lived in peace and order.