Tag Archives: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games

For my final rock post, I would like to make a huge connection between the Tributes and Immigrants. So, as this quarter comes to a close, I have completely overlooked this concept. It may take a while for me to iron it out, but I think that this connection is worth the little bumps. I have realized (finally) that immigrants from Asia have come to America and had to create their own replica of a home, China Town (as we most know it in today’s society). China town usually consists of authentic Asian food, little shops with Asian trinkets or textiles, or even prostitutes, but overall China towns have some pretty neat things. Kung Fu is a really interesting Asian art to take up: it teaches self defense, confidence, and awareness. There are also animals that can represent the different types or styles of Kung Fu.

What I am trying to get at here is that all these things are now part of American pop culture. What was seen as a form of resistance, China town, wardrobe, and even fighting styles now have the spotlight. Traditional wardrobes are worn for music videos, China towns are the hide outs for gangsters in movies, and Kung Fu and animals are the ultimate pair for Kung Fu Panda.  This reminds me of the Hunger Games because people’s lives and ways are being used for entertainment. Tributes lives’ are being put on display for the Capitals entertainment. They fight out until the death, and everyone in the Capital sees it as a fun reality series.

A mockery is being made from the Tributes lives. I’m not saying that America has made a mockery of Asian history, though sometimes it can, overall, the US has turned these different aspect of Asian history and glorified them. Most of these things are just everyday Asian daily lives that were a form of resistance, but somehow made into iconic things. Katniss Everdeen defied the Capital and resisted in every way she possibly could and her symbol of the Mocking Jay has become iconic throughout all the districts.

I personally enjoy how Asian concepts are seen as really cool in the U.S. I just also find it funny how the history of it began. Everything started with resistance and now Asian culture is accepted more in the US than before. I know that this may seem a bit extreme and it’s quite a stretch, but it’s just a connection I found interesting.

Hunger Fu

After watching many films about Kung Fu and different fighting styles, it reminded me of the Hunger Games. There are all these different styles of battle in the movie. After the 24 tributes are reaped they are all put into a room to show the sponser their skills. For instance, Katniss has archery, Peeta is strong, morphlings are good at camoflauge, Finnick can swim/spear, etc. And Kung Fu, though they are all modes of battle, they are different.

There are many ways to teach the different styles of Kung Fu. In Shaolin Ulysses, many Asians have little temples, or studios where they can teach martial arts. Many people join in to have a sense of self-defense or stay in shape, or for the simple love of the art. In Black Kung Fu Experience many of speakers had lived in harsh times where Kung Fu had been their option for protection. Some also used it for art and expression. In the Hunger Games it is very similar to Black Kung Fu Experience, where survival is the drive for learning. Some tributes who get reaped may not have much of a special skill for survival; Rue, was good at climbing, running, and hiding, basics.