General comparison between The Hunger Games and contemporary society

Hunger Games

In Panem, the fictional country in the Hunger Games, contestants compete for their lives. The Hunger Games take place each year in the Capital, where the games are viewed as a form of entertainment. However, eleven out of the twelve teenagers participating in the game will die. Although the losers in reality television shows are not killed, the strange events that take place in Suzanne Collins's novel the Hunger Games are not much different from shows like Survivor. Suzanne Collins's novel shows how the individual contestants win support from viewers just like reality television show contestants do. The Hunger Games are like most reality television shows like Survivor, in which contestants also compete until all but one has been eliminated. The format and function of the Hunger Games is nearly identical to the format and function of reality television.

The format of reality television follows the same format described in Collins's novel the Hunger Games. Contestants are "eliminated" until there is only one contestant left. The teenagers competing in the hunger games create alliances with other competitors based on who they view as their biggest threat. On reality television shows like Survivor, the contestants also create cliques for selfish reasons. Romance is an extra bonus for reality television shows, just as the romance between Katniss and Peeta is a big part of the Hunger Games.

One of the issues addressed in the Hunger Games is how the contestants deal with fame. Most of the contestants understand that they need to win support from the viewers. Viewers can send gifts to the contestants they favor, just as viewers of reality television can phone in their support for specific candidates. When a viewer supports a candidate of American Idol, for example, that candidate has a better chance of winning. Many reality television shows use the audience in the same way that the Capital uses its audience participation. Moreover, in the Hunger Games, people like Haymitch Abernathy become corrupted by the fame from winning. Getting famous is more of a curse than a blessing for many reality television show winners such as Susan Boyle. There is evidence that fame is hurting Susan Boyle. "The concern is that Boyle's mental health is being sacrificed to line the pockets of her managers, record label and various hangers on," (TheImproper).