Working title

To what extent does 'The Hunger Games' trilogy subvert traditional gender representations.

Angle

I will approach this question by answering questions like how The Hunger Games has influenced our society and whether or not there has been a difference or some sort of change to how we see gender as a whole. I will look at this from difference aspect such as audiences - how they have responded to the text and whether or not they agree. I will also look at this by also looking at the changes in society over the years. Not only that but i will look at the institution and whether there where any significant in what they did with the film.

Hypothesis

Gender representations have been subverted in The Hunger Games and this has had an affect on how society sees women and how dominant they are.

Linked production piece

What are you planning to make as your linked production piece? E.g.: Newsnight-style documentary video report looking at the impact of violent videogames on young people.

MIGRAIN

M - there is a significance in the mise-en-scene where the setting has a sombre feel to it which adds to the atmosphere and tension that is being created. Also, despite all the white the lighting seems to be very dim which is created by the surroundings of the characters which include the buildings that are dark and small almost claustrophobic like which adds to the tension. Make up is seen only on the spokeswoman and the rest of the women are not wearing any which shows that she is more richer and can afford those luxuries and is able to flaunt them to the rest of the civilians in district 12. There are a lot of close ups on the characters face to emphasise their emotions and allow the audience to see exactly how they are feeling. There are low angle shots to emphasise the spokeswoman's superiority over the rest and high angle shots to show that she is above them. There is also a close up of Primrose tucking her shirt in from the back which highlights the fact that even at a time like this she has to make sure she looks presentable.

I - The institutional source of the text is Lionsgate films and Color force. There were some changes made within the text in order to allow more screen time for certain characters specifically Seneca Crane where the screenplay expanded the character to allow several developments to be shown directly to the audience and more interaction between Seneca Crane and Coriolanus Snow. Lionsgate Films is well known to support the production of Sci-fi film such as Twilight and Divergent. It was first distributed in Europe on the 21 March and then it was released in America on the 23. Japan was the last to release it months late on the 28 September.

G - The film is an Adventure, Sci-Fi and Thriller. In the film we can see that there is a lot of close up used on things like the weapons and Medium long shots- long shots to get in movement on when the characters are fighting or when there is a running scene. This could be seen to emphasise action codes within the film the highlight the fact that it is an Adventure and Sci-fi film. This makes it easier for the audience to identify the genre and get an idea of what to expect within the film and for conventions later on in the film that could also be a part of the genre conventions. The main star of the film Jennifer Lawrence is very strongly associated with the science fiction genre. She played the role of Mystique in the well known film series X-men where it heavily focuses on genetic mutation and a dystopian world. Which are key conventions of a science fiction films. In both Hunger games and X-men she plays a role that indicates that she is a strong female character that usually doesn't need the assistance of other people.

R - The main representation that is being made in this film is gender and there are different ways that this has been portrayed in the film; Men that are overly masculine and also men that are sensitive. However you have the representation of females subverted in this film where the main character is brave confident as she steps in for her sister which is seen to be a very protective trait. The main character Katniss Everdeen is represented in this way as it shapes the rest of the narrative. She is seen as a brave, confident and skilful but also caring and sensitive towards her family and the people she cares about. This representation of women and men are accurate as it shows the different attributes within a gender and that there is no one specific and conventional way of portraying gender.

A - I believe that the text is addressed to a young audience specifically between the age range of 12-18year olds however it may also draw in audiences who go above that age range In terms of psychographics this would target more towards the Aspirers and Explorers due to the fact that Aspirers are seen to be Materialistic and look more towards image and appearance which is an aspect of the film that is focused on in the early stages of the events. One uses and gratification that can be used is Identification. This is due to the fact that they characters are relatable to the target audience and the fact that they are the same age range will show some obvious similarities in lifestyle and therefore the audience will be able to identify with them more. From my perspective I see the film as a way to encourage females to stand up and show their strength and that their voice is as important as it is for males. I see it as a way to show that females are not weak and that we are capable to be seen as a dominant figure.

I - Some major ideologies that the text includes is that women can be independent and successful and that friendship is important. However there is still the dominant ideology that there needs to be some kind of romantic involvement within the film. Another ideology that can be considered is the fight between good and evil - Katniss against Snow. We are seeing more dominant female political leaders in the current political situation. For example Hilary Clinton was running for President which highlights the fact that females are stepping up for the more dominant jobs and not settling for whatever they can. This indicates towards the change in society which is also evident throughout the Hunger Games film series. I think that this film promotes the idea of communism as the capitol is a destructive leadership that is controlling the different sectors and not taking their interests into considerations. Implicitly you see the idea of feminism being implemented within the film.

N - The whole film is portrayed overall in a linear narrative except for one or two flashbacks to give quick background information to the audience. This is done due to the fact that it was an on-going film series and therefore one event led to another until the final film finale. Techniques that show alienation are through the clothing that the characters wear. To show the difference in hierarchy you see everyone in District 12 dressed in the same monotonous pale white clothing and the spokeswoman comes dressed in bright pink clothing and make up to match with it. This is done to emphasise the lavish life of the spokeswoman and the dull life of the civilian in District 12. The audience are sutured within the film using close up of the characters Katniss and Primrose to show their affection for each other and their closeness which is used as a technique to emphasise the identification the audience could have towards the characters. In the first couple of scenes in the depths of District 12 There isn't much non-diegetic sound to add to the scene. There is only diegetic sound to be heard which could indicate the fact that there isn't a sense of life in the District. However, when the tributes have been selected and are taken away to the Capitol. The editing pace starts to quicken as it shows the excitement and buzz that is being created in the atmosphere.

SHEP

Social

- Representation of society and their attitudes
- How we segregate people and often use them as scapegoats
- The importance of appearance

Historical

- Links to Theasus and the minotaur, Roman Gladiator games
- Her background and experience with war in her family
- Suffering as a

Economic

- Inequality between rich and poor
- Poor - Struggle to appease the rich
- Rich - Taking advantage of poor
Political
- tyrannical oppression and poverty
- the destructive force of humans, the unjust social hierarchy and the danger of abusive powers
- hunger for political freedom, social ascendance or self-realisation

Issues/Debates

Select at least five and say how each relates to your study, using the Media A-Z to help you think about this. Your research and essay plan will need to factor these issues and debates into your work:

Representation and stereotyping - This relates to my study because it is the main focus of how I will be looking at my text. I will looking at the representation of gender and this will include and stereotypes or subversions that are made within the film.

Media effects - This can be related to my study as I can see how the society has been affected by this media text or whether certain aspects of society has influenced the film

Reality TV

News Values

Moral Panics - This links to my study as I could go into the detail of how the districts are part of a society that are not in control of what happens and that they are seen are collectively being portrayed as the scapegoat to the reason why they are suffering.

Post 9/11 and the media

Ownership and control

Regulation and censorship

Media technology and the digital revolution – changing technologies in the 21st century -

The effect of globalisation on the media

Theories

Select at least five and say how each relates to your study, using keywords/specific theorists' names from the Media A-Z:

Semiotics - I will use this theory to analyse my chosen film and look for different signs that hints at gender representations and the different aspects that come with it.

Structuralism and post-structuralism -

Postmodernism and its critiques

Gender and ethnicity - This relates to my study as I am focusing on gender specifically so therefore Theories such as Feminism and Mulvey's theory on the male gaze.

Marxism and hegemony

Liberal Pluralism

Colonialism and Post-colonialism

Audience theories - This relates to my study as I will be looking at the effects the film has on audiences. There are many ways that the film has influenced gender. I could go into the details of how it has done so.

Genre theories

Contemporary Media Landscape

You may need to further research these theoretical areas.

Research plan (media texts, academic texts and websites)

Media texts

What your main focus will be - Hunger Games Trilogy

Other media texts

- Divergent
- The Mortal instruments
- Twilight
- Snow white and the Huntsman
- The maze runner

TV documentaries

Research videos online,

- BBC documentary No More Boys and Girls explores gender-neutral ...
- BBC - The Documentary: The Taboo Of Feminism - Media Centre

- Miss Representation - explores the way that the media sells us the idea that girls’ and women’s value lies in their youth, beauty, and sexuality and not in their capacity as leaders. 73% of people said that watching Miss Representation changed their opinion about the way in which women are represented in the media. Using film as a catalyst for cultural transformation, Miss Representation inspires us to challenge and overcome limiting stereotypes so that everyone, regardless of gender, race, class, age, or sexual orientation, can fulfill their human potential.

- Dream, Girl - is an innovative feature film about the power of education to change a girl - and the world. The mission of the filmmakers is to change the way the world values the girl and ensure that girls’ education is part of the mainstream conversation. Millions have seen the Girl Rising film. Its message is spreading across campuses and communities around the world. What girls want most is to be students - to learn. And now, by sharing their personal journeys, the brave girls of Girl Rising have become teachers.

- She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry - resurrects the buried history of the brilliant women who founded the modern women’s movement from 1966 to 1971. The mission of the film is to inspire women and men to work for feminism and human rights. The film has had theatrical runs in almost every state, and in many cities, sometimes running for weeks. Seeing is believing. To see She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry will help all women believe themselves and each other.

Academic texts/books

(a minimum of five, including author/full title/year, e.g.:)
Barrie Gunter: The effects of video games on children: the myth unmasked (1998)
James Newman: Playing with videogames (2008)
Nancy Signorielli: Violence in the media: a reference handbook (2005)
Peter Vorderer, and Bryant Jennings: Playing video games: motives, responses, and consequences (2006)

- Katniss and the Monomyth: Constructing Gender Identity in The Hunger ...

Title - Katniss and the Monomyth: Constructing Gender Identity in The Hunger Games

Author - Hilary Montgomery

Published - 2012
- Approaching the Hunger Games Trilogy: A Literary and Cultural Analysis

Title - Approaching the Hunger Games Trilogy: A Literary and Cultural Analysis

Author - Tom Henthorne

Pulished - 2012

- Space and Place in The Hunger Games: New Readings of the Novels
Title - Space and Place in The Hunger Games: New Readings of the Novels
Author - edited by Deidre Anne Evans Garriott,, Whitney Elaine Jones, Julie Elizabeth Tyler
Published - 2014
- The Politics of the Hunger Games
Title - The Politics of the Hunger Games
Author - Jamey Heit
Published - 2015

- The Politics of Panem: Challenging Genres

Title - The Politics of Panem: Challenging Genres
Author - Sean P. Connors
Published - 2014

Internet Links

1. At least FIVE from Media Guardian or Guardian Culture or another newspaper website.

2. At least FIVE from university websites/academic papers online. Use Google Scholar as a starting point.

3. Any other relevant sites/articles - the more the better.

muna Mest4 C

Thursday, 12 October 2017

Critical Investigation: Project proposal

Title - Approaching the Hunger Games Trilogy: A Literary and Cultural Analysis

- The Politics of Panem: Challenging Genres

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