The Hunger Games and Philosophy: Discipline and the Docile Body

I found the idea that the Capitol citizens were strictly controlled through their supposed freedom to be fascinating. Christina Van Dyke explains that Capitol society is structured to focus on fashion and society life because it draws attention away from politics and toward the self, which places President Snow in a relatively safe haven.

Capitol life centers on body modifications as an expression of self, which is essentially the only way they can achieve such. As far as the reader can see, there is no art, no literature, nothing to encourage depth of thought or character.

The Capitol hinges on social norms, manners and perspectives. Citizens are self-centered and attention-seeking. They are that way because they don't know how else to be.

Interestingly enough, Hank Green (of the vlogbrothers, a YouTube sensation) created a video talking about the implications of social norms that both compares and contrasts with Van Dyke's thoughts on the world of Panem and specifically the Capitol and further applies it to what that world reflects onto us as a privileged society in our own rights.





I'd like to see these two sit down and discuss their opinions on the series.