1. X: In the tribute parade scene of The Hunger Games, convey how those citizens in a dystopian society are dehumanized and objectified.
Detail 1: The costuming separates the people of the Capitol from those of the Districts. The people from the Capitol are dressed in vibrant colors in lavish designs and materials, and are used to dressing extravagantly. The costumes of the tributes are extravagant, but unfamiliar to most of them, and seem to objectify them by dressing them up to represent the commodity of their district for the purpose of entertaining the Capitol.
Detail 2: The camera angles mostly look up at the members of the Capitol, yet down upon the tributes, including Peeta and Katniss. This provides the viewer with a sense that the Capitol views themselves as higher status than those of the Districts and that those of the Districts are unequal to them. They objectify those of the Districts.
2. Y: In Moylan's "Preface," he explains how "economy and capitalism" have been successful, but at the cost of the ability and potential of humanity and the earth. These non-natural things, have caused the capability of humanity to regress, weakened under the social pressures of an authoritarian state.
Detail: Katniss and the other tributes are paraded in extravagant costumes in front of the Capitol and government to entertain them. The members of the Districts are seen as objects for entertainment and expendable to those of the Capitol. The members of the Capitol have a higher status due to their position of power, and because of this, view the Districts as unequals and less human than themselves.
Thesis: This film scene projects how those in a dystopia are dehumanized and objectified, and although those members possess the same qualities of a human, they are seen as unequal to the humanity of those in charge.
Friday, October 30, 2015
Tyrus Tucker- Blog Post 6
X: In a scene of the reaping, the participants forced to be there are subjected to a propaganda like video that displays the effects of war and turmoil on a nation. The video also shows a representation of patriarchal power, accompanied by the fear of possibly losing this power, as a result of such turmoil.
Detail 1: The pictures depicted in the video are dark and would stimulate a sense of fear or remorse in those who were watching it. The color scheme of everyone's best dress in this situation shows a lot of faded hopes and dreams, suffering, and being subjected to extreme living conditions.
Detail 2: The lone victor in the video is shown as a strong young male. President snow who is speaking is also a male, one with great power. He incentivizes the people of District 12 great riches if all goes well, and if he is still the great leader; this is what he means when he says "safegaurd our future."
Y: Moylan states that the different "terrors of the 20th century" have provided a "fertile" ground for which dystopian literature eventually flourished in (Moylan 1).
Detail: Since the war, Panem has had to rebuild, providing a new way of civilization, a fertile ground in which could grow in many certain ways. The Hunger Games as Snow emphasizes, is a way that they can learn from there past. The people of Panem are the fertile ground, and Snow is the gardener; carfully weeding out those who may be a possible threat to his patriarchal rule.
Thesis: Moylan's thought of the "terrors of the 20th Century" providing "fertile" ground for those writing the dystopian novels, correlates to the after affect of these tragedies occurring. In order to establish and keep order like in the film scene, leaders and rulers of our society must keep careful watch over their "crops", or members of society, in order to ensure their role as a high power.
Detail 1: The pictures depicted in the video are dark and would stimulate a sense of fear or remorse in those who were watching it. The color scheme of everyone's best dress in this situation shows a lot of faded hopes and dreams, suffering, and being subjected to extreme living conditions.
Detail 2: The lone victor in the video is shown as a strong young male. President snow who is speaking is also a male, one with great power. He incentivizes the people of District 12 great riches if all goes well, and if he is still the great leader; this is what he means when he says "safegaurd our future."
Y: Moylan states that the different "terrors of the 20th century" have provided a "fertile" ground for which dystopian literature eventually flourished in (Moylan 1).
Detail: Since the war, Panem has had to rebuild, providing a new way of civilization, a fertile ground in which could grow in many certain ways. The Hunger Games as Snow emphasizes, is a way that they can learn from there past. The people of Panem are the fertile ground, and Snow is the gardener; carfully weeding out those who may be a possible threat to his patriarchal rule.
Thesis: Moylan's thought of the "terrors of the 20th Century" providing "fertile" ground for those writing the dystopian novels, correlates to the after affect of these tragedies occurring. In order to establish and keep order like in the film scene, leaders and rulers of our society must keep careful watch over their "crops", or members of society, in order to ensure their role as a high power.
Charlotte Humphrey - Blog Post 6
1. X: The reaping scene in The Hunger Games explores the separation and differences in classes between the districts and the capital.
Detail: In the reaping scene, we are shown that everyone is grouped in a ceremony run by a "high class" government official of sorts, one whose job it is to pick what kids will have to participate in the fight to the death. Effie's obliviousness to the situation is apparent through her dialogue and looks.
3. Through the use of dialogue, makeup and camera angles, we are shown the differences between the classes and groups of people within the dystopian society in The Hunger Games.
Detail 1: The camera shoots Effie Trinket differently than the crowd, in which she is shown at an elevated angle and from over the shoulder when talking and the shots of people in the crowd are wide framed and do not single out one person.
Detail 2: Effie's makeup shows an outward way that she is different than those who live in the districts, revealing how she is also different on the inside because of the way she has been conditioned to think of the games as actual games.
2. Y: In Moylan's analysis of dystopian fiction, he identifies dystopias main address as the "ability to reflect upon the causes of social and ecological evil as systemic" (Moylan xii). This idea explains how we use dystopia to reflect upon the problems and fears in society, and how we attribute them to the system.
Detail: In the reaping scene, we are shown that everyone is grouped in a ceremony run by a "high class" government official of sorts, one whose job it is to pick what kids will have to participate in the fight to the death. Effie's obliviousness to the situation is apparent through her dialogue and looks.
3. Through the use of dialogue, makeup and camera angles, we are shown the differences between the classes and groups of people within the dystopian society in The Hunger Games.
Megan Lightcap - Blog Post 6
- X: The scene where Katniss shows off her archery skills to gain sponsors is showing how first class citizens perceive themselves in comparison to people from different backgrounds. Visual Detail 1: The camera angles are always either pointing down at Katniss or up at the sponsors. Visual Detail 2: The sponsors are placed on a platform that is very high off of the ground, to the point where no one who was on the ground level could get themselves up there.
- Y: Moylan suggests that literature uses "imaginary societies that are even worse than those that lie outside their authors' and readers' doors" to make observations about their current society (xi). Dystopian works tend to over exaggerate the level of inequality, however they do make a point about how society treats a certain group of people. In this scene, the sponsors, who are all male, are up on a platform, however Katniss is on the ground. This shows the male superiority in the world and how women, no matter how hard they try, could never get up to that same level. This scene is an over exaggeration of this point, however this makes the point even more clear.
- This scene appears to be about how first class citizens view themselves in comparison to people from different backgrounds, however by using Moylan's work, it is really about male supremacy.
Mary Sluder - Blog Post 6
X: The scene with the rule change and almost poisonous berry consumption shows Katniss's role as the dominant character.
Detail 1: Katniss and Peeta are shown at a mid-shot equal in height level, seemingly as equals, until Katniss looks up at the Capitol.
Detail 2: After Katniss looks up, Peeta looks down at and plays with Katniss's braid.
Y: Williams discusses how the swapping of gender roles in science fiction (dystopian fiction being a subset of science fiction) comments on the struggle of women to overcome patriarchal society's norms. This is shown in the film scene when Katniss looks up, separating herself from Peeta when they are shown as equals, and Peeta looks down and plays with Katniss's braid.
X/Y thesis: In this scene, it seems as if Katniss is shown as the dominant character in the film, however, in light of Williams concept about the swapping of gender roles in science fiction works, the scene also utilizes this concept of the swapping of gender roles to comment on the struggle of women to overcome patriarchal society's hold on traditional norms.
Detail 1: Katniss and Peeta are shown at a mid-shot equal in height level, seemingly as equals, until Katniss looks up at the Capitol.
Detail 2: After Katniss looks up, Peeta looks down at and plays with Katniss's braid.
Y: Williams discusses how the swapping of gender roles in science fiction (dystopian fiction being a subset of science fiction) comments on the struggle of women to overcome patriarchal society's norms. This is shown in the film scene when Katniss looks up, separating herself from Peeta when they are shown as equals, and Peeta looks down and plays with Katniss's braid.
X/Y thesis: In this scene, it seems as if Katniss is shown as the dominant character in the film, however, in light of Williams concept about the swapping of gender roles in science fiction works, the scene also utilizes this concept of the swapping of gender roles to comment on the struggle of women to overcome patriarchal society's hold on traditional norms.
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Savannah Lucas - Blog Post 6
1.
X:
The scene of Immortan Joe’s address suggests the power of identity and how this exists and changes within a social system.
Detail 1: We see two sides of Immortan Joe. The first is as he is, old and with sores and welts, appearing weak. The other is with his armor like costume and harsh mask, appearing scary and threatening.
Detail 2: The extreme high and low camera angles reveal a polarization between sides and therefore between external identities.
2.
Y:
In William’s essay, he states “That symbolic universe of communication and expression we call art both creates and reflects the nature of human experience and of the political reality with which we must contend.” (391) He is offering that the art of dystopia, particularly film, allows us to see real human experience and connect that with larger issues in politics and society.
Detail: In this scene, Immortan Joe’s more vulnerable side is shown to expose that the things that seem powerful and threatening on the outside are not necessary reflections of the inside.
3.
When considering William’s idea of human experience and political reality, the scene Mad Max Fury Road not only offers a simple difference in identity, but a way to use that in order to challenge who holds power in a social system.
Monica Villanueva - Blog Post 6
1. Issue: The contrast between the appearances of the capitol people and district twelves people in the reaping ceremony scene emphasizes the greediness of the capitol.
Detail 1: District 12's gray clothing, ragged, dirty clothing. This clothing shows they are not well off and are struggling. It gives viewers the sense that they are sad and struggling.
Detail 2: Effie Trinkets colorful clothing and makeup, with her smiling face. Effie's colorful appearance gives viewers the sense that she is very happy and has a lot of time and money to spend on herself. She smiles a lot, showing that she does not have a care in the world and doesn't really worry about things like district 12's people have to.
2. Concept: Moylan talks about greediness and capitalism, using the strand: "greed, destruction, death". When using this strand he also connects it with the idea of capitalism. He uses all these words together to emphasize his thoughts that capitalism and government greed are bad things, often discussed in dystopian narratives.
Detail: In this scene it is shown the capitol is well off, while the people in the districts are struggling. This is believably from the capitols greediness. Moylan furthers this idea when he speaks about capitalism and the government in negative ways, also in relation to greed. He clearly speaks out against these things, making it easy to relate the two pieces of evidence.
3. On the surface "The Hunger Games" seems to be about a young girl struggling against a controlling government. However when watching the reaping scene at the beginning of this movie viewers can learn about the directors feelings towards government greed and their belief that it is hurting the society. The strand from Moylan seems to agree with this because in this strand he speaks out against capitalism and government greed with his words.
Detail 1: District 12's gray clothing, ragged, dirty clothing. This clothing shows they are not well off and are struggling. It gives viewers the sense that they are sad and struggling.
Detail 2: Effie Trinkets colorful clothing and makeup, with her smiling face. Effie's colorful appearance gives viewers the sense that she is very happy and has a lot of time and money to spend on herself. She smiles a lot, showing that she does not have a care in the world and doesn't really worry about things like district 12's people have to.
2. Concept: Moylan talks about greediness and capitalism, using the strand: "greed, destruction, death". When using this strand he also connects it with the idea of capitalism. He uses all these words together to emphasize his thoughts that capitalism and government greed are bad things, often discussed in dystopian narratives.
Detail: In this scene it is shown the capitol is well off, while the people in the districts are struggling. This is believably from the capitols greediness. Moylan furthers this idea when he speaks about capitalism and the government in negative ways, also in relation to greed. He clearly speaks out against these things, making it easy to relate the two pieces of evidence.
3. On the surface "The Hunger Games" seems to be about a young girl struggling against a controlling government. However when watching the reaping scene at the beginning of this movie viewers can learn about the directors feelings towards government greed and their belief that it is hurting the society. The strand from Moylan seems to agree with this because in this strand he speaks out against capitalism and government greed with his words.
Quinn Cohen blog pos 6
1.The "together" scene in The Hunger Games shows how Katniss is the dominant character. This dominance also shows the advances science fiction is making in feminism and the role of the female character.
Detail 1: In all shots Katniss although not physically taller, is portrayed to be the taller than Peeta. This draws the viewers attention to Katniss and the actions she is making and less so on Peeta.
Detail 2: When Katniss gets to "2" in the countdown to eat the berries, she looks up to the sky. She knows that every district is watching her. She also knows that the capitol must have a winner and is pushing the Game-Maker into a corner.
2. In Jenny Wolmarks Alernative Futures? Science Fiction and Feminism she talks about how in the past, science fiction was completely male dominated but recently there has been a massive trend in female dominating roles that implies the changes of modern society.
Detail: Katniss is the one who comes up with the plans to eat the poisonous berries. She knows that the capitol must have a winner and fooling the viewers into thinking they would eat them would force the Game-maker to allow them both to win. The camera is focused on Katniss's face during the countdown and her facial expression did not show fear which proves she had the plan all along.
3. Although the Hunger Games seems to just be a dystopian piece about how kids are sent to battle to the death each year, it is also commenting on Wolmarks idea of the growing role females have in society. Katniss is the dominate character in the Hunger Games and is another example of the trend of having dominate female roles in science fiction.
Detail 1: In all shots Katniss although not physically taller, is portrayed to be the taller than Peeta. This draws the viewers attention to Katniss and the actions she is making and less so on Peeta.
Detail 2: When Katniss gets to "2" in the countdown to eat the berries, she looks up to the sky. She knows that every district is watching her. She also knows that the capitol must have a winner and is pushing the Game-Maker into a corner.
2. In Jenny Wolmarks Alernative Futures? Science Fiction and Feminism she talks about how in the past, science fiction was completely male dominated but recently there has been a massive trend in female dominating roles that implies the changes of modern society.
Detail: Katniss is the one who comes up with the plans to eat the poisonous berries. She knows that the capitol must have a winner and fooling the viewers into thinking they would eat them would force the Game-maker to allow them both to win. The camera is focused on Katniss's face during the countdown and her facial expression did not show fear which proves she had the plan all along.
3. Although the Hunger Games seems to just be a dystopian piece about how kids are sent to battle to the death each year, it is also commenting on Wolmarks idea of the growing role females have in society. Katniss is the dominate character in the Hunger Games and is another example of the trend of having dominate female roles in science fiction.
Blog Post 6-- Aditi Bhatnagar
1.X:
The Reaping Scene in the Hunger Games allows us to view the changing nature of the role of women within dystopias by characterizing Effie Trinket.
Detail 1:
The majority of the scene creates an eyeline vector in which Effie is look down on the people. Since she is looking down at the people, Effie is seen as superior to and more powerful than the people of District 12. This allows us to characterize Effie as as a very dominant and powerful individual, who must have some level of competence in order to have acquired power.
Detail 2:
Effie has very bold and flashy costuming compared to the costuming of the people of District 12. This makes Effie stand out in the crowd leading us to characterize her as a very independent, unique figure. In addition, her costuming may have been intentionally ostentatious to show that she is an important character in this scene and to an extent this movie.
2.Y:
Alternative Futures? Science Fiction and Feminism by Jenny Wolmark discusses how feminist SF writers are attempting to alter the role of women to a more independent, assertive and competent (Wolmark 52) role. Therefore forcing the reader to reconsider their cultural ideology in regards to the roles of women and the concept of patriarchy in dystopias.
Detail:
In this scene, Effie is depicted an independent, powerful, bold, and competent character, which supports the new roles of women that can be found in the examples of feminist SF narratives in Wolmark’s essay.
3.
In relation to Jenny Wolmark’s Alternative Futures? Science Fiction and Feminism, this film argues in support of changing the cultural ideology of the traditional female role in a dystopian work. Therefore, forcing the audience to reevaluate the dominant cultural ideology about in regards to the roles of women.
Blake Kotel - Blog Post 6
1.) X: A division between two groups can easily be made and it is hard to mend that division especially when it has been rooted for a long time. It is very easy to mistrust one person for what others have done in the past and that it is hard to earn trust back.
Detail 1: The Vuvalini are very skeptical of everyone (including Furiosa at first who is one of their own) in the world and therefore keep watch so that they can keep their solitude.
Detail 2: The men and the Vuvalini in the scene are never pictured together to show a divide in them and the divide was made just because of gender.
2.) Y: The hierarchy made in a dystopia is more based off of general categories of a human, such as gender, than what makes the person an individual.
Detail: In this scene, the Vuvalini don't hate Max and the War Boy, they have just hated the men rulers like Imortan Joe who have oppressed them in the past. Therefore, this hate has been passed on because the Vuvalini have not see good men.
3.) By looking at Jenny Wolmark's "Alternative Futures? Science Fiction and Feminism" we can come to the conclusion that the film Mad Max: Fury Road is not only showing us that distrust can be extended to a group of people for the actions of a few but also that dystopias put categorizing people to maintain order before respecting and acknowledging the individual.
Detail 1: The Vuvalini are very skeptical of everyone (including Furiosa at first who is one of their own) in the world and therefore keep watch so that they can keep their solitude.
Detail 2: The men and the Vuvalini in the scene are never pictured together to show a divide in them and the divide was made just because of gender.
2.) Y: The hierarchy made in a dystopia is more based off of general categories of a human, such as gender, than what makes the person an individual.
Detail: In this scene, the Vuvalini don't hate Max and the War Boy, they have just hated the men rulers like Imortan Joe who have oppressed them in the past. Therefore, this hate has been passed on because the Vuvalini have not see good men.
3.) By looking at Jenny Wolmark's "Alternative Futures? Science Fiction and Feminism" we can come to the conclusion that the film Mad Max: Fury Road is not only showing us that distrust can be extended to a group of people for the actions of a few but also that dystopias put categorizing people to maintain order before respecting and acknowledging the individual.
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