Hunger games

MM52

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The view of capitalist ideology in the hunger games film:

The hunger games have a clear ideology as the audience can picture exactly what the film is trying to say. the binary oppositions are clearly established e.g the good and the bad. The view of capitalism is seen to be unfriendly to society. There have been many rebellions in the past due to the change in the 'Capitols' ruling system and this lead to stricter rules being put in place in order for society to be kept in line. This is apparent in the line, "The Games serve to keep the districts under control, as punishment for previous rebellions, and to warn them to stay in line". This quotation accentuates the fact that the Capitol has created new punishment systems in order to keep each district in line of obeying the law. The use of a powerful phrase 'under control' suggests that only the powerful can make the decisions of how the districts should be run. Furthermore, it suggests that previous actions were near to success and that the current government are frightened that one day rebellion will occur and may become successful. since the leading character is a female this suggests that the film has a better viewing for women than men as they are portrayed to be more powerful. The film has opposite ideology e.g the women are now portrayed to be stronger than the men this means that the female gender would be more attached to the film. The film also shows the weak and the strong and the hero and villain. The film has many positive views. The hunger games shreds a really powerful image to the media as the main protagonist has become a symbol of radicalism. mainly this film has a dominant ideology which are also common in other films. it also presents the working lass and lower class as they develop drastically to reach upper class.

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• Realise your true potential
• Be yourself
• Lead a satisfying life
• People should put their families first

Gramci's theory suggests that the use of power is not used with force but is used through consent. This means that people allow some sort of power to be placed amongst them rather than just being forced on them. This is one way in which those in power maintain their control through consent, otherwise placing force on someone allows them to lost their control. He argued that the power of ideology comes primarily from ideas and strictures which support an elite social group. Louis Althusser delivers an understanding of how we, the consumers, are controlled through ideology. His view point was he believed that ideology was 'the greatest material of power' and dominates our day-to-day lives. This occurs through two key forms of control: Repressive State Control: This is primarily about those who have the most power such as, Government, Army, Police and Courts etc.- which are dominated by the ruling elite. These 'state agencies' deliver their masses through violence and fear. Idealogical State Apparatuses: Church, the media, educational institutions etc.- these institutions control and dominate implicitly through common sense rather than through fear. This links in with Gramci's theory, that power can be used though consent rather than through force.