How are teenagers portrayed in the Hunger Games

Teenagers are portrayed as of a lower status you can see this in the scene where Katniss
volunteers for the Hunger Games as she walks up to the stage the high angle shot shows
Effie Trinket on the stage and the angle of the shot shows her above Katniss implying that in
this world adults are superior and are in control. Katniss walking on to the stage could be
foreshadowing her leadership of the rebellion or her rising to the same class as the adults
after the Hunger Games as they are now on equal footing. Before Katniss joins Effie on the
stage she takes a defiant stand when she volunteers as tribute this could show she is
rebellious and taking a stand against the capitol this is reinforced by the fact she goes from
screaming to having a more assertive and powerful voice however this is an anti-stereotype
as most girls are shown as weak and feeble this is reinforced when she out powers two male
guards which stereotypically wouldnt happen as males are usually seen as stronger than
their female counterparts. This portrays teens as strong and independent. As for the type of
stand implying rebellious she also volunteers which could be seen as rebellious as they are
not meant to volunteer for this death match it is meant to strike fear in people not create
heroes. Also prim screams no when Katniss tells her to go back to her mother showing more
rebellious traits also ungratefulness as well since Katniss just saved her life and she wont do
this one thing for her. This leads on to prim being a princess as she is in need of saving and
isnt strong or independent this is in line with Propps character theory (1928) and implies
that teenagers are also innocent and pure. This is shown when prim tucks herself in when
she is called forward and she also has pigtails which implies a more youthful teenager and
showing her younger then she is which shows more innocence and naivet as she cant see
anything wrong with the world and doesnt know of the monstrosities out in the world this
is a stereotype as most young nave teenagers dont see the negative things with the world
and believe no matter what they will be fine when this is not the case. Also the way she acts
is in line with Michael Brakes (1985) two teenager theory as prim is definitely the
respectable one keeping with this Katniss is more toward the delinquent side as she rebels
against the capitol by volunteering for the hunger games.
The Hunger Games also shows teenagers/siblings as close as when Katniss volunteers and
she runs up to prim and hugs her the resulting camera shot is a close up two shot and shows
the sisters close relationship. This is mainly an anti-stereotype as most siblings can have a
rivalry and can be in friendly competition but it can also be a stereotype too few as they are
very close to their siblings and know they can count on them when they need to.
The Hunger Games also portrays teens as ungrateful as in the countdown scene in the
cornucopia blood bath prim gives a disgusted stare to her mother as naturally when teens
see that something is wrong they blame their guardians even if they could do nothing to
stop it this is a stereotype as younger teens do this as they arent mature enough to take
responsibility. This also supports the fact that the teens and adults are binary opposites as
no adults go into the Hunger Games and the adults rule everything while teenagers have to
fight to the death just for food which shows the adults superiority and the teenagers
inferiority. While in the real world this is mainly not the case this supports the theory of

By Thomas McIlhatton

How are teenagers portrayed in the Hunger Games

Stuart Hall (1978) showing that the media believes teenagers need to be controlled or we
will be on opposite side and chaos will ensue this is reinforced by the fact that Katniss who is
a teenager herself starts a rebellion and a revolution therefore this is the media depicting
teenagers as being something which need to be controlled therefore supporting Stuart Halls
(1978) theory.
Teenagers are also portrayed as though they are beneath the adults this is shown in the
reaping scene camera angle the Dutch tilt as this shows that the world is unbalanced and
everything is wrong with this world this is reinforced by the fact that Effie leads Katniss to
stand in a specific place by grabbing her showing that even in something as simple as
standing the teens are controlled by the adults showing that the adults are above the teens
in every way this is also shown when she is stood under the capitol reemphasising the point
that she is under the foot of the capitol and adults which shows that she is below the higher
power that controls her. This is also shown as when Katniss is walking toward the stage the
low angle shot shows Effie above her on the stage again showing that teenagers are below
those of adults on the social ladder this is shown again when Effie is picking the names and
the mise en scene of her hand is just moving about around the bowl showing that she sees
these kids as objects and not humans showing that in this world teenagers are seen almost
as inconveniences more than responsibilities or valid members of society this is shown as
when the citizens of district 13 salute Katniss the first non-diegetic sound comes on to
emphasize the intensity of that moment suggesting that it is a shock for a teenager to get
that type of respect no matter what showing that teenagers arent shown as contributions
to society. This is shown again in the training scene when Katniss tries to get the adults
attention and yet she cant as the adults dont respect her enough to give her time this is
reinforced by them dis regarding her after one attempt at shooting the target and then
ignoring her when she does hit the target to which she has to do something extreme to get
their attention this is a stereotype as teenagers are shown of being reckless to get what they
want or attention. Teenagers are also shown as having an attitude as after the adults see
this outrageous action she takes a bow and sarcastically says in a diegetic sound thank you
for the consideration this is a stereotype as most teenagers are portrayed as being cheeky
and having an attitude this is reinforced when she tries to strop off and forgets to put the
bow back and has to go back this is a typical teenage moment as they are to occupied with
being tough and being in control of the situation they forget simple things which in the end
makes them look stupid. . The long shot shows her walking to her bow introduces nondiegetic sound emphasising that this will free her and this will be the only way she can rise
up also introducing the idea of violence. . The long shot shows her walking to her bow
introduces non-diegetic sound emphasising that this will free her and this will be the only
way she can rise up also introducing the idea of violence. . The long shot shows her walking
to her bow introduces non-diegetic sound in this scene emphasising that this will free her
and this will be the only way she can rise up also introducing the idea of violence. This

By Thomas McIlhatton

How are teenagers portrayed in the Hunger Games

portrays teens as determined and committed to getting what they want as they will do
whatever it takes even commit violent acts.
Teenagers are also portrayed as adaptive as in the cornucopia scene she is raised up
through the tube at first there is confusion and fear but as time passes she gathers herself.
This is anti-stereotypical as most teenagers would not adapt to their surroundings as they
would miss the comforts of home and just sit in self-pity. This is shown when Katniss
volunteers in the reaping scene as she loses her confidence and just awkwardly stands there
and freezes this stereotypical as teenagers are shown to become comfortable within their
own environments this shown again when in the training scene Katniss misses her target
and this only happened as she was taken out of her comfort zone and put somewhere she
had never been before.
Teenagers are also shown as naturally violent this shown when Katniss runs into the girl in
the cornucopia scene where she gives a slightly threating jump at her even though the girl
meant no harm this is stereotypical as most teenagers like to act strong and tough especially
boys to try and prove their masculinity this is also shown when in the training scene Katniss
picks up her bow and fires at the human shaped targets with no hesitation implying that she
wont feel a thing about shooting at humans. This is also shown when Kato brutally murders
a boy who looks much younger then Kato himself this is in line with Stuart Hall (1978) theory
Teenagers are also shown as insecure as when Kato goes in the tent he sees a massive
weapon to which he takes an interest to. This an example of pathetic fallacy as he is using
this to prove his masculinity which could be seen as him trying to compensate for something
therefore showing he is insecure another time this is shown is when Gale is sitting alone in
the country side this shows he is socially isolated and possibly insecure without Katniss by
his side.
It also shows some teenagers as binary opposites as when Peeta joins Katniss on the stage
he looks small compared to Katniss who is trying to stand with dignity while Peeta has a
hunched back and flaying arms. This could be linked to Michael brake (1985) theory as
Katniss looks like the more dignified respectable one while Peeta looks like a lazy
delinquent. This is shown again before he joins Katniss Peeta-in the shot where Peetas in
the crowd he doesnt stand out unlike Gale they are binary opposites as Gale is strong tall
attractive and has black hair Peeta is small weak average looking and has brown hair. He
looks small compared to Katniss who is trying to stand with dignity while Peeta has a
hunched back and flaying arms. All this could be linked to Michael brake (1985) theory of
two type of teenagers those who are fun and respectable and those who are lazy and
delinquents.
In the Cornucopia scene Peeta picks up his bag and runs while this is an intelligent move it
goes against your stereotype of male teenagers in which they are shown that they like to
fight and are just unintelligent brutes. This is why he can be seen as the princess.

By Thomas McIlhatton

How are teenagers portrayed in the Hunger Games

Teenagers are also portrayed as equals you can see this in the training scene as Both the
characters are afraid which makes them equal as even though Katniss is meant to be strong
as she is the hero yet she is as afraid as Peeta. You know this because both of them are
clenching their fists and at first glance you cant tell who is who as the mid shot only reveals
their arms. However they are also shown as binary opposites in the shot where Peetas in
the crowd he doesnt stand out unlike Gale they are binary opposites as Gale is strong tall
attractive and has black hair Peeta is small weak average looking and has brown hair. He
looks small compared to Katniss who is trying to stand with dignity while Peeta has a
hunched back and flaying arms. This could be linked to Michael brake (1985) theory as
Katniss looks like the more dignified respectable one while Peeta looks like a lazy
delinquent.
Another way teenagers are portrayed are as restricted you can see this in the training scene
the mid shot of Katniss when she leaves the room shaped by an almost prison like structure
metaphorically being the restrictions on teenagers and when she leaves the room she is
almost leaving the teenage life behind. The close up after the room shows Katniss looking
back at the room showing that she knows she has escaped the barrier and left her previous
life behind.
Teenagers are also portrayed as looking for attention and approval When she misses the
adults laugh and it jump shots to her disgraced and embarrassed this is stereotypical thing
as when teenagers fail they dont try again as they wish not to fail again. When the camera
close ups on her it shudders and moves implying that it is being handheld and the
movement suggests she is losing control and is going to do something reckless to get the
adults attention also being a stereotype as teenagers will do this to get attention definitely
to their parents.
Teens are also shown as determined the pig is the main focus of the frame making it clear
what she is aiming for and then there is a quick pan shot to her picking up the arrow and
shooting implying that when a teenager sets an aim and goes to put an action through
nothing can stop them.

By Thomas McIlhatton