Panopticism - writing task

Media networks have increasingly evolved over the last few years. The social demand and the need of people to communicate instantly about their daily life, activities, interest and thoughts has changed the concept of ‘being watched’ to ‘want to be watched’ to an extent. Updating status with the current activity and even the location on social medias such as Facebook and Twitter is clearly not only a way to socialise but also a ‘proof’ that what the person is doing is acceptable.

Remembering the opposition that many people had in time where security cameras where places in public places to help the fight against crime created paranoia among the society about always being watched; the position was clearly generated: you are being watched, but it shouldn't matter if you’re not doing anything wrong. In order to control a society it became necessary to implement a concept of self-behaviour to avoid getting into trouble. This growing need of social acceptance is alarmingly growing and not only that, but the demand of knowing the same about other people around you is transforming society in a sadistic way. People want see more.   

This is one of the posters advertising the film. It is expressing the point of being a sadistic way of the people in power to control certain part of the population while entertaining themselves. A society thirsty  and sadistically curious. 

   

This concept of the relationship between the institution with power and a society that’s being controlled silently gave clear inspiration to the creation of a brilliant transmedia story: The Hunger Games.
Starting as a science fiction novel written by Suzanne Collins, is a story spoken from a 16 year old Katniss Everdeen who lives in a postapocalyptic North America called Panem. The main power source of this new nation is called ‘The Capitol’ which exercises political control over the rest of the nation by making an annual event in which a selected group of young people from the different districts are forced to compete in a televised battle to the death. In this world the people from the capitol, are represented as constantly thirsty society for something new, something entertaining, reflecting the idea of a reality show. The rest of the districts have to live under an oppression that is characteristic of each and one of them depending on the primary activity for development. 

The hunger games represent a reminder of punishment against past rebellions against the Capitol, but even thought is a cruel event, it is consider the main television even of every year.  The arena, despite the fact that every year is completely different, can be considered as a new representation of the Panopticon; an area that is controlled by the Gamemakers and that is constantly watched by hundreds of hidden cameras, broadcasted among the whole nation. The “tributes” or contenders have the notion that this is unavoidable, that they have to kill the other ones and that if they are interesting enough they can get higher ratings and therefore sponsorship that could help them save their lives.

This is the representation of the Gamemakers in the film adaptation. They are sitting around a 24 hour and complete view of the arena while the Hunger Games are taking place. Here they decide what to show to the society and if it gets boring for the audiences, then they'll make sure 'something' happens for their entertainment. 

Within the story you get to see a point of perspective and the transition from a lower class citizen that before she was chosen she used to accept reality as it was. Important part of the story is the transformation of this character in contrast to the realisation and new desire to stand against this power, to start a rebellion.

Among the issues the story tackles, oppression and the effects of war are the strongest ones, and along the way there are numerous morally complex strategies that are well reflected on the film adaptation directed by Gary Ross.