Smile! You’re On Candid Camera
By Jennifer R Smith
In the dystopian world of The Hunger Games, where children are forced to fight to the death for the entertainment of the Capitol, being on camera is a constant reality for the protagonist, Katniss Everdeen. From the moment she steps into the arena, she is aware that every move she makes is being broadcast to the entire nation of Panem. This awareness has a profound impact on her actions and choices throughout the novel. One of the most significant ways in which being on camera affects Katniss is that it forces her to be more strategic and calculated in her behavior. She knows that every move she makes will be scrutinized by the audience, and so she must be careful not to reveal any weaknesses or vulnerabilities that could be exploited by her opponents. For example, when she first enters the arena, she immediately takes stock of her surroundings and begins to strategize: "Sixty seconds to taking the ring of tributes all equidistant from the Cornucopia…. Food, Containers of water, weapons, medicine, garments, fire starters…. We’re on a flat, open stretch of ground. A plain of hard-packed dirt. Behind the tributes across from me, I can see nothing, indicating either a seep downward slope or even a cliff. To my right lies a lake. To my left and back sparse piney woods. This is where Haymitch would want me to go. Immediately” (Collins 148). This level of calculation and strategic thinking is not necessarily natural to Katniss; rather, it is a product of her awareness of the cameras and the need to present a strong, capable image to the audience.
At the same time, however, Katniss is also aware that she must maintain a certain level of authenticity in order to win over the hearts of the audience. She knows that the Games are not just about physical strength and survival skills; they are also about charisma and likability. Throughout the book Katniss exhibits a wide knowledge of information (due to her own survival at her home in district 12) and media literacies. She has become skilled at comprehending and utilizing information and even the media. and using information and the media (Latham and Hollister 34). As a result, she consciously works to present a certain persona to the cameras – one that is strong and brave, but also vulnerable and relatable. For example, when she is injured early on in the Games, she makes a conscious decision to show her pain in order to gain sympathy from the audience: "I force myself to take deep, slow breaths, feeling quite certain the cameras are my face. I can’t show weakness in this injury. Not if I want help. Pity does not give you aid. Admiration for your refusal to give in does” (Collins 179). Her understanding of media literacies is clear in that she cannot allow the audience, potential sponsors and even the Capitol to see weakness. She must show strength even in the worst of circumstances in order to gain approval and maybe even show an implied rebellion towards the Capitol. According to the article, “The Games People Play: Information and Media Literacies in the Hunger Games Trilogy, By Don Latham and Jonathan M. Hollister:
“Collins’ novels reflect, model, and critique the information and media
practices of the society in which Katniss lives—and, by extension, those of our own society. While information and media literacies are generally acknowledged to be characteristics that people need in order to become productive members of society, Collins’ books suggest that they also can be powerful tools of resistance for people oppressed by totalitarian government.”
Katniss's media literacy also shows a difference in the persona she is trying to project out to the world and her true self is her attitude towards Peeta Mellark, the male tribute from her district. While Katniss initially sees Peeta as a competitor and a potential enemy, she gradually develops genuine feelings for him as they face the dangers of the arena together. However, she also plays up their romance for the camera, pretending to be more in love with him than she really is, in order to gain the sympathy and support of the audience and the sponsors. For example, when Peeta is wounded and hiding in a cave, Katniss kisses him and tells him stories to comfort him, but also to make their relationship seem more intimate and dramatic. She thinks to herself: “Haymitch couldn’t be sending me a clearer message. One kiss equals one pot of broth. I can almost hear his snarl. ‘You’re supposed to be in love sweetheart. The boy’s dying. Give me something I can work with!’ And he’s right. If I want to keep Peeta alive, I’ve got to give the audience something more to care about. Star-crossed lovers desperate to get home together. Two hearts beating as one. Romance” (Collins 261). Katniss's persona is thus a strategic and manipulative one, as she uses her emotions and actions as a weapon against the Capitol and its oppressive system.
Another difference between Katniss's persona and her true self is her level of confidence and charisma. While Katniss is naturally shy and reserved, she learns to act more confident and charismatic for the camera, especially after she receives advice from her mentor Haymitch and her stylist Cinna. For instance, when she volunteers to take her sister's place as a tribute, she says: "I protect Prim in every way I can, but I'm powerless against the reaping" (Collins 15). This shows that Katniss feels helpless and hopeless about her situation. However, when she appears on stage for her interview with Caesar Flickerman, she says:
Be honest. Be honest. I swallow hard. “She asked me to try really hard to win.” The audience is frozen, hanging on to my every word.
“And what did you say?” prompts Caesar gently.
But instead of the warmth, I feel an icy rigidity take over my body. My muscles tense as they do before a kill. When I speak, my voice seems to have dropped an octave. “I swore I would” (129).
This shows that Katniss has gained more confidence and courage, and that she is willing to challenge the Capitol and its rules. She also displays more charisma and humor, as she jokes about her dress catching fire and makes witty remarks about Peeta's confession of love. Katniss's persona is thus a more confident and charismatic one, as she tries to impress and influence the audience and the sponsors.
This balance between authenticity and performance is a delicate one, and it is something that Katniss struggles with throughout the novel. At times, she finds herself slipping into her natural self -- withdrawn, mistrustful, and closed-off – only to realize that this is not the image that she wants to present to the cameras. At other times, she finds herself becoming too caught up in her performance – too concerned with winning over the audience – and losing sight of her own goals and values.
Despite these challenges, however, Katniss ultimately manages to strike a balance between her public persona and her authentic self. She learns to use her performance skills strategically – for example, when she sings Rue's lullaby as a tribute to her fallen ally – while also remaining true to her own values and beliefs. In the end, it is this combination of authenticity and performance that allows her to win over both the audience and the Capitol itself – and ultimately emerge victorious from the Hunger Games.
Works Cited
Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. Scholastic, 2009.
Latham, Don, and Jonathan M. Hollister. “The Games People Play: Information and
Media Literacies in the Hunger Games Trilogy.” Children’s Literature in Education, vol. 45, no. 1, 2013, pp. 33–46, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10583-013-9200-0.
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