Reaction Paper on Catching Fire

By Monica Tricia L. Rivera
2013-14349

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is a film based on the second book of the popular Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. The story is primarily dystopian fiction. However, there are several elements to it that make it a Science fiction as well. Science fiction is defined to be fiction based on imagined future scientific or technological advances. Being set in the future, the film explores many different possibilities in technological advancements. This is evident in certain things like the extravagant costumes Katniss used, wherein her clothes could be set on fire without harm and her wedding gown can transform into a mocking jay attire. This was also seen in how advanced the Hunger Games training quarters and arena were. The training quarters had holographic figures that the tributes could use to practice fighting, while the clock-like arena could be programmed to inflict all sorts of pain every hour. There was even a scene where the game master was able to rotate the middle of the clock from his command room. These examples show how the film was truly a science fiction because of the creative futuristic advancements it featured.

Because the film was set in the future, Catching Fire is definitely a commentary on future society.  The film shows how evil and power-hungry their society and government can become. It is set in a time where there are very few resources, but very advanced technology, yet only those from the Capitol can make use of this technology for their own good. In fact, the technology they have is used to oppress the poor, like in the Hunger Games themselves. Not only is it a commentary on future society, but it is also a past and present commentary on present society. The themes of injustice and oppression presented in the film are very much visible yesterday and today. Being a dystopian film, it is an exaggeration of what we’ve seen and what see, but it is still important to be wary because if things go out of hand, our society could be like that of Catching Fire.

It is very interesting to study how science, technology and society interact in the setting of Catching Fire. The scientific and technological advancements in Panem show how successful their science and technology is. However, because only those from the Capitol can actually benefit from these advancements while those from the 13 Districts are just oppressed by the technology present, their society is not successful. Science was used as a means of creating a divide between the rich and the poor, thereby exacerbating the situation in Panem.  Overall, there is a failure in the interactions of science, technology and society. Science is supposed to help humans, not cause harm.