A brief comparison of the current global and political climate regarding Israel-Palestine with The Hunger Games franchise among others.
“Fear does not work as long as there is hope” - President Coriolanus Snow.
In the face of adversity, hope becomes the beacon that guides us through the darkness, and for the fictional town of Panem, the beacon of hope is Katniss. With the new release of “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” and the previous films making their rounds through TikTok again — as the whole franchise is trending for its clever depiction of political corruption, systemic oppression, and the effects of a totalitarian government — Hollywood and the world regret to acknowledge the vile, corrupt and true origins of the stories it tells. What is the deep-rooted story about “The Hunger Games”? It’s about an oppressed groups’ fight for liberation. What is the deep-rooted story about The Palestinian resistance? It’s about an oppressed groups’ fight for liberation.
The similarities between “The Hunger Games” franchise and culture and the events happening in Palestine for over 75 years are almost uncanny. In short, the story is about the war against the corrupt and elitist Capitol, the 12 districts the Capitol controls, and the people living inside the districts — who are later viewed as rebels and animals — who are fighting for freedom and survival. Each district is known for being the master of some skill needed for basic survival, whether that be coal mining, technology, or lumber.
Similarly, the media depicts those in the Middle East as terrorists, Africans as animals, and Native Americans as savages, despite the West’s ongoing efforts to strip all groups of their natural resources. When talking about the greatest films of all time you’ll commonly hear, “The Godfather”, “Do The Right Thing” and “Star Wars.” What is the similarity between all three movies? Their investigation of social issues and the effects of authority. Whether in the setting of organized crime in "The Godfather," racial tensions in "Do The Right Thing," or the conflict between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire in "Star Wars," these movies both explore the dynamics of power. They all consider the wider ramifications for the societies portrayed in their respective narratives as well as the effects of personal decisions.
With all things considered, it’s no secret that we as human beings love an underdog story — one in which we empathize with the pain and suffering our protagonists go through in order to reach their goals. The meaning behind these stories is what draws us as viewers and Hollywood continues to take these stories. Still, when it comes to real-life situations within the industry, there appears to be a reluctance to address the issues openly. Even the recent events surrounding the departure of Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega from the 'Scream' franchise highlight a larger disconnect in Hollywood. Referencing the poster in the basement of NYU’s very own Tisch building of the documentary film “Shut Up and Sing”, is a quote on the top left-hand corner stating, “Freedom of speech is fine as long as you don’t do it in public.” This only draws attention to the contradictions within the entertainment industry. While movies often celebrate the triumph of underdog stories and the fight for justice, the industry itself appears hesitant to confront its own internal challenges. What can we do to combat this?
It seems that the common threshold in everything wrong in the world is power. Power is something people want because with power comes change. However, the people in these positions of power, who claim to want to do right by the people are only perpetuating the continued violence, bigotry, and racism revealing an unsettling paradox where the pursuit of power, primarily intended for positive transformation, often becomes a catalyst for further discord and injustice. It almost seems as though the world leaders are not on our side but the only side there is the side of humanity, and when looking at the Israel-Palestine situation at large, there is a blatant disregard for it from the aggressors. Global leaders almost always seem to be on the side of self-interest rather than the interests of the people. The innate strength of cooperation and solidarity survives in spite of certain leaders' lack of sincere concern. It is undeniably true that there is power in numbers. We must strategically confront and challenge the practices of large corporations, acknowledging their substantial impact on social structures and our collective well-being, if we hope to bring about meaningful change. By mobilizing together, we can redirect this power toward positive transformations that benefit humanity at large. With the start of this article being a quote, it’s almost right that we end with one, “So truly where there is hardship there is also ease.” [Quran 94:5.]
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