Hunger for The Hunger Games

Every so often a movie comes out that is a cult sensation. Sometimes these are critic-worthy, sometimes not. But what is worthy in all of them is their popularity, and what that has to tell us about the values of our culture. Why, for example, are vampires suddenly sexy? Why the burst of psychocrime shows on main channels? What is it about law dramas that excite our interest? Because all of them are popular, and for the most part, profitable. Something within them touches a cultural nerve.

This is the mindset from which I approach The Hunger Games. For while the film appeals to basic instincts such as survival and family loyalty, its popularity has reached levels past reasonable expectations. The highest grossing film in NZ for this year by far, its success in the US and abroad has been put down to great reviews. Yet, paid or unpaid, the great reviews too had to come from somewhere. The modern consumer is often smart enough to smell fabricated praise, whether by use of language or the mere site on which false love is published. Instead, I propose that The Hunger Games is a great amalgamation of trends and themes we're running across for 2012. Some we have reached, some are in the works overseas and are running off current loves. All are relevant in the question of what makes a blockbuster, and its underlying question of what indeed makes something an icon of cult culture.

Andre Pejic: Taking Androgny to New Levels

Cross-Gender
This is a theme that has been widely attributed to The Hunger Games' success. Cross-gender here is not transsexual, or the sexual offerings at 2am on K Road, but rather androgny. Androgny has been running through fashion for some time, making headlines through the usage of dual-sex models such as Andrej Pejic. Wear boyfriend jeans, long blazers or brogues to work? Know men that wear cardigans? You have been swept away by the andrognynous trend, too. Celebrities, just like they do with any trend, have also been catching on, most notably Tilda Swinton. In Hunger, this cross-gender theme is best dsisplayed in the khaki gear all the 'players' wear and the disruption of gender stereotypes, such as Katniss' skill as a hunter.

Trilogies: Successful or not?

Book Trilogies
This is a trend that has also been underway for some time, most popularly deployed in Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. The audiences most likely to watch The Hunger Games would be anywhere from 10 to 30 - a generation (Y) which has been weaned on trilogies and their cult status in marketing. In the face of virtual gaming, parents often see movies sprung from books as a good way to get their children to read more - the result being that the main story is often encouraged. Trilogies also offer a long period of interest and maintain audience hype, making them attractive offers for publicists. The Hunger Games is only the first in a trilogy of three, which will no doubt  be released with substantial time lapses for extra revenue.

Reality Show Humiliation
The humiliation endured by the characters in Hunger is not a new phenomemon - since the rise of reality shows at the turn of the millennium, producers have been looking for more and more laughs to keep audiences. Shows like The Moment of Truth, where contestants ruin their personal lives for a few thousand dollars, are  examples of humiliation-earning ratings. The humiliation theme crosses many other aspects of reality-show life: dating (The Bachelor/ Bachelorette, Beauty and the Geek), personal appearance (I Used To Be Fat, The Swan, 60 Minute Makeover), sports and athletics (Survivor, The Amazing Race) and intellect (Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader). The gaming aspect of most of these shows is attractive in a generation addicted to instant gratification, offering a part both for the voyeur and the fame-hungry. The Hunger Games realizes this humiliation through the upper society's control of the game and the usage of cameras.

The Moment of Truth: Humiliation Made Public

 Apocalypse
One could argue the theme of apocalypse is centuries old - but, just like fashion trends, it is one that resurges at peak times. Apocalyptic themes are booming not just in movies such as Twilight and Avatar but in the news, too, with the Mayan calendar's looming date shadowed at the end of the year. Debate has been lively around this, boosted by riots and mini-wars across the globe as leaders topple and societies revolt. This film, although not actually about the end of the world, invokes apocalypse through the potential end of the contestant's world, the upper society's control being that of a Creator, and the struggle to death at the end.

All of these are just a few of the trends Hunger relates to; but you can see the power they have in making a success of a production. Produce what people are interested in and you've tapped desire. Produce what is relevant to people and you've made it interesting. Combine the two together with  trends in fashion and consumerism and you've got something intellectually and emotionally interesting that is cool.

Let the Hunger Games begin.