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Description:

We get it: Jennifer Lawrence is awesome. We think so, too. That being said, we wouldn't actually want to see her killing other kids in a bloodthirsty sociopolitical spectacle, so what makes things different in Panem?

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:05

The Hunger Games, a la Shmoop. Some people walk a thin line between fantasy

00:12

and reality. For some, that line is thinner than others.

00:16

Isn't that right, Mr. Sheen? But then there are those who lie somewhere

00:21

in the middle... ...viewers of reality television.

00:37

In The Hunger Games, reality TV is taken to a whole new level.

00:42

Though it may seem to us like our society could never sink to such depths...

00:49

...we wonder... could it? We don't exactly have the most refined standards for entertainment

00:57

in this country. And when it comes to reality TV... come on--

01:12

you know you've watched the stuff. Maybe not hardcore reality programming, like

01:17

Mob Wives or Bridalplasty... But the simple truth is that there is some

01:24

sick part of us that likes to see someone suffer a complete breakdown.

01:28

Because hey, at least it isn't us! Of course, the flip side of that coin is that

01:37

we also have a chance to see someone succeed against nearly impossible odds.

01:42

We are also big fans of elimination-style competition. Look at any sport's playoff structure...

01:52

...or how the winners of a talent show are determined...

01:54

...or even how our presidential elections are decided.

02:01

It's riveting stuff... ...and it seems that an elimination-style

02:07

competition with life-or-death stakes might be right up our alley.

02:12

But could we really get over the idea of kids killing kids?

02:16

Even the spoiled ones, who could maybe benefit from a couple days in the arena?

02:24

Rome had a similar sport played in their Coliseum. Gladiator fights were the entertainment of

02:29

their day. ...but that was like thousands of years ago,

02:33

right? Well today, we do love many forms of competition

02:36

in the US.

02:38

...but it's doubtful we as a people would ever go back to those Roman times. Back when

02:41

we were willing to string up a bunch of young 'uns just to get our fix.

02:46

Right? What's your take? How brutal will reality

02:49

television get in the future? Shmoop amongst yourselves.

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