Gender and Sexualities in Education
A Reader
Series:
Edited By Elizabeth J. Meyer and Dennis Carlson
10. Survival, Protection, and Forgiveness: Examining Gendered Violence and Care in The Hunger Games Trilogy
Introduction
Extract
Chapter 10
Survival, Protection, and Forgiveness
Examining Gendered Violence and Care in The Hunger Games Trilogy
Kristen V. Luschen
In the tradition of other best-selling young-adult and fantasy series—Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and Twilight—The Hunger Games trilogy of young-adult, dystopian novels by Suzanne Collins are well known to youth and adults alike. Like its counterparts, this best-selling series began the transition into blockbuster films with the first film of the trilogy released in March 2012. However, the series contrasts with its popular counterparts in some very distinct and significant ways. Unlike Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, or The Underland Chronicles (also by Collins) series, The Hunger Games differs in that it is told from the perspective of a resourceful, take-charge, bold, and intelligent young woman who effectively is tasked with leading people into revolution against an oppressive government.
The Hunger Games trilogy is a significant cultural text to explore for a number of reasons. Its popularity and reach are staggering. It is a widely available and read series, with more than 50 million copies in print and digital format. It has been sold in 55 territories and in 50 languages, and has spent more than 180 consecutive weeks on The New York Times best-seller list since 2008.1 Ticket sales from opening weekend of the first movie in the series, The Hunger Games, made it the third best opening of any film to date (McClintock, 2012). Susan Dominus (2011), writer...
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