On Tyrants & Tributes : Real World Lessons From The Hunger Games discussion

If you watch the DVD extras for the first Hunger Games film, you will hear how the set designers consciously drew on the architecture historically favored by totalitarian states – Soviet and Nazi architecture, in particular – to convey the message that the government is huge, permanent, powerful, and unyielding, while the individual citizen is dwarfed and insignificant in its shadow.

The Hall of Justice Building as seen in the reaping scene of Catching Fire is a perfect example of this kind of 1930s-inspired civic structure.



The following post in "The Art of Film" – which I highly recommend reading – offers some compelling pictorial evidence of many parallels between the films' sets and the actual buildings (or proposed buildings) that typified the Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin eras – and, for that matter, how those latter totalitarian styles relate back to classical Roman architecture. Check it out: "The Architecture of the Capitol from 'The Hunger Games': Echoes of Rome, Echoes of Totalitarianism."

So, what do you think? Is alluding to 20th-century totalitarianism a useful way to make us think about what has happened in Panem? Are the artists behind the Hunger Games films embedding Suzanne Collins's message in the very buildings they create? If so, how does this set design convey or confirm larger meanings and warnings inherent in Collins's novels?

What are your thoughts?

First of all, let me just say that I am blown away by the article! The article is scary drawing upon this and if society is not careful something as awful as the Roman Empire could happen again due to loss of liberty as one aspect.
The Hunger Games is really a reflection of the past drawing from, Roman, Soviet and German totalitarian leaders undoubtedly.
Just like the citizens of Panem it shows how society had been allured with "bread and circuses" and how leaders would use it to attract them, but also intimate them subconsciously with the big and imposing architecture of their mindset. I believe it surely has been a message in the architecture of the world and buildings definitely as message.
A ruthless totalitarian government had been made to be large and imposing and use fear to intimidate the citizens such as could be the case with militarization of police which you see in the film almost looks like British style uniforms at the districts, but they are all just pawns in the elites system to work for their will and not their own personal ones. That right there is a loss of liberty.
In Italy not too long ago police joined protester by taking off their helmets in an act of solidarity because they were tired of the corrupt government themselves. So people who work for the very powers could come to a realization of what they are partaking in is wrong.

Wow... this article is awesome! Before I read it I really didn't give much thought to the buildings, besides that they are looming over the people, almost as a statement.

I do think that the artists behind the Hunger Games film are embedding Collins message in the building they created (personally I think that they have to so that you get a picture/world most like the one in the book). If anything this article backs that train of thought up... by taking parallels from buildings that were proposed by totalitarian rulers, it's just another way to show the rule of the Capital.

After reading the article, I think that the set design conveys the warnings that are found in Collins's novels.

Holy crap! That article was awesome! I think architecture plays a HUGE role in demonstrating where the authority and power lies within a city. For example, take the New York City skyline – there isn’t a limit on high these skyscrapers can go - it epitomizes capitalism. However, in comparison to Washington DC, the zoning laws limit buildings to the height of the Capitol building – government is the ruler of all within the city and it speaks volumes on the authority within the city.

I think the article did an excellent job drawing the parallels between Soviet Russia and Panem and was able to personify totalitarianism within its architecture.

I think that the ordered, often glowering architecture not only harkens back to that used in totalitarian regimes but is also expressive of the kind of society they live in, a structured one that, as you say, utterly dwarfs the individual. There's a large contrast between the humble abodes of the citizens of District 12 and the buildings found in The Capitol.

I, personally, liked the grey uniformity and grandeur of the Victor's Village in the movie. This expresses that, even though they've won the Hunger Games, and the victors have received glory and praise... their fate is allotted to them and they are given little room for personal freedom.

I believe that the Stalin of Panem is none other that President Coin who was probably going to make a new Hunger Games against the Capitol for their wrong doing, but in doing this Katniss Probably killed her in fear of this happening again.

Wonderful blog post! The architecture is amazing.Taking a look at the buildings in a side by side comparison it is easy to see the connection between Hunger Games and Totalitarian Regimes. While watching the film, I didn't consider the buildings at all, but they definitely added to the tone. I do remember feeling awe struck in the scene when Peeta and Katniss participate in the Tribute parade, and we see the meeting grounds of Panem for the first time.

Not only can I spot the Stalin and Hitler in Panem, but I think its extremely prevalent in Washington DC today. The Capitol I think fits this profile completely. The buildings there are totally meant to make people feel like the government is a larger-than-life entity that they should feel submissive to. The Capitol building is the first one that comes to mind. While it does not embody the exact same architectural facies, it creates a new age twist on the old Roman designs. While not evil in its own being, what it represents is similar to, what I think, Hitler had in mind for Germania.

This article is great.

I really think that the artists of The Hunger Games are really embedding Collins message and descriptions of the architect. Its a scary thought, but that is almost like Washington D.C in a way. They make the government seem larger than life itself, in a way.

Alluding to 20th Century totalitarianism is an incredibly useful way to convey the ideas of panem. After all, many dystopias are inspired by 20th century totalitarianism and it is only fitting to make that connection clear through the architecture in a film adaptation.

The set design confirms and illustrates the warnings, in the same way that the language and descriptions in the work illustrates the threats of the overwhelming government. This is an enormously useful tool because it is subtle enough to not overwhelm the reader with its messages, but it clearly establishes the dystopian atmosphere and its themes.

This is a fantastic article. Collins (and the Film makers of the movies) use a variety of techniques to allude to the dangers that the book is explaining. By alluding to 20th century totalitarianism, one can clearly see that totalitarianism is not only a possible, but it is possible in modern times. A major theme throughout the series is that the people must stand up and defend their liberty. Additionally, government can always grow too big and despotic, no matter who is running it. Ultimately, it is up to the people to make the changes and sacrifices necessary to assure that liberty survives. Thinking about the recent past should serve as a reminder of the very real possibility that despotism could arise in any given society.

I think the architecture certainly sets the tone for the Capitol's regime. Watching the film from my seat I could feel the oppressive nature of the buildings. They were awe-inspiring, and not in the "wow, that's beautiful"-awe. The buildings say, "this government will never end. These buildings will stand so long that not even God can destroy them. Resistance is futile."

Will wrote: "Not only can I spot the Stalin and Hitler in Panem, but I think its extremely prevalent in Washington DC today. The Capitol I think fits this profile completely. The buildings there are totally mea..."

It reminds me what Donald Livingston writes about Aristotle and the idea of human scale, that things have a right size for humans and if they become too large or too small, they become dysfunctional. These buildings are created on a size beyond human scale and are meant to be intimidating.

As you suggest, we don't have to look at the worst totalitarian regimes to find this kind of architecture. I think we can even find it in many American city halls, where the size of the building is often far greater than the functions of the city government would merit. It is not that they need all that space; it is that they desire to build a monument to themselves and, perhaps not fully wittingly, make it appear to the residents that the city government is too large and majestic for them to have a voice.