I went to see the movie, “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins this weekend and was shocked. I knew it had been banned in China, but did not think too much about it; however, after I saw the movie, I came away thinking, “How could so many people ($152 million in the first Weekend box office) want to watch such gratuitous physical and psychological violence”. I then actually became scared when I learned that the book version won the California Young Reader’s Medal Award which is voted by our children in California as their favorite book of the year for 2011.
It became more clear when I learned that Ms. Collins was inspired to write this book from a combination of the Iraqi War and US Reality TV shows. Is this what are children should gravitate towards?
Now it’s clear to me why the Chinese said “No” to this movie…the Chinese have been working very hard in the last ten year to re-instill civilized way of life back into the mainstream public in China. It was not long ago that China suffered from lack of food and violence like this movie. Now, with new found stability and economic prosperity, the Chinese government realizes that many of its citizens have forgotten to be courteous to others and other basic civilities. Therefore, now one literally sees many signs to be polite, messages played in public places like elevators not to push, etc…. One also sees many statues of Confucius being placed in cities all over China to reinforce moral conduct. It is obvious that the Chinese are trying to raise the quality of life in China (not only the economy). I discuss many of these cultural points of change in my book on Doing Business with China as well.
It is no surprise that this novel has also been very controversial in the US; it ranked in fifth place on the American Library Association's list of frequently challenged books for 2010, the reasons being it was unsuited to the age group, and violent.”
This is definitely a case where we should take China’s lead and not allow our youth to be exposed to such violence so that we desensitize their emotions to such tragedy, even if the story might have a twisted ending that has some glimmer of hope.
It's a book, it's entertainment, it's not like we are planning to become like Panem. China banned it in their country because they didn't want people to start questioning their government, not because it was violent.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tyler China doesn't care about not allowing their citizens see such graphic imagery its the revolution theme that they don't condone. After reading all the books I definitely thought to myself of a few present day countries that this was happening to at least the poverty levels in some areas and strange habits in rich controlling areas. My cousin went to China not all that long ago and it is NOT a more civilized place or trying to become one. They just don't want their people realizing how terrible their government is and getting notions of revolt in their heads.
ReplyDeleteMan do you research. The whole idea of the book, Katniss, is that she is trying to stop killing people, she is fighting against their totalitarian government, she wants peace. Afterall she is the protagonists?! Did you even read the books? Its entertainment, stop acting like some worried parent. China banned it because of the ideas of revolution and media censorship that are condoned in the book, if they were concerned about violence, man so many hollywood firms and studios would have already pulled out of the chinese market. Hollywood is violence, and the chinese are eating it up, and us american companies are happy with more money. you are an embarrasment to the corporate world.
ReplyDeleteomg just be quiet. The hunger games is a really interesting concept to me and I'm sure to other people, pretty much because I've never heard of anything like this before. Let's face it, Xi Jingping is basically president Snow and China was basically Panem and seeing as it centers around a rebellion, obviously they're not gonna want it broadcast......
ReplyDeleteIt's banned because it encourages slaves rebellion, you dumb ass. Did you live too long in the Capitol? How much does CPP have to pay you to write this crap?
ReplyDeletePlease for the love of god join the 21st century. I am shocked by your beliefs of the film; this book is empowering as it fights for peace. Whilst also yes, fighting against the government to gain freedom of speech which not all governments allow. I think it's amazing that so many people of the young generation love this book and can see the meaning and power behind it (unlike you). We as people are controlled too much by the government and media, which ironically enough is altered by the government so we only hear about certain points in the world. Furthermore, the writer is not forcing gravitation towards children to go into war, but overall to fight for what you believe in, which can be interpreted and created in many ways. I also feel that you are being narrow minded by believing the members of the public in china are wrongly fighting their government, they're not wanting to go into living environments like before and the book. You also mention about the violence of the film, yet in comparison to many other popular films it is not that different at all! Especially for mockingjay; where there is not really any violence at all. So saying the film is banned due to the violence is untrue. China are more fearful of the rise of realisation that they are doing a poor job and under grading the lower class, and in fact certain areas and class' of chine portray similar traits to the characters of the hunger games. But overall I think you should come to terms on how people have transformed and realised that we do infact have a say and can alternately out rule the government.
ReplyDeleteOh there you are Hitler! I was wondering where you went. After all, I seem to remember another time in history where you tried to ban books. Worked out so well last time, huh?
ReplyDeleteAnd as for the violence? Expendables. Red. Rambo. A Team. Rocky. xXx, Transporter, Hostel, Saw, Hills Have Eyes, House Of Wax, House of 1000 Corpses, Devils Rejects, Prom Night, Scream, Battle Royale (which became popular over in Japan, China, and other countries in Asia) or some TV shows? Lost, Criminal Minds, Arrow, or lets go to more movies, Divergent. Or how about this one, which featured a very long and graphic rape scene, Last House on the Left.
The Hunger games violence is actually MILD in comparison to all of these. So tell me, is it really the violence you dislike, or the outright rebellion against a corrupt government? The lack of a focus on Love and more of a focus on what's RIGHT. Because the movies got it wrong, it's not glorifying anything, it's showing the hurt and pain that war and murder and abuse causes. There is very little of love in there, It's not a happy story. Half the book you spend wanting to cry because you imagine what it would be like to lose people that way.
You're wrong to say ban these books for the violence, dear OP. Even in the book it says to stop the war before losing more human lives, which are all precious. Peeta is the one, even in the book, that you follow. You know that he's the voice of reason holding back and calming the main characters anger. Maybe you should read the books before crying for a ban. Take a look at the real message behind the books.
CCP was twisting this guy's cahones as he wrote this. What a pawn!
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