The Hunger Games
Earlier this week I went with my wife and sister-in-law to watch the movie ‘The Hunger Games’ based on a novel by Suzanne Collins. Honestly, I wasn’t excited about seeing it. I don’t read much fiction. I don’t have children who may be interested in the series of books written by Collins. It seemed like I was about to participate in another fad.
The movie was intense. It was exciting. It gripped me. It had me thinking. I’ve heard the books are better (as is often the case).
I’ve seen a few of the Twilight movies (which I don’t like) and a few from the Harry Potter series (which I found more enjoyable). I haven’t read any of the books. After watching the film I read an article somewhere discussing the success of Collins, Stephenie Meyer who authored the Twilight books, and J.K. Rowling who authored the Harry Potter series. These three women have written the most popular book series in recent memory. As impressive is the fact that these three series has produced some of the highest grossing films in Hollywood with some of the biggest opening weekends, ever!
That is secondary though. What I want to know is what do they really have in common. Gender? Yes. Success? Yes. Book series to movies? Yes. A ton of money to spend now? Of course.
Harry Potter
All these things are worth exploring, but they seem secondary to the basic reality that they are producing stories that people want to hear.
Some may point to Twilight as a rebuke of our society, but Harry Potter and The Hunger Games seem a bit more sophisticated. Twilight and Harry Potter are building on the familiar figures of vampires and magicians, so it can’t be pure originality (not to deny that there is much originality in their stories).
I find it fascinating that these books are directed toward younger audiences, yet loved by adults as well.
In a world of “the New Atheist” we are seeing an surge in the fantastic, the imaginary, the magical. Why?
I don’t know that I have an answer, but I do wonder what it is about mythology that rings so true to people (maybe The Hunger Games is more Sci-Fi?) and tells them the stories they want to hear.
What do you think it is that has drawn people to the stories told by Rowling, Meyer, and Collins? Are there any unifying similarities or is it coincidence?
Hi Brian, a few things come to mind when you asked your questions. One, I find it interesting that two of the three books you mentioned have teen girls as their main characters (Twilight/HG) and the last one has a strong female character within the main supporting characters (HP). Along with that is the fact that the young women are moving through that difficult stage from being teen girls to women and dealing with all the anxiety, uncertainty, and exhilaration that comes along with becoming an adult. The plots themselves are also vibrant and in-your-face examples of the common good vs. evil archetypes. Is it the themes of the self-less, innocent, naive, young heroines up against the evil, seemingly unstoppable villains that are so tantalizing?
In one of my painting classes my professor once said a great painting or piece of artwork is where the two elements of the personal and the universal mix together and create a powerful composition. Perhaps this is the case in these narratives where the personal experiences of feeling powerless, downtrodden, overwhelmed, insignificant, or confused about your identity, place in life, future, abilities, expectations, etc. that are common in life, but especially that transition time between teenage and adult, are brought together with the powerful Western archetypes of warrior, villain, the journey, the sage, etc.
While the authors of the books may not be writing from a place of allegory and metaphor, readers might find their own meanings and get satisfaction from finding their own struggles, dreams, and nightmares played out within the narrative. Just a few thoughts…
Oh, by the way, I’ve read part of the first book of HG, but I had to stop because many dystopian narratives are hard for me to read. As in they depress me and those narratives create a feeling for me that I don’t want to live in while I’m reading it. I have a very active imagination. Although I might try to read HG again. When I was teaching high school and seeing most of the young women reading Twilight I decided to pick it up, so I’ve read that book series. I have not read HP, but I’ve seen all the movie except that two based on the last book.
Shilo
Excellent thoughts/observations! I wish I had a statistic on the gender of viewers of these movies. While I found HG exciting as a male I have heard that the female main character has been something that has resonated with female readers/viewers. Oddly enough the lead female character in HG is so very different in personality and posture from the character in Twilight.
You’re statement about reading the HG and struggling with the dystopian narratives is very interesting. I can imagine that it is easy to resonate with the story, but to a degree that may make it quite uncomfortable.
As far as literary merits go, HP and HG are in a different category than Twilight. That aside though, each series has a very well developed Hero’s Journey embedded in the narrative (which comes from Joseph Campbell’s account of unifying elements in mythology). I think that makes each of these a case of well-written modern mythology. They pull on character archetypes that you would expect to find in ancient mythology and which have driven interest in stories for centuries. They have enough fast paced action and young characters that makes them suitable for teens, but they have the philosophical and ethical depth to keep older readers interested.
In short, I think it’s the “quest” that unites the stories.
I accept the notion thematically vampires stand as a metaphor for immortality, magicians for miracle workers, etc however I’d point out the most obvious thing they have in common is popularity.
I suspect your question implies the notion that there must be some element which makes them so. This is where controversy enters. Could it be they all reflect worldly values, more than contains some story element that resonates with people?
These stories,by holding up a mirror to society, society sees itself, and its values, reflected whatever the story, and it likes what it sees. Am I suggesting these examples are decidedly un-Christian, or even anti-Christian? Yes, in a sense, I am.
Worldly values are not Godly ones. This is why the wisdom of God is folly to the world, and to those perishing, and why the wisdom of the world is folly to God. If thes three movies reflect worldly values as themes, of course they would be popular (though perhaps not to all).
Andrew T,
I think I understand your point. But doesn’t that eventually just get to, if it is popular it must be bad?
And I don’t think that everything popular must be bad. These particular might or might not be bad, but doesn’t the ‘badness’ have something to do with the content, not the popularity?
Nate
Agreed, the “quest” theme is very important. These three books series/films seem to have embodied that motif quite well. I wonder why readers/viewers are resonating with them.
Andrew
Can you give some examples from these book series/films?
I can’t comment on HG or Twilight but anyone who doesn’t recognise the Christian story in Harry Potter clearly hasn’t read the series or is so blinded because it uses the context of a wizarding world they can’t read beyond it. This is a great shame. I was forced to read it because I couldn’t escape the hype surrounding the series living in the town where J K Rowlings grew up, and having children who go to the schools she went to. I thought I ought to educate myself as I was forever being asked what I thought about them. Consequently I continue to be stunned by the daft comments that have been made about the series from some Christians over the years.
There are few modern storytellers who manage to portray the complexities and demands of love and life as well as J K Rowlings. It might not be to your taster but can it be described as ‘anti -Christian’ or ‘un-Christian’? The sacrificial nature and power of love is the theme woven deep into the story. Very similar to Narnia but in modern language with a recognisable setting albeit a fantastical one. J K Rowlings makes no secret of her Christian faith and freely admits she used ideas from past writers to create the HP world. Worldly themes are condemned throughout HP so I would also like some evidence to back up that particular accusation.
I have three children – two girls and a boy of 14 who is the eldest. The girls like the films but aren’t interested enough to read the books but the boy has read the entire series cover to cover. The characters are easy to identify with and the story is gripping. Interestingly, of the three children he is also the one who demonstrates the clearest, deepest understanding of his Christian faith. A lot of his friends enjoy these book as well – maybe because the heroes aren’t impossibly butch and brainy – everyone can be a Harry or a Ron.
Popular doesn’t have to mean ‘bad’. It might not be ‘great’ literature in the way the classic of the nineteenth century are described but it is a story that captures the imagination and the heart which is why it is so popular and deserves to remain a ‘classic’. It’s also a great source for preachers to use when illustrating some of the major themes of Christianity – redemption, transformation, sacrifice, love, truth and justice.
@Brian: Surprising that you ask but yes; I would have thought the theme about man conquering death (through his own virtue) in all three books was self evident. In any event, I present none of these notions as my own:
Harry Potter – Ayn Rand like values earmark the qualities of a hero setting about to defeat death (Ayn Rand, of course was no fan of faith, and her influence on J.K.R.’s work quite plain). Harry ultimately was able to defeat death, and only needed to rely on himself and a few other human (wizards) such as his friends and the makers of the ‘deathly hallows’ which is really an endorsement of the ‘humanist’ position.
(As a foot note – J.K.R. has confessed (after the fact) to purposefully injecting ‘Christian themes’ into Harry Potter, but also confessed to injecting, in equal measure, pagan wicca themes.)
Twilight – The media has done a lot of analysis on the Mormon under-pinnings of Twilight so I’m likely unable to add anything that hasn’t been said, other than to point out that connection here. Suffice it to say the theme of over-coming ‘natural’ man is very Mormonesque in its endorsement of self-reliance on virtue and Bella’s actions are very nearly perfect enactments of Mormon beliefs. (Where man possess his own power incidentally, there is no need for God).
The Hunger Games – This one is likely the most obvious, the setting as a dystopia, noticeable for it’s obvious lack of God, an obvious metaphor for mankind in need of redemption except here there no redeemer (apart possibly from man’s own self-sacrifice). With no God ‘The Hunger Games’ themes are largely godless and nihilistic – hopelessness, suffering, death with one exception. The theme of heroic love and sacrifice is a very Greek notion and again humanistic (think Theseus vs the Minotaur).
Idolatry has many forms, where idolatry is defined as imparting reverent honour to something other than God. We see idols as the object of idolatry, of course, but man can also be that object. When society looks into these very entertaining mirrors and sees itself possessing power over death, the world very much likes what its sees since man has become his own saviour. The world is drawn to this image because it is a very seductive form of idolatry.
@alisjen: I agree that Christians should be able to recognize the Christian themes in Harry Potter, except, that isn’t the issue.
The issue is, Christians not recognizing the anti-Christian themes.
“A little leaven leaveneth the whole loaf [Gal 5.9]“
@Andrew – pretty much completely disagree with your analysis. Have you actually read all the books or are you relying on the films?
@alisjen: Yes I have read them all, and seen the movies too.
Though I do not live in the U.S. I own a business, with data centres located on Marietta St., Atlanta Georgia (same fibre backbone as CNN and Coke), that hosts many of the largest Harry Potter fan sites (top 10 by volume), and I believe, Daniel Radcliffe’s personal site is on one of my servers. I even suspect J.K.R. may be one of my clients. So, now that I have proven my credentials, am I qualified to judge Harry Potter?
Since we both agree Harry Potter contains Christian themes. Are you refuting that Harry Potter contains Wicca themes, or that Harry Potter contains anti-Christian themes?
@alisjen: I forgot to add that I’m not denying Harry Potter is popular, I absolutely agree the world LOVES Harry Potter. Rather I’m denying that Harry Potter is Christian literature (or reflective of Christian values) Christian themes or not.
Cool, whodathunk there would be a witch hunt at Near Emmaus!
Burn ‘em!
Maybe a more sane way to look at it is that there are only a handful of themes in all literature. Good versus evil is probably the main one, and it has been played out repeatedly in literature from the beginning of time. Just the details change with culture and technology. The ancients had gods directing the course of human events. One example is the bible, which has a mix of human and supernatural heroes, although the human ones are empowered by the deity. Today’s superheros are created by technology (Batman, Superman, etc.) or some other form of mortal magic.
Alis
You make a good observation about Rowling and the Harry Potter books. As I understand it Rowling herself is a Christian. I see her in the tradition of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis when it comes to using fiction, magic, etc, though maybe more like Tolkien in that her Gospel allusions are more subtle.
It is neat to see how these books have led so many more young people to become interested in literature again. For that I am very thankful.
Andrew
It shouldn’t be a surprise that I’d like you to explain a generalized assertion. Surely there are elements in literature that are antithetical to the Gospel, but I must disagree that in this case “a little leaven” ruins the whole book or series of books. I don’t know that any literature could exist if some bad things nullified all the good things about a work of literature.
Victor
Very good point.
@Brian: The bible states the axiom “A little leaven leaveneth the whole loaf [Gal 5.9]“. You are free to disagree.
Of course, drama requires conflict, so there will always antithetical elements to the gospel in literature. However, the issue isn’t about story fragments and dramatic structure, but about the underlying universal values exhibited by the characters and ultimately by the author.
It is natural to ask someone to explain a generalized assertion where the generalization is not so obvious. If I were to say all bears eat fish, such an assertion is not obvious and warrants explanation. In this case though, the survival element in each of the stories is so evident, in a secular sense, even where the issue of religious themes or values is not at stake – it was surprising you asked for additional amplification.
On the other hand, if I were to assert ‘most birds fly’ – such an assertion is obvious enough it likely would not be questioned. Each of the books you cite here has an elephant in the room central to each book’s theme (meaning not on the periphery or solely for dramatic effect), which is death. In none of the cases have the characters ‘defeated death’ according to Christian themes. This should still be fairly obvious.
Harry was the only who to survived Voldemorts death curse. He’s called the ‘chosen one’. From the first book through to the end therefore, Harry’s destiny seems to be plainly back towards death (in the guise of a confrontation with Voldemort). Bella is in love with, and desires to be like an immortal who exercise self-imposed virtue to live a life un-condemned for his true nature, and Katniss lives in a nihilist world where life has absolutely no value or redemption (the death toll the first day of the The Games alone is a questionable thing to treat so casually in non-adult literature). These insight are hardly controversial. What is controversial is the question of whether or not the values reflected in the book are Christian values or worldly ones.
I say “No!”, alisjen disagrees. Though no one disagrees Harry Potter contains Christian themes, it contains non-Christian themes as well, so does that mean because a book contains Christian themes it reflects Christian values? Here’s a theoretical litmus test that could be applied: How would Harry, Hermione or any of the Hogwarts friends judge the biblical precept found in [Deut 18:10-14]? Would their judgement be in accordance with typical Christian orthodoxy?
What differentiates Christian values from non-Christian values? The bible says Christ testified that the works of the world are evil [John 7.7]. It also says that the world’s wisdom is not wisdom at all [1 Cor 3.18-19]. So the question is do these examples of literature reflect ‘worldly’ or ‘Godly’ wisdom?
As was requested, I’ve made the case that these examples of literature are popular precisely because they are worldly. This has been rejected, but without warrant. If there is a case – these books are specificity ‘God honouring and contain Christian themes’ and yet are still esteemed by society, please – make it.
Andrew
You are well aware that the “axiom” has a context.
Andrew
In your view is there a work of literature that isn’t totally corrupt? If so, which one(s) and what makes them free to “leaven?”
Of course. Still, you’re saying in this case a little leaven isn’t leavening the whole loaf. (I’d personally disagree we’re talking ‘a little leaven’ here).
So come clean then: are you saying the non-Christian elements in Harry Potter are incidental to the Harry Potter world? Are the values reflected in Harry Potter worldly or Christian?
Andrew
All I am saying is that there can be no good literature is bad elements ruin the whole thing. If you feel like Paul’s axiom applies here then we disagree.
I assume the Harry Potter books contain a little of both. They are stories. As I said above, Rowling reminds me a lot of Tolkien. There are Gospel elements interwoven through the story, but she isn’t seeking to merely retell the biblical story.
@Brian: Very good question Brian! (Hold me accountable for the consequence of my position! NIce.)
Yes I’d say there’s exactly one piece of literature perfectly, not totally corrupt – called the bible (except there’s more there than mere literature), which begs the question can any literature at all reflect Christian values?
Just as Christian’s differ in their ability to reflect Christ perfectly, literature (as a function of the author’s world view) varies in its ability to reflect Christian values. I’d say C.S. Lewis is one one side of the spectrum, and Philip Pullman’s Golden Compass at the other – with Harry, Bella and Katniss somewhere along the spectrum. (i.e. J.K.R. by her own admission, is neither hot nor cold in her personal belief in God by her own admission. Her book reflects this.)
Does that mean anti-Christian or non-Christian literature is not worth reading? Hardly. But it does mean we shouldn’t simply turn off our Christianity because we find a story amusing, nor should we be ignorant of the wrong ideas amusing literature can embed, or it’s characters advocate.
Our faith should always inform us when we read, and gauging the value of an idea is not a function of our ability to enjoy the read.
Andrew
I find your statements agreeable. As you noted, there is a bit here that may reflect Christ and a bit there that might not.
@Andrew – seriously – is that the best anti Christian theme you can come up with for HP? Shall we call it predestination then? Would that make it easier to swallow as ‘Christian’ because it has a nice theological term? Dumbledore dissected that particular burden for HP in the penultimate book in a scene just before he died. Anyway, the term ‘chosen one’ is not how HP ever thought of himself nor was the help of a few friends sufficient to defeat Voldemort – the mysterious work of magic was also required. There was another world beyond what HP knew and it remained a mystery much like the work of the Holy Spirit in our world today.
As for asking whether HP and his friends would interpret Deut 18: 10 – 11 according to Christian orthodoxy is one of the silliest of questions and reveals just how deeply you have missed the point of HP. This isn’t set in a world where Christianity exists in the way we understand it to. It does pick up however on the one ‘ker-clunk’ moment I had reading the books. From my point of view she would have been better to have called Christmas ‘Yuletide’ because apart from that there are no real connections with faith of any sort although there are characters in the books who may very well have come from a Muslim or Hindu background. The UK scene is such that Christmas is very much a secular festival so I suspect that is why she kept the ‘tag’ of Christmas thinking that was how her readers would have read it. She can’t be blamed for realising she wouldn’t just be addressing a UK audience. This is a world where religious faith doesn’t seem to exist – it wouldn’t make sense at all to have it sitting side by side with the wizarding world which is why it’s been left as non existent. In that context the question regarding what the Bible warns of in Deuteronomy is irrelevant.
Wicca/paganism? So what? Tolkien and Lewis were heavily influenced by Norse and Greek mythology – and probably others – I’m not exactly an expert on their work. But the fact is that themes that may sound from another tradition doesn’t mean they lack the truth we find in our own. If you are someone who only appreciates the truth within your own Christian context then you will never ‘get’ why HP is riddled to its core with Christianity.
As for saying that ‘J.K.R. has confessed (after the fact)’ – maybe you didn’t mean it to but it just sounds like a pointless sneer. There was no ‘confession’ – there was an explanation of her work – and JKR was notoriously tight lipped about HP whilst in progress (a typical reaction of many creative people about their works in progress).
She’s in good company anyway – there are plenty of critics of Lewis and Tolkien. What I am more than slightly fed up with is the way I have to explain to my non Christian friends the daftness of other Christians who put them off by damning the culture they know and understand that is good and wholesome because it doesn’t come with an overtly Christian tag wrapped in Scripture like a neatly packaged product from a supermarket. It’s hard enough sharing the gospel as it is and when you have to wade through all the silliness that too many Christians like to pontificate about it makes it all the harder.
Btw as fascinating as it is to know some of your background, I was only interested in whether you had read the books. I explained my interest because it sets in context why I have looked at this in some detail over the years. I haven’t bothered with Twilight or the Hunger Games because they haven’t crossed my path – although I’m off to see the HG now – I want to see what all the fuss is about now!
@alisjen: Seriously, if you’ve mistaken a brief comment about [Deut 18:10-14] (which I called a litmus test) with a serious attempt to document an anti-Christian theme of the book – you’re missing the point! What I was doing was contrasting the perspective of characters in the bible with those in literature.
WRT your comments about J.R.R. Tolkien, you’ve introduce a new variable here. I’ve not stated what my opinion of JRR or his literature is. I will point out that unlike JKR, JRR was a professing, bible believing Christian. (Not that it matters much, but he also happened to possess slightly more education and a rather stunning intellect).
In any event – I agree with you ‘Christmas’ in the UK is devoid of faith, for the most part – secular. I also agree “This is a world where religious faith doesn’t seem to exist – it wouldn’t make sense at all to have it sitting side by side with the wizarding world which is why it’s been left as non existent.”
Clearly a world with non-existent faith is clearly not a ‘Christian’ theme … which was kind of my point. So thank you for pointing that out. It seems our positions are no so far apart.
There’s only one book in the whole world that isn’t corrupt — but that book has a fair share of murder, witchcraft, child sacrifice, rape, pillaging and more. So the corruption can’t be based on merely descriptions of sinful things, it must be …. what, the funny voices inside some people’s heads?
@Victor: Just because that book faithfully documents the wicked acts of man, does not mean it endorses it.
victor,
the Bible isn’t glorifying the sin, it’s describing the remedy. The Bible isn’t most notable for its similarities in themes with other literature, but for its differences. As for the voices in your head, you should really have that checked out. Sometimes it’s radio reception on a tooth filling and it can at least be tuned to a station you prefer.
I’ve only read some of these books, but they are all hero stories, which, similar to the Lord of the Rings, and tell victorious stories of good triumphing over evil. We like to be reminded that good can triumph. So much YA literature is so debased, so focusesd on the dysfunctional, the failures of life. This interest shows that people, and young people in particular, really are looking for good to triumph.
@Andrew – er no! We are so far apart on this I can’t really see you now at all. This conversation is proving so utterly fruitless I can’t see the point in continuing it so we’ll have to agree to disagree and leave it there.