Dystopian and How Rights Are Restricted - Example

In Panem, there are many restricted rights. Below is a small sample of the restrictions the government of Panem places on its citizens.

• Citizens are not allowed to leave their districts.
• Citizens are not allowed to hunt for food, especially outside the boundaries.
• Citizens are not allowed to own weapons.
• Citizens are required to register for the chance to compete in the Hunger Games if they are between the ages of twelve and eighteen.
• Attending the reaping (or the choosing ceremony) and viewing the Hunger Games is mandatory for each citizen.
• Food and supply distribution is monitored by the Capital. No exceptions will be made.
• All resources produced by the districts will be sent to the Capital for redistribution. Any person hording these resources will be considered traitors against Panem and will be dealt with accordingly.
• Trading that is not sanctioned by the Capital is considered a major offense. All parties involved in illegal trading will be punished by local peacekeepers. 

Dystopian and Rebellion - Example

In the history of Panem, there was one rebellion, or an attempted revolution depending on the side you were on. This rebellion was crushed, and District 13 was destroyed. It happened before the Hunger Games were enacted, and the government of Panem claimed to use the Hunger Games as a way of uniting the districts after the rebellion. However, that is clearly not the case.

The most recent form of rebellion came in the form of a young woman named Katniss who chose to compete in the Hunger Games to save her sister. This act was not against the rules, but her actions spoke volumes. Even in an unjust world, she chose to fight back. Her actions made the other districts feel more empowered, and they too chose to fight back against the capital.  Katniss had something to fight for, and it made others realize that they too had something to fight for. Katniss became a symbol of rebellion, and she became the iconic mockingjay.

The mockingjay has been seen as a symbol of rebellion before Katniss made it famous. The mockingjay is a cross between a jabberjay, a mutation that the Capital created to spy on rebels, and a mocking bird. Once rebel forces realized what the jabberjays were doing, they started passing false information, which rendered the birds useless. The Capital let them loose in the wild thinking they would die out, but they mated with mocking birds. The result symbolized surviving despite the odds, despite what the Capital did to them.

Down below, I have included pictures of the destruction of District 13, Katniss, and a mockingjay.

District 13

Katniss Volunteering for Her Siser

Mockingjay

Dystopian Propaganda - Example

Propaganda is information, especially biased or misleading information, that is used to promote a particular point of view, country, or political party. Propaganda is used in dystopian societies in order to depict the dystopian society in a more positive light. It is meant to show the society as being perfect and equal rather than the inhuman society that it actually is. Here are some examples of posters that could have been used in Panem.

 

Here is an example of propaganda in the form of a video.

Dystopian and Society - Example

The dystopian society of Panem exaggerates two elements of today's society. The first element is reality television. Reality television is exactly what it sounds like. It is a television show that follows the real events of people's lives as a means of entertainment rather than information. Some shows that are considered reality television are Keeping Up with the Kardashians and The Jersey Shore. The events that happen in these shows become so ridiculous that viewers no longer care about the people in the show but rather the drama that ensues. Panem's example of reality television is the production of the Hunger Games. They televise the reaping, interviews, and, of course, the actual games themselves. The people of the capital no longer see the tributes as people but rather as pawns in game, and the society proves this by placing bets on the winner and choosing favorites rather than seeing the trials and tribulations that the children are put through.

Here is an article that talks more about reality TV and today's society.

The second element that Panem exaggerates is the influence and inequity that the wealthy have over the poor. In the news, there has been much talk about how much influence the "one percent" have over the rest of the population. They control most of the money which means that they have the most power. As of right now, things are bad, but they could be so much worse. That is what Panem depicts. In Panem, the Capital is the one the controls most of the money and the resources. This means that they get to choose which districts get food, supplies, and medicine. These resources hardly reach the outer districts, and it creates major societal problems.

Here is an article that talks more about the one percent and the inequality that it causes.

Dystopian Society Overview - Example

Panem is a country created after destruction reigned in North America. It was separated into thirteen districts where the hungry outnumbered the wealthy but were suppressed by the dominating government known as the Capital. Once in Panem's history, a rebellion was formed but was crushed by the government. As punishment, District 13 was bombed until nothing but rubble survived. The remaining twelve districts are reminded once a year of their rebellion and the causes of them losing that rebellion. Each year, one young man and woman between the ages of twelve and eighteen from each district are sent into an arena to fight to the death while the districts watch. However, rebellion still stirs within the districts, and the mockingjay, a bird that defies the odds of survival, is their symbol. The districts are beginning to fight back, but who will win?

Hunger in the Districts

The Capital

The Mockingjay