WSJ: ‘Why the Hunger Games is Also the Gender Games’

March 10, 2012 by Leave a Comment

The Lionsgate/Scholastic ‘Four Quadrants’ marketing plan for Hunger Games has been revealed in The Wall Street Journal! Watch the video and read the article.

Three quick notes before you share your comments:

(1) Why no comments about the Glamour magazine shots? Those cleavage numbers were aimed at whom? I’m guessing Glamour is a women’s magazine but those fotos probably have a lot to do with male interest in the film running as high as 48%.

(2) Not a peep here, either, about the in-your-face irony of this kind of marketing-styling of a story (product?) about the demeaning use of story by propagandists and film makers.

(3) 23.5 million copies of the novels sold and rising… The films could be a bust or just break even and they’ve already done a great service in drawing in that many readers to Suzanne Collins’ remarkable work.

Your thoughts? Sound off below! (Hat tip to Rev George)

Filed Under: Hunger Games

Flavorwire: Katniss and Hermione and Jane Eyre — but no Bella?

March 10, 2012 by 5 Comments

Where to begin with this Flavorwire assessment of 10 of the Most Powerful Female Characters in Literature? Do we need to note first the absence of any characters not made into popular films? Or should we mention the evident bias against women who find love and marriage rewarding, not to mention faith of any kind? Jane Austen’s heroines are shut out, Anne of Green Gables is a loser, and Shakespeare’s shrewish, brilliant Kate is a non-starter. How about literature beginning in the 14th century? No Penelope, Clytemnestra, or Beatrice for this power focused group of feminist readers… and don’t tell me you believe Mulan makes the list except for the Disney flick and an ironic nod to cultural diversity.

How about just the mistakes and mistaken memes? Hermione is the only member of the Terrible Trio that never falls apart come crunch time? Katniss Everdeen “annoys us to no end with all her boy-related waffling and wailing”? I think this bizarre “annoyance” and the love note addressed to Jane Eyre (” Though she suffers greatly, she always relies on herself to get back on her feet — no wilting damsel in distress here”) are meant to be arrows aimed at Bella Swan. Because we all know Bella is stupid, totally boy crazy and dependent, and incapable of independent feminist action, right?

For the counter-spell or antidote to this political correctness about Twilight, check out these posts at The Briarfield Chronicles about both Keats’ Eve of St. Agnes and Lamia. There’s a lot more to Bella than those despising so-called ‘Chick Lit’ would have you think (as in “all of Victorian letters,” none of whose heroines made the powerful list, either). Considering the deep Jane Eyre roots of Bella’s Twilight adventures, it’s a hoot that she is left off as ‘despised’ on a list that her ancestor and inspiration tops.

Really, where’s the love? Or the parameters? I do love this kind of list because of the things it reveals, most notably, the blinders and biases of the list makers, not to mention the opportunity to make a sweeping review of Canon. And this Flavorwire piece was rich in both regards. (Hat tips to Prof. Baird-Hardy and Caroline at Briarfield).

Filed Under: Hunger Games, Twilight

Get Your Lionsgate Nail Polish For the Hunger Games Opening Ceremonies! Stylist Endorsed, It’s To Die For, Capitol-ites!

March 8, 2012 by 7 Comments

You couldn’t make this stuff up, right? China Glaze: The Hunger Games Specialty Colour ‘Hook and Line’

For the first time ever, China Glaze has partnered with Lionsgate Films to create a specialty promotion for their movie adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ gripping trilogy, The Hunger Games, premiering in theaters March 2012. The polish shades are inspired by the Capitol of the nation of Panem!

The Hunger Games Specialty Colour Collection includes 12 amazing full coverage shades: Dress Me Up, Foie Gras, Fast Track, Hook and Line, Stone Cold, Smoke and Ashes, Agro, Mahogany Magic, Harvest Moon, Riveting, Electrify, Luxe and Lash.

The best part, though, is that the email sent out by Sally Beauty came with this provocative question: ‘Deborah, What Will You Be Wearing to the Opening Ceremonies?’ (Hat tip to Deborah for this!)

Aren’t we supposed to be sympathizing with the Tributes and despising the Capitol viewers? Has Lionsgate decided to cast us in the role of those viewers and to despise us with a story we pay to see, a film featuring themselves as the Gamesmaker Shadow-Casters? Give me the clunky coal miners outfit and keep the nail polish, please. [There are Reaping Clothes available, too, if you’re dying to look nice! What’s next, Life is Beautiful tank tops?]

Filed Under: Hunger Games

Hunger Games Premium Trading Cards: Well, Why not?

March 7, 2012 by 1 Comment

Pretty neat, no?

The story (Muttations)

By the Box — $55 (24 packs)

By the Pack – $3.50 (6 cards)

Potter Premium Cardboards and Twilight packs are now invaluable, so it’s best to get yourself a box or two of these Hunger Games Capitol Collectors Items as soon as possible. Before they’re all gone, that is, and you have regrets about passing on this investment opportunity.

And did you know that The Hunger Games was an invitation to Libertarian politics? Are we verging in on ‘Shared Text’ territory? Or not? Your thoughts, please, on the growth industry in Hunger Games imagery, merchandise, and media referencing! (Hat Tip to George on the Lew Rockwell link)

Filed Under: Hunger Games

Why Wait for the Lions Gate ‘Hunger Games’ Movie?

March 6, 2012 by 1 Comment

When you can watch the adventures of ‘Finnick and Annie,’ Fan Film Fiction, on YouTube today?

Please share in the comment boxes below any other Hunger Games fan efforts, written or filmed, that you think worthy of our attention in the HogwartsProfessor Month of Panem Pandemonium!

Filed Under: Hunger Games