Citizens of Panem being “Processed” Now

So, a few weeks ago, we posted here about the new Capitol website being launched in conjunction with the forthcoming film of Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games (the fact that it is specifically a film tie-in website is indicated by the fact that the countdown to the next Games is not for next summer, but for the film’s March release date). Those of us who registered on the site using our social media (i.e. Twitter or facebook) were assigned a District and then told we then had to wait for our “District Identification Passes” or DIPs (snort) to be processed. Starting this past weekend, “citizens” began getting emails directing them to proceed with registering (interspersed with visits to the website which, for some odd reason, was briefly switched to a Latin text, but more on that later). For more on the experience, and on the fascinating ironies of this little marketing ploy, follow me after the jump.

When “citizens” began queueing up for these DIPs last month, we were told we could “expedite” the process, which basically involved sending a tweet or facebook status saying “hey, I’m over here at www.thecapitol.pn trying to get my pass expedited.” Later, we had the chance to say why we thought our district should go first (my smart comment was too long for the tiny space, so I just bragged on our Johanna Mason). Apparently, the districts who did this the most got their passes first, though it seems a little too convenient that the first District in was 12. It was followed shortly by 8, then my own assigned District of 7 on Monday, followed by 9, then 2.

When word got out that passes were being distributed, the site went wonky, as sites are wont to do (a la Pottermore). But, rather than put up endless apologies, the webmasters at the Capitol site put up, in Latin, Juvenal’s tenth satire. It was fun watching folks freak out over what seemed to be utterly incomprehensible words, but, in fact, the Juvenal placeholder was most appropriate. Among other gems in its lines is the phrase “panem et circenses.” or, in English, “bread and circuses.” The phrase refers to the way in which Roman citizens are kept well fed and entertained (particularly by the bloodsport of gladiatorial games) to prevent them from revolting or to just to prevent them from paying much attention to what their leaders were doing. Aside from being a title of pretty nifty Star Trek episode from the bygone era, it also gives us both the name of the county, Panem, and the themes of bread and games that run throughout the Trilogy.
The last bit of the Satire also has plenty of good fodder for our conversation here. Juvenal makes the wonderful point (among others, many of which are just as relevant today as they were to the Romans), that Fortune is only a goddess because humans have made her one by elevating “luck” to a religion. Indeed, just as today, the Romans of Juvenal’s observations were apt to trust in luck, rather than in any other faith. In the Hunger Games, the phrase “May the odds be ever in your favor,” has become as overused as “God Bless You”; indeed, in Collins’s Panem, fortune is an object of worship.
If you’d like to see the entire text in Latin, it’s below, though the site was back in business pretty soon and handing out passes. The message emailed to me ominously ordered me to report to the Capitol, where, on the repaired website, I was asked to submit a picture and to verify some of my facebook information. Then, my “pass” was generated and I was invited to connect with other citizens of District 7 on facebook. I was very interested to see what occupations were given to those of us randomly tossed into 7. While I was named a carpenter, clearly by a computer that has never witnessed me swinging a hammer in a fashion that horrifies the real carpenters in my family, others jobs include furniture builders, load pullers, and, of course, lumberjacks, lots of them, all of whom are enjoying doing their best Monty Python impressions over on facebook. Strangely enough, so far, I’ve seen no one listed as a forester or other tree specialist, which would be a critical role in 7.

This led me to start wondering about how well the creators of this site (which is, after all, a great big marketing ploy) really know the professions of the people of Panem. My friend Jay, who shared his extra experience with us, is a designer in 8, but many of his associates are factory workers, which would likely be the occupation of most folks in that textile district. As the other Districts get “processed,” it will be interesting to see the jobs assigned, along with the District Seals (7 has a tree and axes).
What really gets my interest, however, is how much fun the users seem to be having with this, joking about how happy they are to be in this or that district, as if they’ve been Sorted at Hogwarts (and the Pottermore connections are very clear). The Districts have individual facebook pages, so even though citizens know about each other, they are discouraged from mixing and are encouraged to feel competitive with the other districts (hence this “get in first” thing). As the other districts should be done this week, perhaps we’ll see what “big surprise” is promised us according to rumor. Considering the way the citizens are treated in Collins’s Panem, I hardly think we should expect it to be pleasant, and, though I got onto this thing so I could report here, I find the whole prospect quite macabre.

I really wouldn’t want to live in Panem any more than I’d want to live in Oceania, and the whole glitzy website experience makes me aware, more than ever, how we are becoming as entertainment-worshipping as the citizens of the Capitol. I am comforted, though, in knowing that I might get to recruit a few of those lumberjacks to our conversations here, where we ponder those very paradoxes. Welcome to you, and to the rest of us with those ominous gray passes.

The Juvenal text spaceholder (if your Latin is a little rusty, click here for a nice translation):

. IVNI IVVENALIS SATVRA X
Omnibus in terris, quae sunt a Gadibus usque
Auroram et Gangen, pauci dinoscere possunt
uera bona atque illis multum diuersa, remota
erroris nebula. quid enim ratione timemus
aut cupimus? quid tam dextro pede concipis ut te 
conatus non paeniteat uotique peracti?
euertere domos totas optantibus ipsis
di faciles. nocitura toga, nocitura petuntur
militia; torrens dicendi copia multis
et sua mortifera est facundia; uiribus ille 
confisus periit admirandisque lacertis;
sed pluris nimia congesta pecunia cura
strangulat et cuncta exuperans patrimonia census
quanto delphinis ballaena Britannica maior.
temporibus diris igitur iussuque Neronis 
Longinum et magnos Senecae praediuitis hortos
clausit et egregias Lateranorum obsidet aedes
tota cohors: rarus uenit in cenacula miles.
pauca licet portes argenti uascula puri
nocte iter ingressus, gladium contumque timebis 
et mota ad lunam trepidabis harundinis umbra:
cantabit uacuus coram latrone uiator.
prima fere uota et cunctis notissima templis
diuitiae, crescant ut opes, ut maxima toto
nostra sit arca foro. sed nulla aconita bibuntur 
fictilibus; tunc illa time cum pocula sumes
gemmata et lato Setinum ardebit in auro.
iamne igitur laudas quod de sapientibus alter
ridebat, quotiens a limine mouerat unum
protuleratque pedem, flebat contrarius auctor? 
sed facilis cuiuis rigidi censura cachinni:
mirandum est unde ille oculis suffecerit umor.
perpetuo risu pulmonem agitare solebat
Democritus, quamquam non essent urbibus illis
praetextae, trabeae, fasces, lectica, tribunal. 
quid si uidisset praetorem curribus altis
extantem et medii sublimem puluere circi
in tunica Iouis et pictae Sarrana ferentem
ex umeris aulaea togae magnaeque coronae
tantum orbem, quanto ceruix non sufficit ulla? 
quippe tenet sudans hanc publicus et, sibi consul
ne placeat, curru seruus portatur eodem.
da nunc et uolucrem, sceptro quae surgit eburno,
illinc cornicines, hinc praecedentia longi
agminis officia et niueos ad frena Quirites, 
defossa in loculos quos sportula fecit amicos.
tum quoque materiam risus inuenit ad omnis
occursus hominum, cuius prudentia monstrat
summos posse uiros et magna exempla daturos
ueruecum in patria crassoque sub aere nasci. 
ridebat curas nec non et gaudia uolgi,
interdum et lacrimas, cum Fortunae ipse minaci
mandaret laqueum mediumque ostenderet unguem.
 ergo superuacua aut quae perniciosa petuntur?
propter quae fas est genua incerare deorum? 
 quosdam praecipitat subiecta potentia magnae
inuidiae, mergit longa atque insignis honorum
pagina. descendunt statuae restemque secuntur,
ipsas deinde rotas bigarum inpacta securis
caedit et inmeritis franguntur crura caballis. 
iam strident ignes, iam follibus atque caminis
ardet adoratum populo caput et crepat ingens
Seianus, deinde ex facie toto orbe secunda
fiunt urceoli, pelues, sartago, matellae.
pone domi laurus, duc in Capitolia magnum 
cretatumque bouem: Seianus ducitur unco
spectandus, gaudent omnes. ‘quae labra, quis illi
uultus erat! numquam, si quid mihi credis, amaui
hunc hominem. sed quo cecidit sub crimine? quisnam
delator quibus indicibus, quo teste probauit?’ 
’nil horum; uerbosa et grandis epistula uenit
a Capreis.’ ‘bene habet, nil plus interrogo.’ sed quid
turba Remi? sequitur fortunam, ut semper, et odit
damnatos. idem populus, si Nortia Tusco
fauisset, si oppressa foret secura senectus 
principis, hac ipsa Seianum diceret hora
Augustum. iam pridem, ex quo suffragia nulli
uendimus, effudit curas; nam qui dabat olim
imperium, fasces, legiones, omnia, nunc se
continet atque duas tantum res anxius optat, 
panem et circenses. ‘perituros audio multos.’
’nil dubium, magna est fornacula.’ ‘pallidulus mi
Bruttidius meus ad Martis fuit obuius aram;
quam timeo, uictus ne poenas exigat Aiax
ut male defensus. curramus praecipites et, 
dum iacet in ripa, calcemus Caesaris hostem.
sed uideant serui, ne quis neget et pauidum in ius
ceruice obstricta dominum trahat.’ hi sermones
tunc de Seiano, secreta haec murmura uolgi.
uisne salutari sicut Seianus, habere 
tantundem atque illi summas donare curules,
illum exercitibus praeponere, tutor haberi
principis angusta Caprearum in rupe sedentis
cum grege Chaldaeo? uis certe pila, cohortis,
egregios equites et castra domestica; quidni 
haec cupias? et qui nolunt occidere quemquam
posse uolunt. sed quae praeclara et prospera tanti,
ut rebus laetis par sit mensura malorum?
huius qui trahitur praetextam sumere mauis
an Fidenarum Gabiorumque esse potestas 
et de mensura ius dicere, uasa minora
frangere pannosus uacuis aedilis Vlubris?
ergo quid optandum foret ignorasse fateris
Seianum; nam qui nimios optabat honores
et nimias poscebat opes, numerosa parabat 
excelsae turris tabulata, unde altior esset
casus et inpulsae praeceps inmane ruinae.
quid Crassos, quid Pompeios euertit et illum,
ad sua qui domitos deduxit flagra Quirites?
summus nempe locus nulla non arte petitus 
magnaque numinibus uota exaudita malignis.
ad generum Cereris sine caede ac uulnere pauci
descendunt reges et sicca morte tyranni.
 eloquium ac famam Demosthenis aut Ciceronis
incipit optare et totis quinquatribus optat 
quisquis adhuc uno parcam colit asse Mineruam,
quem sequitur custos angustae uernula capsae.
eloquio sed uterque perit orator, utrumque
largus et exundans leto dedit ingenii fons.
ingenio manus est et ceruix caesa, nec umquam 
sanguine causidici maduerunt rostra pusilli.
’o fortunatam natam me consule Romam:’
Antoni gladios potuit contemnere si sic
omnia dixisset. ridenda poemata malo
quam te, conspicuae diuina Philippica famae, 
uolueris a prima quae proxima. saeuus et illum
exitus eripuit, quem mirabantur Athenae
torrentem et pleni moderantem frena theatri.
dis ille aduersis genitus fatoque sinistro,
quem pater ardentis massae fuligine lippus 
a carbone et forcipibus gladiosque paranti
incude et luteo Volcano ad rhetora misit.
 bellorum exuuiae, truncis adfixa tropaeis
lorica et fracta de casside buccula pendens
et curtum temone iugum uictaeque triremis 
aplustre et summo tristis captiuos in arcu
humanis maiora bonis creduntur. ad hoc se
Romanus Graiusque et barbarus induperator
erexit, causas discriminis atque laboris
inde habuit: tanto maior famae sitis est quam 
uirtutis. quis enim uirtutem amplectitur ipsam,
praemia si tollas? patriam tamen obruit olim
gloria paucorum et laudis titulique cupido
haesuri saxis cinerum custodibus, ad quae
discutienda ualent sterilis mala robora fici, 
quandoquidem data sunt ipsis quoque fata sepulcris.
expende Hannibalem: quot libras in duce summo
inuenies? hic est quem non capit Africa Mauro
percussa oceano Niloque admota tepenti
rursus ad Aethiopum populos aliosque elephantos. 
additur imperiis Hispania, Pyrenaeum
transilit. opposuit natura Alpemque niuemque:
diducit scopulos et montem rumpit aceto.
iam tenet Italiam, tamen ultra pergere tendit.
’acti’ inquit ‘nihil est, nisi Poeno milite portas 
frangimus et media uexillum pono Subura.’
o qualis facies et quali digna tabella,
cum Gaetula ducem portaret belua luscum!
exitus ergo quis est? o gloria! uincitur idem
nempe et in exilium praeceps fugit atque ibi magnus 
mirandusque cliens sedet ad praetoria regis,
donec Bithyno libeat uigilare tyranno.
finem animae, quae res humanas miscuit olim,
non gladii, non saxa dabunt nec tela, sed ille
Cannarum uindex et tanti sanguinis ultor 
anulus. i, demens, et saeuas curre per Alpes
ut pueris placeas et declamatio fias.
unus Pellaeo iuueni non sufficit orbis,
aestuat infelix angusto limite mundi
ut Gyarae clausus scopulis paruaque Seripho; 
cum tamen a figulis munitam intrauerit urbem,
sarcophago contentus erit. mors sola fatetur
quantula sint hominum corpuscula. creditur olim
uelificatus Athos et quidquid Graecia mendax
audet in historia, constratum classibus isdem 
suppositumque rotis solidum mare; credimus altos
defecisse amnes epotaque flumina Medo
prandente et madidis cantat quae Sostratus alis.
ille tamen qualis rediit Salamine relicta,
in Corum atque Eurum solitus saeuire flagellis 
barbarus Aeolio numquam hoc in carcere passos,
ipsum conpedibus qui uinxerat Ennosigaeum
(mitius id sane, quod non et stigmate dignum
credidit. huic quisquam uellet seruire deorum?)—
sed qualis rediit? nempe una naue, cruentis 
fluctibus ac tarda per densa cadauera prora.
has totiens optata exegit gloria poenas.
 ‘da spatium uitae, multos da, Iuppiter, annos.’
hoc recto uoltu, solum hoc et pallidus optas.
sed quam continuis et quantis longa senectus 
plena malis! deformem et taetrum ante omnia uultum
dissimilemque sui, deformem pro cute pellem
pendentisque genas et talis aspice rugas
quales, umbriferos ubi pandit Thabraca saltus,
in uetula scalpit iam mater simia bucca. 
plurima sunt iuuenum discrimina, pulchrior ille
hoc atque +ille+ alio, multum hic robustior illo:
una senum facies, cum uoce trementia membra
et iam leue caput madidique infantia nasi;
frangendus misero gingiua panis inermi. 
usque adeo grauis uxori natisque sibique,
ut captatori moueat fastidia Cosso.
non eadem uini atque cibi torpente palato
gaudia; nam coitus iam longa obliuio, uel si
coneris, iacet exiguus cum ramice neruus 
et, quamuis tota palpetur nocte, iacebit.
anne aliquid sperare potest haec inguinis aegri
canities? quid quod merito suspecta libido est
quae uenerem adfectat sine uiribus? aspice partis
nunc damnum alterius. nam quae cantante uoluptas, 
sit licet eximius, citharoedo siue Seleuco
et quibus aurata mos est fulgere lacerna?
quid refert, magni sedeat qua parte theatri
qui uix cornicines exaudiet atque tubarum
concentus? clamore opus est ut sentiat auris 
quem dicat uenisse puer, quot nuntiet horas.
praeterea minimus gelido iam in corpore sanguis
febre calet sola, circumsilit agmine facto
morborum omne genus, quorum si nomina quaeras,
promptius expediam quot amauerit Oppia moechos, 
quot Themison aegros autumno occiderit uno,
quot Basilus socios, quot circumscripserit Hirrus
pupillos, quot longa uiros exorbeat uno
Maura die, quot discipulos inclinet Hamillus;
percurram citius quot uillas possideat nunc 
quo tondente grauis iuueni mihi barba sonabat.
ille umero, hic lumbis, hic coxa debilis; ambos
perdidit ille oculos et luscis inuidet; huius
pallida labra cibum accipiunt digitis alienis,
ipse ad conspectum cenae diducere rictum 
suetus hiat tantum ceu pullus hirundinis, ad quem
ore uolat pleno mater ieiuna. sed omni
membrorum damno maior dementia, quae nec
nomina seruorum nec uoltum agnoscit amici
cum quo praeterita cenauit nocte, nec illos 
quos genuit, quos eduxit. nam codice saeuo
heredes uetat esse suos, bona tota feruntur
ad Phialen; tantum artificis ualet halitus oris,
quod steterat multis in carcere fornicis annis.
ut uigeant sensus animi, ducenda tamen sunt 
funera natorum, rogus aspiciendus amatae
coniugis et fratris plenaeque sororibus urnae.
haec data poena diu uiuentibus, ut renouata
semper clade domus multis in luctibus inque
perpetuo maerore et nigra ueste senescant. 
rex Pylius, magno si quicquam credis Homero,
exemplum uitae fuit a cornice secundae.
felix nimirum, qui tot per saecula mortem
distulit atque suos iam dextra conputat annos,
quique nouum totiens mustum bibit. oro parumper 
attendas quantum de legibus ipse queratur
fatorum et nimio de stamine, cum uidet acris
Antilochi barbam ardentem, cum quaerit ab omni,
quisquis adest, socio cur haec in tempora duret,
quod facinus dignum tam longo admiserit aeuo. 
haec eadem Peleus, raptum cum luget Achillem,
atque alius, cui fas Ithacum lugere natantem.
incolumi Troia Priamus uenisset ad umbras
Assaraci magnis sollemnibus Hectore funus
portante ac reliquis fratrum ceruicibus inter 
Iliadum lacrimas, ut primos edere planctus
Cassandra inciperet scissaque Polyxena palla,
si foret extinctus diuerso tempore, quo non
coeperat audaces Paris aedificare carinas.
longa dies igitur quid contulit? omnia uidit 
euersa et flammis Asiam ferroque cadentem.
tunc miles tremulus posita tulit arma tiara
et ruit ante aram summi Iouis ut uetulus bos,
qui domini cultris tenue et miserabile collum
praebet ab ingrato iam fastiditus aratro. 
exitus ille utcumque hominis, sed torua canino
latrauit rictu quae post hunc uixerat uxor.
festino ad nostros et regem transeo Ponti
et Croesum, quem uox iusti facunda Solonis
respicere ad longae iussit spatia ultima uitae. 
exilium et carcer Minturnarumque paludes
et mendicatus uicta Carthagine panis
hinc causas habuere; quid illo ciue tulisset
natura in terris, quid Roma beatius umquam,
si circumducto captiuorum agmine et omni 
bellorum pompa animam exhalasset opimam,
cum de Teutonico uellet descendere curru?
prouida Pompeio dederat Campania febres
optandas, sed multae urbes et publica uota
uicerunt; igitur Fortuna ipsius et urbis 
seruatum uicto caput abstulit. hoc cruciatu
Lentulus, hac poena caruit ceciditque Cethegus
integer et iacuit Catilina cadauere toto.
 formam optat modico pueris, maiore puellis
murmure, cum Veneris fanum uidet, anxia mater 
usque ad delicias uotorum. ‘cur tamen’ inquit
’corripias? pulchra gaudet Latona Diana.’
sed uetat optari faciem Lucretia qualem
ipsa habuit, cuperet Rutilae Verginia gibbum
accipere +atque suum+ Rutilae dare. filius autem 
corporis egregii miseros trepidosque parentes
semper habet: rara est adeo concordia formae
atque pudicitiae. sanctos licet horrida mores
tradiderit domus ac ueteres imitata Sabinos,
praeterea castum ingenium uoltumque modesto 
sanguine feruentem tribuat natura benigna
larga manu (quid enim puero conferre potest plus
custode et cura natura potentior omni?),
non licet esse uiro; nam prodiga corruptoris
improbitas ipsos audet temptare parentes: 
tanta in muneribus fiducia. nullus ephebum
deformem saeua castrauit in arce tyrannus,
nec praetextatum rapuit Nero loripedem nec
strumosum atque utero pariter gibboque tumentem.
i nunc et iuuenis specie laetare tui, quem 
maiora expectant discrimina. fiet adulter
publicus et poenas metuet quascumque mariti
+irati+ debet, nec erit felicior astro
Martis, ut in laqueos numquam incidat. exigit autem
interdum ille dolor plus quam lex ulla dolori 
concessit: necat hic ferro, secat ille cruentis
uerberibus, quosdam moechos et mugilis intrat.
sed tuus Endymion dilectae fiet adulter
matronae. mox cum dederit Seruilia nummos
fiet et illius quam non amat, exuet omnem 
corporis ornatum; quid enim ulla negauerit udis
inguinibus, siue est haec Oppia siue Catulla?
deterior totos habet illic femina mores.
’sed casto quid forma nocet?’ quid profuit immo
Hippolyto graue propositum, quid Bellerophonti? 
erubuit +nempe haec+ ceu fastidita repulso
nec Stheneboea minus quam Cressa excanduit, et se
concussere ambae. mulier saeuissima tunc est
cum stimulos odio pudor admouet. elige quidnam
suadendum esse putes cui nubere Caesaris uxor 
destinat. optimus hic et formonsissimus idem
gentis patriciae rapitur miser extinguendus
Messalinae oculis; dudum sedet illa parato
flammeolo Tyriusque palam genialis in hortis
sternitur et ritu decies centena dabuntur 
antiquo, ueniet cum signatoribus auspex.
haec tu secreta et paucis commissa putabas?
non nisi legitime uolt nubere. quid placeat dic.
ni parere uelis, pereundum erit ante lucernas;
si scelus admittas, dabitur mora paruula, dum res 
nota urbi et populo contingat principis aurem.
dedecus ille domus sciet ultimus. interea tu
obsequere imperio, si tanti uita dierum
paucorum. quidquid leuius meliusque putaris,
praebenda est gladio pulchra haec et candida ceruix. 
 nil ergo optabunt homines? si consilium uis,
permittes ipsis expendere numinibus quid
conueniat nobis rebusque sit utile nostris;
nam pro iucundis aptissima quaeque dabunt di.
carior est illis homo quam sibi. nos animorum 
inpulsu et caeca magnaque cupidine ducti
coniugium petimus partumque uxoris, at illis
notum qui pueri qualisque futura sit uxor.
ut tamen et poscas aliquid uoueasque sacellis
exta et candiduli diuina tomacula porci, 
orandum est ut sit mens sana in corpore sano.
fortem posce animum mortis terrore carentem,
qui spatium uitae extremum inter munera ponat
naturae, qui ferre queat quoscumque labores,
nesciat irasci, cupiat nihil et potiores 
Herculis aerumnas credat saeuosque labores
et uenere et cenis et pluma Sardanapalli.
monstro quod ipse tibi possis dare; semita certe
tranquillae per uirtutem patet unica uitae.
nullum numen habes, si sit prudentia: nos te, 
nos facimus, Fortuna, deam caeloque locamus.