The Hunger Games: Survival of the Sexiest

Katniss looks out at her District after volunteering for her sister.

Released in 2012 and directed by Gary Ross, the film, The Hunger Games, depicts a dystopian nation where the Capitol exploits the people of the surrounding Districts once a year, as two children are selected from each to fight in a battle to the death. After volunteering for her younger sister out of love and desperation, Katniss Everdeen is thrown into the world of the Capitol and all of the games that come with it. While we are shown time and time again that she is a smart and skillful individual, the Capitol only pays her any attention when she performs for them. Her attractiveness and romantic relationship with Peeta influence the help she receives to survive, highlighting the way women are perceived in this world. In this film, we learn about a controlling and oppressive society that uses the appearance, performance, and sexualization of its citizens, especially women, to reveal the importance that is placed on conforming to the expectations of society for approval and survival. 

The Capitol

In the film, Districts have no interaction with one another, other than seeing them participate in the Hunger Games, where children are sent to fight to the death. They are pitted against one another to distract them from focusing on the Capitol and the exploitative system they are trapped in. By enforcing this, the Capitol ensures that no uprising will take place, as people cannot assemble and attack.

Residents of the Capitol, dressed and ready for the viewing of the Hunger Games.

The people in the Districts are not viewed as human or real by those in the Capitol, as they are eventually objectified by viewers and sponsors of the Hunger Games when tributes are sent from the Districts. We see children pretending to be a part of the Hunger Games in the Capitol when they are dressed in bright, expensive, and lavish pieces of clothing. Their interaction showcases a true disconnect between people in the Capitol and the Districts, as children are brought up thinking of this tradition as a game that they get to observe from the comfort of their seats. If children of the Capitol are raised this way, they more than likely carry this thought process and behavior into adulthood, never realizing the true horror taking place in front of them.

The Importance of Image

As Peeta and Katniss attempt to get advice from Haymitch on the ride to the Capitol, Haymitch is unwilling to be cooperative with the pair, driving Katniss to slam a knife between his fingers to force his answer. Haymitch then explains, “You really wanna know how to stay alive? You get people to like you”. His response paints a clearer picture of why and how the Hunger Games exist. Instead of showing anger and resentment like Katniss has been doing, she needs to play the game, look pretty, and act charming. They are seen as fighters and warriors in the Hunger Games, something that would not typically be sexualized or idealized, but the Capitol relies on this to cause excitement in viewers. As such, the tributes must be made to be their most attractive and eye-catching as they are paraded around the Capitol.

Katniss and other tributes are being prepared for their first appearance in the Capitol.

In preparation for her debut in the Capitol, Katniss is made to look pretty and appealing to the eyes of the Capitol. She is washed down with a hose, waxed, and scrutinized by a team of makeup artists at the Capitol, further showing the obsession with appearance and dehumanization of tributes. Their attractiveness and sex appeal is important to their survival in the Hunger Games because it makes them more likable to the people of the Capitol who prioritize beauty and perfection. Her stylist, Cinna, explains that he wants to make her first appearance in the Capitol unforgettable and reminds Katniss of the importance of being liked to get sponsors. Once again, Katniss is reminded that her worth lies in her attractiveness, not her existence as a human being, the same as those in the Capitol. The crowd goes wild as they take in the tight black suits with capes of fire on Katniss and Peeta as they are paraded down the track. All of the preparation and parading is meant to sexualize the tributes for citizens of the Capitol, and they must lean into and accept this objectification if they want any help from powerful people with money to spend.

Caesar Flickerman holds Katniss's arm in the air as she stares lifelessly into the crowd.

We see Katniss continue to be ogled at by the crowd during her interview before the Games with Caesar Flickerman. The questions she is asked about in the interview center around how good she looked, how jaw-dropping her performance was, and how beautiful she is. She shows off her new, tight dress with flames at the bottom as she spins for the crowd, once again being forced to perform for the entertainment of others. Instead of being asked about her life and her interests, she is stripped down to a pretty girl who is here for the pleasure of the Capitol.

Romance as a Weapon

After Peeta drops the information about his crush on Katniss, her first reaction is one of violence and anger towards him. Haymitch immediately pulls her away, telling her that "he made you look desirable, which in your case, can't hurt, sweetheart", in response to her claiming Peeta's confession made her look weak. We see the birth of a new and exciting plot line that Haymitch can use to get more sympathy and support from sponsors, calling them the "star-crossed lovers" and explaining that this romance could save her life. Haymitch, having survived the games, understands that it is all one spectacle of a television show where viewers want drama and suspense. The Capitol may be exploiting the tributes, but Haymitch understands that they have the power to take advantage of their situation and the infatuation with their personal relationships.

Katniss's reaction to Peeta's confession comes from the fear of being seen as weak. Love and emotions associated with a relationship are often seen as more feminine and, therefore, weaker feelings to have. Katniss has no interest in a romantic relationship with Peeta or anyone else. Having the attention of a man makes you desirable and worthy of saving through sponsorships, and it makes people root for your survival. We see that not only is her appearance as a woman making her valuable, but her value as a person is tied to her interactions with Peeta.

A note that Haymitch sends to Katniss, encouraging her to take her relationship with Peeta further.

After the announcement that allows there to be two victors from the same District, we see Katniss understand how she has to play the game to win. She is there for the entertainment of others who want a good story, and Haymitch encourages her to pretend to love Peeta. Upon receiving the note from Haymitch, Katniss cuddles in close with Peeta and eventually kisses him, giving the audience what they want. It's not enough to have a gentle interaction filled with care; the audience wants proof of passion and love. They want something more explicit. Katniss loving her sister was not enough to gain sympathy from viewers; instead, she must focus on the boy she has been forced to fight and live with in order to survive. Her value as a daughter and sister is not enough to live in this world; she must be in a relationship with a man the audience can see and root for.

Katniss and Peeta are resting in the cave, hoping for help from sponsors.

After tricking the Gamemakers at the end of the Hunger Games, Katniss is coached by Haymitch to express her love for Peeta, saying that she could not bear to live without him. Not only will this make the people of the Capitol love them even more, but it protects their actions from being seen as a form of protest and defiance. Although the Capitol and the Gamemakers have manipulated her throughout the entire Hunger Games and lied about their rules, Katniss is once again relying on a false narrative about her romantic life to save her. She is just a form of entertainment for the crowd, and they adore seeing her with Peeta, wearing a dress with her hair and makeup perfect. As long as she conforms to their perception of who she is and what they want, Katniss is safe from harm.

Katniss and Peeta, during their final interview, discuss the love that motivated their actions at the end of the Hunger Games.

Katniss is a strong, resourceful, and smart individual. None of these things matter. In this reality, it does not matter who you are; instead, it is what you do for the viewers that makes you valuable. For Katniss, it is her appearance and romantic relationship that give her value and make her worthy of saving. Instead of using her skills, she is forced to conform to the desires of the Capitol to survive. By the end of the film, Katniss understands that the true game lies in how you are desired and perceived by those in power, not what you are capable of and willing to do for yourself.

Works Cited

Ross, Gary, director. The Hunger Games. Lionsgate, 2012.