I'm not far enough into the book to tell if it's specifically barbaric or if it's simply the scenario. When I described it to C, he said it was basically The Running Man/The Most Dangerous Game--I think it's less "we want to hunt you because we specifically are bored of 'regular' game" and more "we want to show how much control we really have over you by making your kids kill each other" [or not--just got to where it described half the contenders freezing to death one year and how boring that was to watch]. In the movie, it was less graphic than Akira because they just needed the head count down. Even when the protagonist has to kill, it's very "video game" kill.
That it's kids killing kids is the point, I think. We're supposed to be all horrified at the idea of this dystopia, but I totally get that some people would love to actually have it happen =( and I think that's why I can't really figure out how anyone would LOVE the book even if they get that this isn't supposed to be a kind or happy world. *research*
To be certain, "barbaric" technically means "uncivilized," and it's actually pretty technologically advanced even though they're thrown into an enclosed section of wilderness [not really enclosed, but there's a "Truman Show"-like enforced perimeter]. Definitely it's horrific, which--again--is the whole idea.
Just because you're scientifically advanced, doesn't mean you're civilized. :) At minimum, my impression of what constitutes a civilized society should include "no killing of own species for entertainment purposes." Part of my depressing view with the Hunger Games is that I haven't heard anything about people rising up to fight the establishment. Well, I mean past what originally created it and caused one district to be wiped out or something?
It's like, well the real world now. >_> Its sucking a bit, but why are most people accepting it?
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Anyway. I just refuse to read the Hunger games. The premise sounds just too depressingly barbaric.
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That it's kids killing kids is the point, I think. We're supposed to be all horrified at the idea of this dystopia, but I totally get that some people would love to actually have it happen =( and I think that's why I can't really figure out how anyone would LOVE the book even if they get that this isn't supposed to be a kind or happy world. *research*
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At minimum, my impression of what constitutes a civilized society should include "no killing of own species for entertainment purposes." Part of my depressing view with the Hunger Games is that I haven't heard anything about people rising up to fight the establishment. Well, I mean past what originally created it and caused one district to be wiped out or something?
It's like, well the real world now. >_>
Its sucking a bit, but why are most people accepting it?
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