2013-71244

STS THY 

Reaction Paper for Catching Fire

I can say that Catching Fire is a science fiction movie. The force field covering the arena in the Games—how they can be seen (as told by Wiress), their "chinks in the armor", and how Beetee harnessed lightning, with Katniss directing this lightning right into the field's weak spot—truly shows elements of science fiction. I also think Panem's technology (particularly the Capitol's) adds to that.

Panem's society is a dystopia. Somehow it shows that something went wrong along history—how society started from self-government to little communities, to monarchies then to today's governments...then came the apocalypse, and Panem was formed, with an all-powerful Capitol oppressing the 12 Districts (District 13 was "destroyed" prior to the start of the Games). Since we won't really know what the future of the world will be, let's just hope that society improves for the better and not degenerate into something like Panem.

Science and technology succeeded in the Capitol viewpoint. They used science and technology to get what they wanted, at the expense of the Districts. However, in the 13 Districts, this was used against them: to impoverish them, to reduce them to subservience to the Capitol, to get their resources extorted, and to develop antagonism between the districts themselves. As a society, they failed too because of said reasons. 

But now that District 13 has made itself known (at least to some of the tributes), it seems that they're finally learning to use science and technology to fight back—and to eventually create a new society far better than what the Capitol had made.

2013-68149
CATCHING FIRE REACTION PAPER

The Hunger Games Trilogy’s second installment Catching Fire surely did not disappoint each and every one of its fans. From the love triangle of Katniss, Peeta, and Gale to its really epic revolutionary ending, you just can’t get enough of this wonderful film. This movie is about the journey and struggles of Katniss Everdeen after winning in the 74^th Hunger Games. It introduced the start of the revolution in its ending.

For me, science fiction (sci-fi) is very futuristic, as evident in the film. According to Wikipedia, sci-fi deals with futuristic settings and futuristic science and technology. The movie involves scientific innovations such as the guard’s protective gear and guns, the tracker used to know where the tributes are, and even the game arena itself. Remember that Katniss outsmarted the actual game by throwing an arrow with the coil up in the air to destroy the force field. It involved scientific concepts that we may still not know until now. “Exploring the consequences of scientific innovations is one purpose of science fiction, making it a literature of ideas.” (Wikipedia) In the case of the movie, scientific innovations both failed in the world of the thirteen districts and succeeded in the world of the Capitol. If it weren’t for the scientific innovations, then the Capitol wouldn’t have had enough power to control the whole America. And same goes with the thirteen districts. If it weren’t for the scientific innovations, then the thirteen districts wouldn’t have suffered and thought of a revolution to the Capitol and Panem. Those scientific innovations killed people, both innocent and evil.

This film is a commentary on the future of the human society. It simply tells us to not be blinded by the power of science to our society. Yes, science is beneficial, but always remember that too much is never too good. 

Reference:

URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catching_Fire. Date Accessed: December 4, 2013.

Catching Fire and Our World Today by Nicah Santos

The film Catching Fire is science fiction because the props in it include technology that we do not have and have never had such as the 3-D battle simulator and the fully-manipulable game stadium. All these pieces of technology are, at this time, beyond the knowledge and abilities of scientists and engineers today. This brings me to conclude that Catching Fire and the whole Hunger Games trilogy is set in a future human society. Panem, I imagine, is the United States of America many years from now after the rise of a government that has lost sight of democracy.

The Hunger Games franchise, I believe, is a commentary on not just future, but past and present human society. It touches on present society because of the class stratification in which the extremes of rich and poor are a harsh reality, and the depictions of human interactions that are very relatable to us today. It also hints at the past when war and uprisings were prevalent and historic. The past is also brought back in that, as I mentioned earlier, democracy and equality are concepts that are neither visible nor practiced in society. This lack of the concept of human dignity is reminiscent of a previous age where dictatorship was widely practiced, and the subjugation of other peoples was power.

Panem with its 13 stratified Districts are an example of failing science, technology, and society. It is obvious from a political point of view why it is a failing society: Panem’s government constantly fears the possibility of an uprising from the districts that it sets up the annual games to subdue them and strike fear into their hearts. For the most part, this works, and Panem’s people live either miserably or blindly, depending on what end of the political spectrum they are in. However, when it comes to science, technology, and society collectively, we see failure in that only the upper class Districts experience the benefits of science and technology. The “haves” can enjoy the pleasure of hi-tech clothing, housing, food, and medicine, while the “have nots” sew their clothes, construct their houses, hunt their food, and grow or find their medicine in their backyards as if they were living in a totally different society. A society in which there is extremely advanced science and technology that is only benefited from by a small population is a failing one.

All in all, here is what I have to say about Catching Fire: It was an excellent movie that does not only entertain but encourages us to reflect on the state of our world and our communities.

Nicole Catrina P. Santos

2012-63269

Reaction Paper: Catching Fire

MARQUEZ, Kristina Patriz S.
2013-48674
STS-THY
Reaction Paper: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

     I consider the movie, Catching Fire, as a science fiction film. Science fiction films use futuristic settings, especially in the field of science and technology. These settings and elements are usually used to explore consequences of science innovations and its effects on our established society.

     Science fiction films depict the possible future world. Though it is fair to say that it uses as much as imagination as fantasy films do, it is more realistic because it bases on the available technology we have, and on the nature and values of our society today— that was what Catching Fire for me was.

     For us of our time, the film may seem so surreal because of the irony it depicts (the unjust government and the American setting), but it is greatly undeniable that a slight possibility of that happening is an absolute 0%.

     For me, the most striking statement of film was its depiction of the existence of injustice regardless of the time and place (from the past, in the present, and in the future) without failure, and how its form remained unchanged – its stand between men of the same blood and existence among men of the same land.

     Catching Fire depicts the presence of corrupted, power-thirsty authority - which in the past and until now has caused failures and breakdowns of different groups, of different societies – and the presence of the undying social hierarchy. Though it can be considered a commentary on the past and present human society, it most certainly is a commentary on the future, on how we could become, how our future can be as depicted in the Hunger Games series.

     I don’t believe that the depicted technology in the film failed when it was able to give comfort and add efficiency in the characters’ lives; in my point of view, technology (regardless of its availability) in general is not something that is offered to just anyone but it is more of a something that is offered to those who can afford it. On the other hand, I think that it is the depicted society that had failed. I think that its failure was only magnified through the power of the available technology and through the undying discriminations due to social hierarchy. Science and Technology and the Society failed not because of the advance science and technology but because of its availability and “label”(something that can only be in the hands of those who have the power and money) and the abusive humans who are at the top of the hierarchy.

Reaction Paper: Catching Fire

Bonostro, Jeric B.

2013-23838

STS-THY

Reaction Paper: Catching Fire (Film)

Oxford University Press (2013) defines science fiction as a type of fiction that imagines the advances in science and technology and the future changes in the society and the environment. From this, it can be inferred that Catching Fire is a science fiction. These changes and advances in science, technology, society and the environment can be seen in the film. The arena, which had poisonous fog, mimicking jabberjays, controlled waves and a force field, shows technology that does not exist today. The society was also different from what there is now– or what there was before, e.g. the annual Hunger Games, the divided districts, the government and the Capitol.

Although it can be said that Catching Fire is futuristic because of the advances mentioned, the film also represents some of the past and the present human society. The Tributes (esp. the Careers) in the hunger games can be compared to the Gladiators in the early centuries; they were made to fight till death, some were trained as professionals and they had sponsors. Both the Capitol and Rome used watched these as entertainment. Today’s society can be compared to the film– social classes exist, there is no equality, and the government is all too powerful. Most importantly, living was a survival of the fittest.

In this dystopian world, science, technology and society failed. Instead of science and technology being useful, they were used to harm. Science and technology was used to manipulate, to kill and to destroy. They were used for selfish needs. Then there was the society which was in chaos. This is why a rebellion was ignited because Katniss Everdeen brought a beacon of hope to the people and in that moment, they knew it was time for a change in the system. If this rebellion manages to fix the current situation, this society may succeed.

Reaction Paper (Catching Fire)

2013-49565

“Ladies and gentlemen, let the Seventy-fifth Hunger Games begin!” Boom! The gong sounds and I am glued to my seat as I watch the film version of Caching Fire, the second in the series of movies based on Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games Trilogy.

Catching Fire is a science fiction movie but with romantic elements. It is set in the future in a post-apocalyptic society. There are multiple odd devices and weapons that are impossible right now.  There also a number of made up creatures like genetically enhanced monkeys and mockingjays. The arena was a product of advanced technology; the revolving clock at the centre of the arena and the lethal gas.

The film is a commentary on human society based on its past, present and future.   Panem resembles a place of the past under a rule of an absolute monarchy. Also, the film could also refer to ancient Rome, wherein warriors like the tributes are at war and are more barbaric rather than civilized people. It also depicted the present situation of the world we have now. Like the districts, there are informal settlers or urban poor living almost everywhere. There are different social classes conflicting- the favoured, bourgeois class and the poor/middle class.

And lastly, that of the future was evidently shown. It is because of the technological developments such as holograms and force fields.

Science, Technology and Society failed in the world of the 13 districts. The Capitol has access to technological advancement and benefits. It was used in a way that caused a lot of destruction to people of Panem. The welfare of the citizens of Panem are not taken care of because they are used like slaves. The developments and inventions are only utilized by the Capitol and the people did not benefit much from these.

Catching Fire was very impressive, better than the first film in the series. It is one of those more iconic and memorable films of this year. In the end, I found myself cheering and clapping for Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire. 

Catching Fire

          * Again, this is the reaction of another member of our group who hasn't been added yet.
2013-41509

       After watching Hunger Games: Catching Fire, I can assure you that this movie is a science fiction. The movie clearly shows what a science fiction is. It can be proven by those very advance technology used in the movie. Examples of those advance technology are the futuristic train, the arena where the battle was held, and the training ground where the tributes practice. The arena was a complete product of technology, the revolving clock at the center of the arena, lightning that struck inside, the tidal wave, the poisonous gas, and others.

                The movie was commentary on past, present and future because some parts from the movie depicts characteristics of how was life on that time period. An example that would depict the life in the past is during the hunger games, the tributes are shown to be more barbaric rather than civilized people. The tributes used some adaptive behavior just to survive the battle like the use of camouflage, having sharp teeth and the likes. It also depicted the present because, similar to the situation of the districts and the world we have right now. The districts also has slums and a working class. And lastly the depiction of the future, the future was depicted very clearly due to the fact that the entire movie had shown the use of futuristic devices and very advanced technology. Even during the battle, technology played a big part there.

                The technology did not succeed on all the district because some technology were destroyed by some people living there. Even the arena was destroyed by the main protagonist. The technology they have was not enough to prevent a rebellion from coming.

Or, Why Reality TV is a Bad Idea: Catching Fire Reaction Paper

2013-14710

BACONGUIS, LIANA ISABELLE T.

STS - THY

Reaction Paper: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Catching Fire, the sequel to last year’s The Hunger Games, doesn’t exactly fit in with the common perception of science fiction – it certainly doesn't have the grandiose space battles of the recently-released hard science fiction work Ender’s Game.

But “sci-fi” is a very broad genre, and can be defined as any work which makes use of the consequences of scientific innovation – something Catching Fire does very well, with all the shots of the Gamemakers flicking away at their high-technology screens, having dangerous threats materialize at the push of a button, or the squeaky-clean Capitol architecture typical of dystopian societies. However, at its core, it is a story of hope and loss, of free will in totalitarianism, of war and gritty bloodshed and the crumbling of seats of power, all experienced through the very human, very broken lens of one Katniss Everdeen – therefore, I don’t think it’s a science fiction work, but a humanist work with science fiction elements.

The impressive S&T in the film is used to underscore several important points - one, the disparity between the glitzy, high-tech Capitol and the beatdown podunks that are the outlying districts; the Capitol is streamlined and glamorous, while District 12 looks like something out of an 1800s Midwestern. Two, innovation in the film is presented as positive - Beetee’s strategies, given the structure of the arena and what he has on hand, and the way they’re played out are great. Three, enforcement of technology is what keeps the Capitol’s oppressive upper crust in power – Snow has cameras everywhere, and the Peacekeepers employ tanks and high-end guns – and yet, the rebels’ embracing it is also what leads to the Capitol’s failure and the rebels’ (partial) success. Not only does it succeed – and fantastically so – in-universe, Catching Fire’s science and technology also succeeds on a meta level, celebrating what science has and can do for society.

While the society presented is certainly futuristic, given the amount of technology far beyond our current reach, I don’t think it’s as easily categorized as it seems. Most dystopian fiction is written to prove a point - Orwell was anti-Communist, Huxley was anti-Communist and anti-capitalist. Catching Fire and the rest of the series exploit some of our current society’s most negative traits - our obsession with physical beauty, our willingness to eat up television (reality TV especially, something the eponymous Hunger Games can be seen as an analogue to), our elite-centric systems of power (and subsequently the unwillingness of those in charge to help those in need), corrupt politicians, rampant classism even in suffering – and adds a dash of past to it (the Hunger Games are reminiscent of the Tenochtitlan Wars of Flowers) in order to create a futuristic society we, readers in the present, are supposed to find horrific. Panem society is not necessarily representative of any time period – rather, it shows us a picture of what we could become.

Reaction Paper for Catching Fire: 2013-72071

Name: Fabia, Bianca Anne M.

Student No.: 2013-72071

Section: THY

Reaction Paper for Catching Fire

            The movie Catching Fire is the sequel of the movie The Hunger Games. It’s about the life of Katniss Everdeen in the post-apocalyptic world of Panem. It starts from where the first movie left of.

            I think that Catching Fire can be considered a science fiction movie because according to the website merriam-webster.com, science fiction is defined by stories about how people and societies are affected by imaginary scientific developments in the future. Another definition that they gave was it is a fiction dealing principally with the impact of actual or imagined science on society or individuals or having a scientific factor as an essential orienting component. And the scientific factor in it that affected the society was the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games involves a lot of science and technology during the games itself because everything that happens in the arena is manipulated by the game-makers. Of course, we all know that the games impact a lot of people in Panem because most children in the twelve districts sign up or are required to sign up once they reach a certain age.

            I think that Catching Fire has a commentary on the past, present and future society. I think that its message was how society could destroy itself by being too greedy and power-hungry which of course we saw in the past civilizations. Once the rulers let the power and wealth get to their heads, the society starts to unfold. It also showed that when you oppress the people, there will come a time when they would have enough of it and they’d start to rebel against the tyranny. In the movie, we saw how the Capitol treated the people and we can clearly see why they would eventually want to revolt against it. We could also notice that the farther they lived from the Capitol the harder their lives are.

I think it also comments about the problem of poverty probable effects on the people. Poverty has always been around and probably would always be around because it’s not something that the government could control entirely since it also comes down to us, as a whole. In the movie, it showed that people in the farther districts, like District 12, would do anything to get food and money because we can see that life is really hard for them. By joining the games, they get these needs. So from that, I noticed that when you’re poor you’d do anything to alleviate your sufferings even if it means you’re risking your life.

            I think that science and technology in their society failed because it was used in a way that caused harm to a lot of people. I believe that if science and technology isn’t really used to improve the society or the people’s quality of life, then it is a fail because I think that its main purpose is to create a better society.