Listen, I am as excited as anyone for The Hunger Games movie. I have the entire line of nail polish. I bought my “Peeta Has Croissants” T-shirt. I’m having tripped-out dreams about it! But I want to pose a question to you, O YA faithful, about what another mega-franchise like this could do for the books we love.
A small, world-weary part of me is nervous about The Hunger Games movie because I’m not sure non-YA readers are ready. Remember when Twilight came out, and parenting groups were crawling over each other to shout from the rooftops that BELLA IS A BAD INFLUENCE and that YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE IS ALL GROSS AND DARK AND SPARKLES?
It got so bad that Barnes & Noble assumed John Green was writing paranormal.
That talk has subsided of late, at least somewhat (and no, discussions of Fifty Shades of Gray doesn’t count there). But now, what are we following that up with? The YA series where children are forced to kill each other on television.
Do you think people are ready for what this movie is going to be? Do they have any idea?
(These aren’t rhetorical questions! I’d love your opinion!)
I’m not dreading the movie, I’m dreading the first outraged adult to write an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal saying “I was led to believe this movie was about Miley Cyrus’ boyfriend baking pita breads BUT THEN there was moral purpose and I got confused and ANGRY!”
And that’s the last big YA movie that will happen until Fugulus Jace comes along in The Mortal Instruments and THEN we’re going to have Overreactors Incorporated all up in arms about incest, like V.C. Andrews never even happened.
How is The Hunger Games movie franchise going to alter peoples’ perception of YA? Will it be in a good way? I’m worried that the movie based on this book—this ruthless, beautiful book—is going to be used by many as a broad brush with which to paint YA as irresponsible, immoral, and dangerous…again. Are you?
What do you think? We seem to have avoided movie controversy up to this point. Is The Hunger Games the series that will actually give people a better perspective on YA?
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Personally I think no matter what there are going to be those people who complain and make huge generalizations about *insert whoever/group you want*. Like all YA is like this. To me I just ignore them. I think that readers and movie goers are smart enough to know the difference. That everything is different and to look at the product itself as an individual. It’s like the people who write reviews for movies about vampires and start them with ‘I hate vampire movies’, then WHY I ask myself did you even go see it? Then make us listen to you complain when you never gave it a fair break. My point, I know I get lost sometimes, is that there will always be those people…but I think overall (hoping anyways) more people will like it and be lead to read these amazing books and by extension the tons of other books that have a similar feel in one aspect of another, basically find YA!
You’re definitely right, Eve, there’s always going to be haters. And usually it’s easy to ignore them, but there are on occasion those who want to ban books or keep most kids from reading things… that’s when things get intense! But so far I haven’t seen or heard of anyone saying that, so here’s hoping!
And I hope you’re right that the movie introduces a whole new audience to YA books!
As you know, I am a hate-watcher. I see terrible people on television and I watch in horror and disgust, while I mock them, instead of changing the channel. Which means I am no stranger to Toddlers & Tiaras. That show exists. All the time. And it is terrible. Fear Factor is also still happening, and that show is produced by a bunch of sadists. Basically, if someone tried to combine Toddlers & Tiaras and Fear Factor, you would end up with real life Hunger Games.
Since these shows currently exist, it will be really interesting to see the arguments that arise from any Hunger Games backlash.
Yeah, exactly, like people TOTALLY misunderstanding its message and disparaging it for glorifying reality TV or something.
Toddlers and Tiaras + Fear Factor is the most terrifyingly plausible thing I’ve ever considered.
Like the comments above have already said, haters gonna hate. I’m kind of excited because of how the movie might expand the perception of YA to the public at large. Because Twilight is so huge, I feel like a lot of people think YA is just angsty teens, vamps/weres, and love triangles – and while that genre itself is fine, it’s not the end all be all of YA.
On the other hand, I have to admit I’m getting hipster-ish feelings with the approach of the movie because SO MANY people are jumping on this bandwagon. Haha. I’m happy, of course, that so many people are finally discovering these books, but I also have to fight the eye-roll sometimes to see my social network feeds fill with HG-newbie status updates. I’m like, If only you listened to me like two years ago. Haha.
UNRELATED, the nail polishes! I was looking for them this weekend and couldn’t find them! I totally want the matte District 2 one, and I’ve been looking for a nice mauve (District 6?). Which are your favorites, if I may ask?
AH! I totally know where you’re coming from! It’s been crazy to see so many people ask, “Have you heard of these books?” When I’ve been trying to get them to read it for years! Oy!
Oh man, I’m not sure where to find the nail polishes! But I love Smoke & Ashes :)
I’m dreading the first outraged adult to write an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal saying “I was led to believe this movie was about Miley Cyrus’ boyfriend baking pita breads BUT THEN there was moral purpose and I got confused and ANGRY!”
HA. Hahaha. But the sad part is, it WILL happen. There is always someone against something. For everything. (I’m so precise with my words today.)
I’m just going to try to enjoy the ride and not get too worked up either way. But when approached personally, I’ll definitely stand up for Hunger Games — I’m Team Katniss, after all! This isn’t a love triangle with no deeper meaning! — and when fitting, I’ll direct them to this lovely convo I had with a doubting friend via AIM recently. It worked for him. Maybe it will work for others ;)
I loved your AIM convo!! Basically sums up why The Hunger Games is so BAMFy.
“There is always someone against something. For everything.” TRUTH.
“I’m worried that the movie based on this book—this ruthless, beautiful book—is going to be used by many as a broad brush with which to paint YA as irresponsible, immoral, and dangerous…again. Are you?”
I wasn’t, but I am now! The sad fact is that there are always haters, people who will use something popular and/or controversial to push their own agendas. It’s unfortunate and frustrating, but it is what it is. My hope is that people will see this movie and latch on to one of the many aspects of the awesome story, whatever appeals to them. My husband, for example, read the books and loved the action and social commentary. I loved those things too, but I really fell hard for the layered characters and gorgeous writing. I want people to absorb what speaks to them, and not make the movie (or books) an example of what’s right or wrong with YA, teenagers, media, society, etc…
And, I fear I’m rambling. :) But, like Erin, I’m Team Katniss, and I’ll defend The Hunger Games till I’m blue in the face.
I totally agree with you, Katy! Haters gonna hate, but luckily we’ve seen precious few haters so far. (Now, whether that has to do with the fact that the movie is well done is another blog post!)
It does seem like the kind of movie that has enough solid, quality, varied elements to appeal to anyone, and once people take time to understand the story they understand, I think.
Shout it from the rooftops, ladies!!