Hope is a tool that can be used to ignite change

• The term hope refers to: -A feeling of desire for something and confidence in the possibility of its fulfilment- A feeling of desire for something and confidence in the possibility of its fulfilment• At different times in our lives we have all hoped for something or had

hope in something. Hope provides an ideal to keep moving towards or the motivation to continue on for the possibility of a better situation

• The feature film the Hunger Games has a heavy focus on hope particularly the idea that ‘hope ignites and flames change’

• The scene in President Snows’ garden particularly iterates the idea that hope can cause change in his very evident fear that Katniss has raised hope in the populations and will cause rebellion and worse yet fracture his carefully constructed society.

• The scene I have chosen to analyse is the scene in President Snow’s garden in which he is talking to Seneca Crane; the head game maker. During this scene, President Snow is detailing the danger that too much hope can pose and why a little is good but too much can be disastrous.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCdThBFXWIk

Technical codes:

Within this scene close up camera shots are utilised heavily, particularly employed in conjunction with subjective and reaction shots

Close up subjective shot

Close up reaction shot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCdThBFXWIk

If we watch again, you notice that the camera also moves to present a medium shot of President Snow clipping his single, white rose, as he talks about the dangers of hope and how it needs to be contained. The cameras inclusion of the white rose and President Snows’ actions with it reveal it as an important part of this scene as it merited camera time.

The shot of President Snow’s rose and clippers is timed to perfectly fit in with the audio of the clip. As President Snow can be heard talking about the strength of hope and that a little is good but a lot is not the camera moves to show him pruning his single white rose; containing the hope.

“It is the only thing stronger than fear. A little hope is effective, a lot of hope is dangerous. A spark is fine…as long as it is contained”

Audio codes:

Speech:• In this scene the dialogue between President Snow and Seneca is important

to revealing the idea that hope can act as a spark in igniting change and even rebellion

• President Snow in his explanation of hope even seems wary or scared of the prospect of the citizens of Panem grasping on to more hope than can be dealt with.

• The fact that Seneca in his speech appears unaware of the impact hope can have reveals the ruthless nature of President Snow in that he has considered the effects of hope and aligned the games to allow only a slither that can be managed and maintain his image as saviour and ruler.

Symbols: The White Rose:-White roses are typically symbolic of love, virtue, innocence and hopeIn this scene we can see President Snow tending to a single white rose, clipping and plucking off its leaves ; as though he were plucking every seed of hope until there is just enough that it can be contained.

Setting:• This scene is set in President Snow’s rose garden; it is

exceptionally serene and beautiful and untainted by the deceptive ruthless nature of its owner. In fact it provides a stark contrast to the outside world and the Games which President Snow holds in as much regard as it would appear his garden.

• Furthermore, this scene takes place following the death of rue and subsequent uprising in district 11. the actions taken by President Snow and Seneca during this time will be pivotal to inciting rebellion or quelling it. During this scene the setting has forced the characters to action:

-President Snow felt the need to summon Seneca and remind him of the strength of fear and the need to “contain it” -Fear of a martyr and hope spreading forces them to allow Katniss to live.

Characters:• There are two characters present within this scene; Seneca the

game maker and President Snow

• Seneca is the game maker for the current hunger Games. In this scene he has been ‘summoned’ by President snow to discuss the actions of Katniss and killing her off.

• From Seneca’s body language in this clip we know that he feels uncomfortable in the presence of President Snow and had never considered why there is always a winner in the games. his facial expressions also imply confusion.

• President Snow is the President of Panem; he lives in the wealthy capitol and controls the lives of everyone in the districts. President Snows’ cold presence and expressionless face reveal his ruthless nature as he talks about the effects hope can have

Context• The idea that hope within a society can spark change and rebellion is not

new nor unique to The Hunger Games.• Hope is often the tool that sparks social change. Take for example the

Russian revolution. Dissatisfied with their living conditions and the complete inequality between classes, the Russian people saw hope for a better life in the work of Karl Marx and communism’s promise of equality and the rise of the working class. Whilst countless opportunities existed for the monarchy to quell this hope by offering better work conditions, allocating greater rights to people or instituting a form of social welfare. Instead a lack of action and deterioration of conditions made the hope of a better life offered by communism a real option for the Russian people. The result a bloody revolution and take over that saw the royal family deposed and eventually murdered.