Cheating against the machine: Reclaiming (game) space in The Hunger Games

Anh-Thu Nguyen

doi:10.7557/23.7909

Authors

Anh-Thu Nguyen Ritsumeikan University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4737-9292

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7557/23.7909

Keywords:

The Hunger Games, battle royale, game space, cheating

Abstract

This paper explores the arena of The Hunger Games series (2008–2010) as game space, focusing on power dynamics between the Capitol and the tributes. The Hunger Games, as a televised deathmatch, exemplifies a battle royale setting orchestrated by a totalitarian regime to maintain control over subjugated districts through a brutal spectacle. This analysis examines the Capitol’s oppressive control, reflected in the meticulously designed arena—a setting where tributes are subjected to constant surveillance and manipulated by the Gamemakers to maximize entertainment value. Using Michael Nitsche’s framework of video game spaces, the analysis dissects the arena as rule-based, mediated, fictional, social, and play space, each aspect reinforcing the Capitol’s authority. In spite of this, tributes like Katniss Everdeen reclaim limited agency through acts of defiance and exploitation of the arena’s inherent flaws, allowing resistance from within the game system through cheating and deception.

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