Propaganda in Panem: On state violence and shaping reality
Capitol News. With their omnipresent coverage and their saucy slogan, "If you didn't see it here, it didn't happen."
Capitol News. With their omnipresent coverage and their saucy slogan, "If you didn't see it here, it didn't happen."
Oh, it was happening. To him. Now.
He could feel his image going live all over the Capitol. (Collins 48.)
Sure, that slogan sounds salacious with the surface-level implication that Capitol News is always going to be where the action is. But it hides a more sinister meaning when you dig below the surface: The powerful shape reality and you disagree at your own peril. Additionally, it shapes the reality into the form that it would go on to take for the following decades: The Capitol has a monopoly on violence.
In an era where media's influence permeates every facet of our lives, understanding its impact on both society and the individual psyche is paramount. Suzanne Collins' The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes provides a compelling narrative to explore these very dynamics. Set in a dystopian future, the novel is not just a tale of survival and power but also a profound commentary on the role of media in shaping societal narratives.