Happy Friday, folks. Now: Who’s ready for some culture jamming?
Today, the year’s most anticipated film, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire hits theaters across the county. It’s the second movie based on young adult author Suzanne Collins’ freakin’ awesome trilogy about a teenage girl named Katniss who sparks open rebellion against the evil and oppressive government. (Yes, I read all three books, and no, I’m not embarrassed by that fact.)
The movie is set in a post-America dystopia called Panem that is divided into thirteen impoverished districts and a grotesquely opulent Capitol. Sure, there’s some fictionalization, but overall the movies’ landscape bears such uncanny resemblance to today’s reality that it’s as if Hollywood just handed us a billion-dollar propaganda video.
And now, people around the country are using culture jamming to turn this blockbuster into a battle cry.
In the latest “selfie” craze, people are taking pictures of themselves raising a three-fingered salute, which is the Hunger Games’ version of a raised fist.
So far, many of the salute-wielding, Katniss-inspired revolutionaries are fellow teenage girls (which is awesome, and another reason that we should see more action movies starring young women). Then again, here’s a photo of Richard Trumpka, president of the AFL-CIO, throwing up the symbol.
Yes, that’s right — the AFL-CIO president did take a “selfie.”
The We Are The Districts Tumblr and hashtag is flooding social media with statistics about how hunger — and other forms of structural violence — are very real off-screen.
Much of the culture jamming is being led by the Harry Potter Alliance, which also created this video connecting the dots between Katniss’ Panem and reality.
Of course, Hollywood is doing its best to hide the fact that the films are about economic inequality and social justice. In the movie’s official social media push, Hollywood has chosen — without a hint of irony — to play the part of the Capitol.
All the more reason to organize a “Hunger is Not A Game” food drive instead of shelling out $13.50 (at least here in New York City) to actually see the movie. Remember: As awesome as the revolution’s special effects probably are, what would be way cooler is making these actions come to life in the streets.
My problem with the three-fingered salute is that it is also a salute for a Burundian political party – Uprona. For many years they were the only legal party, and while the salute does signal unity, the history of that party in power was one of militarized rule and genocidal violence. I doubt I’ll be doing that salute anytime soon as I wouldn’t want anyone to misunderstand my political leanings…
Yolanda,
I would like to offer you a sincere, deep, and heartfelt apology….you, those who have been victims of Uprona, and all those who have been victims of human rights atrocities and genocide.
I am one of the organizers of this campaign and have been asking that everyone, everywhere does the three finger salute as it’s a sign of solidarity in the Hunger Games series. In the books, it’s a message of hope for humanity. Clearly for Uprona – it’s something far different. It is the opposite of hope for humanity.
Reading your response has brought tears to my eyes. A very dear friend who is one of the greatest role models in my life, died in a car accident last year. She was Rwandan though raised in East Congo and had fled to Canada before the genocide that would kill over 80 members of her family in Rwanda. But not before she was tortured by Burundian rebels.
I wish to have no part of any thing that relates back to the evils of Burundi’s old regime, what they did to my friend, and what they did to countless innocent people. Hearing this makes me sick.
I am Jewish. If people in Burundi started promoting a swastika for economic equality I would ask them to change their symbol. I wouldn’t just say, “I’m not participating.” I believe you know that you have every right to ask us to change our symbol.
The trouble is that we’ve already invested so much time and energy and resources into it. And it’s already in the books and in the movie.
I wish there was a way that I can adequately address this dilemma. We obviously had no idea. And I think that’s part of the problem. I think more people in the US and abroad should learn of Burundi’s struggles.
And I think symbols are important and mean something. And I feel shame that I accidentally am part of promoting a symbol with a history of everything that I am against. And I feel an obligation to educate others.
I do not wish to be yet another American activist who would write this off and say, “oh well that’s too bad” even though a part of me wants to. But again, the dilemma is that we have already been using the symbol. Do you have any advice on what to do and how to do address this honestly and head on?
Perhaps if we ask people to doctor their symbols or add something with the word “Hunger Games” in it so that it’s not confused with Uprona and so that it does not do a disservice Uprona’s victims. If there is a way we can use this as an opportunity to create a dialogue and hear more from you – I would love that. I and the organization that I represent stand against tyranny of all kinds. We want to be educated and learn more and fight the awfulness of ignorance, end the muting of voices, unmute the silences of past crimes.
Regardless of the insult that we have accidentally caused you, and obviously it was an accident, your story and history should not be silenced as it continues to be before the world’s theater.
I would truly appreciate hearing more on how we can be of service. Not only in adjusting the symbol to separate it from Uprona’s symbol (and I’m open to suggestions!) but in raising the voice of Burundi to many that we communicate across the globe who have yet to hear the tales of strength and courage, loss and tragedy, struggle and triumphs that those working for freedom and dignity have had in Burundi.
Thank you for your comment and I am beyond sorry for saying something that could cause insult to injury. Tears fill my eyes again as I think of my friend who I lost last year who nearly two decades ago was tortured by Burundian rebels. Thank you for the opportunity to learn more. Please let me know any thoughts or feelings you have and suggestions on how we can move forward.
With love,
Andrew Slack
The Harry Potter Alliance
Executive Director
Hey, thanks for taking the time to respond, and for really thinking about what symbols are and the power they can have. I didn’t expect such a detailed and long reply. Unfortunately, I don’t think my reply will be as well thought through – since I am trying to finish up something before a deadline tomorrow, and was just taking a short internet break when I read this article… Perhaps my first comment was a bit too simplistic.
I want to be clear that I am not painting UPRONA with broad strokes. The party, like all political parties, has had internal tensions throughout it’s existence. UPRONA was one of the parties that was very much involved in the independence movement in Burundi, and in the beginning was quite successful in uniting many people regardless of ethnicization.
It is a current political party, active in the opposition, and many in Burundi find hope in what that party has to say today, and do think that by returning to it’s initial message during the independence period. Though some in that party were involved in a previous regime that did terrible things, many were not, especially as for a long time it was the only legal party. Certainly, terrible things happened, including genocidal violence and militarization of the country under successive Uprona dictatorships.
The symbol was initially meant to be one of unity of what are described as the three main ethnic groups of Burundi when Burundi was young in its independence from colonial rule; however, as with many symbols, it came to mean different things to different people over time, particularly after the party became co-opted as the only party under military rule, and poignantly in 1972 when the military regime killed tens of thousands, and displaced hundreds of thousands (some of whom remain refugees today). But later the party was involved in the peace making process and is signatory to the Arusha accords for peace and reconciliation. The party, while officially multi-ethnic today, retains a sort of mono-ethnic predominance to many. So… I don’t know…
(But all of this is so complicated that an internet comment is not a good place to discuss it. For more about this history I would read Patricia Daley’s book, or Lemarchand, both of whom write well on Burundi.)
I don’t know whether the whole movement has to toss that symbol, and I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions. If the movement you are part of is meant to be US based, perhaps it is not a problem? I don’t know.
Even the simplest symbols can mean different things in different places, which is part of the diversity of humanity. Perhaps it just needs to be very clear what the symbol does mean, in this context. Which is more about what the movement means and to what it aspires?
Because of my ties to Burundi, I do not feel comfortable making that symbol, as it could be construed as a political message of affiliation with a political party, when I do not adhere to or openly favour any particular political party in Burundi. But, that doesn’t mean that I don’t think that symbols can’t be changed, or mean other things in other contexts. It just won’t work in a Burundian context, but let’s be honest – this whole thing is more North American/European based anyway, right? I’m not sure… Anyway, that’s my two cents for this internet “conversation” – just pointing out that symbol means other things in a different context.
I’m also working right up against deadlines (I kid myself that I do my best work that way). I simply must, however take a moment to express my pleasure and gratitude for the exchange between Yolanda and Andrew.
Thank you, thank you for making and taking the time to be human!
I usually make it a point to avoid the ‘bottom half of the internet.’ It is typically a waste of my time and saps my energy. Somehow, perhaps because I needed just a little procrastination, I found your heartening and thoughtful dialog here. It may change my mind about internet comments for some time to come!
May you both be well,
peace ant
I was startled when first I saw the 3-finger salute, as I associated it with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in the U. S.
(Full disclosure: I was a Girl Scout 60 years ago.)
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