 |
| Sumber: Doc |
The theory of Marxism developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels focuses on the social and economic inequalities resulting from the capitalist system, which structurally divides society into bourgeoisie (rulers) and proletariat (workers) classes. Through this understanding, Marxism highlights how capitalism creates a relationship of domination, where the ruling class monopolizes the means of production and exploits the labor of the working class. One of the central concepts of Marxism is class struggle, a clash between social classes due to injustice, which is expected to bring about social change. In the context of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, wee see that Panem is created as a reflection of a capitalist dystopia with extreme exploitation, where resource-rich districts are pressured by the Capitol to produce commodities to fulfill the needs of a luxurious lifestyle. Through this perspective, the following analysis will look at how the film frames the role of exploitative power, ideological control, and class consciousness in the context of an unjust world.
Social Class Construction in Panem
In Panem, the Capitol controls the entire region, economically, socially, and politically. As the center of power, the Capitol symbolizes luxury, power, and domination. The city monopolizes all the products produced by the districts, while other districts function as subordinate regions that produce commodities to fulfill the needs of the Capitol population. This situation is similar to the way capitalist countries control resource-rich countries.
In Marxist theory, the relationship between the ruling class and the working class is based on a relationship of exploitation. In Panem, the districts have no control over their own production; they are only given a small amount of the resources produced to survive, while the production is sent to the Capitol. In this film, we can see how the Capitol’s dependence on district production creates a stark imbalance in the distribution of wealth. In other words, the bourgeoisie extracts more value from the proletariat and oppresses them by limiting access to the products of their own labor. Moreover, this oppression is multidimensional. In real situations, it is not only economic, but also social and political aspects that create this inequality. For example, the districts have limited access to education, while the Capitol has all the facilities. This is a form of ideological control exercised by the Capitol, ensuring that the districts remain under their domination.
Coriolonus Snow as Bourgeoisie Symbol and Ideological Object
Coriolanus Snow when he was young is the center of the narrative in this film. At first, Snow appears to be a victim of poverty after his family loses their wealth after the war in Panem. However, Snow’s interest in power and his ambition to maintain his position reflect the interests of the bourgeoisie class who do not want to lose their status and dominance. Snow represents the bourgeoisie class that runs the capitalist system, even though he realizes the injustices that occur. In the film, we see how Snow gradually adapts to bourgeoisie values to survive in the Capitol. His decision to support this system, including agreeing to violent and exploitative programs like the Hunger Games, shows how a person can transform from a seemingly sympathetic individual to an agent of repressive power.
Marxism views individuals like Snow as products of the Capitalist system, who ultimately absorb the values of the bourgeoisie and participate in the oppression of the working class. As time goes on, Snow becomes more comfortable with the actions he takes to maintain the Capitol’s dominance over the district. This shows how agents of the bourgeoisie, whether consciously or unconsciously, will eventually support the existing system in order to maintain their power and status.
Hunger Games as Ideological State Apparatus
Althusser, a Marxist philosopher, introduced the concept of Ideological State Apparatus (ISA) to explain how power is maintained through ideology rather than violence. In this film, the Hunger Games function as an ISA used by the Capitol to control the consciousness of the district’s citizens. The games are not only a spectacle for the residents of the Capitol, but also a tool to instill fear in the districts.
The Capitol controls the narrative of the games by encouraging the districts to fight each other for survival, inhibiting solidarity between them. Hunger Games creates the illusion that the districts are a threat to each other, not to the Capitol. In this way, theCapitol manages to divide and rule the districts, preventing them from realizing that the source of their oppression is actually the Capitol.. In addition, Hunger Games shows how the bourgeoisie uses culture and media as tools to reinforce their ideology and continue oppression. Through the games, the Capitol asserts its dominance and ensures that the district residents continue to live in fear. This reduces the possibility of collective resistance and ensures that they never have the opportunity to question the injustices in the system.
Class Consciousness and Resistance in the Character of Lucy Gray Baird
Lucy Gray, who is tribute to district 12, represents the proletarian class that is beginning to realize the injustice they are experiencing. Lucy Gray has an awareness of the conditions of exploitation and shows the courage to resist. Although she does not have the political power or physical strength to fight the Capitol directly, her courage and critical attitude towards the Hunger Games shows the growing class consciousness that will develop in the future.
The concept of class consciousness in Marxism is when the working class or proletariat realize that they are being oppressed by the capitalist system, which then encourages them to fight back. Lucy Gray’s case, her critical attitude towards the Capitol became a representation of class struggle. Although she has not yet reached the revolutionary stage, her courage shows the potential for resistance to the Capitol that will later grow in the narrative of the Hunger Games. This class consciousness is a threat to the capitol, which essentially needs the districts to remain in a state of fear and dependance. Lucy Gray’s resistance symbolically shows that class consciousness and the rejection of oppressive ideologies are the first steps in the struggle against oppressive power.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes presents an in-depth exploration of social inequality, oppression, and class struggle rooted in a capitalist dystopian society. Using Marxist theory, we can understand the film as a critique of capitalistic exploitation and ideological control. Through the story of Coriolanus Snow and the relationship between the Capitol and the districts, the film shows how the power structure uses repressive and ideological tools to maintain the status quo and exploit the working class. The Hunger Games as an ideological tool shows how bourgeoisie power can use culture to maintain its dominance, while characters like Lucy Gray Baird highlight the importance of class consciousness in resisting oppression. From a Marxist perspective, the film represents a capitalistic dystopia where inequality and violence become tools to maintain power.
Overall, the film is not only entertainment, but also a critique of the capitalist system that has the potential to oppress and exploit, reminding us of the importance of class consciousness and struggle in the face of social injustice. Through the story ofPanem, we can see how art can be a medium to voice criticism of social inequality, raise awareness, and ultimately, inspire change.
