When a book becomes part of our culture
By Morgan on February 21st, 2012
Is there a specific moment in time we can all point to when a book becomes part of our culture?
As I take a look at the latest Hunger Games news, I can’t help but think that moment is now for the best-selling, award-winning trilogy by Suzanne Collins:
- Today, the Wall Street Journal published “Lions Gate Hungers for a Franchise,” an article about the upcoming “Hunger Games” movie and the recent Lions Gate acquisition of Summit.
- Last week, Publishers Weekly ran “Movie Alert: Hunger Games” in its Children’s Bookshelf section, and on February 9, they ran a piece about the movie tie-in titles, noting, “Who said a trilogy had to stop at three books?”
- Entertainment Weekly put The Hunger Games Illustrated Movie Companion in the Bullseye in the February 24 issue — the back page of their magazine which tracks what people are talking about, calling it “yet another awesome Hunger Games book”
- Elvis Duran at Z100 in NYC has been giving The Hunger Games periodic shout-outs on the air
- “30 Rock’s” Liz Lemon (aka Tina Fey) seems enamored with trilogy—it’s been mentioned on the show twice! (Perhaps a way of thanking “30 Rock” and “Hunger Games” star Elizabeth Banks?)
- On February 14, some media were…shall we say creeped out? to receive a Valentine from President Snow—check out EW.com’s reaction here
- A video parody about The Hunger Games, set to the tune of of Lana del Ray’s “Video Games,” made the rounds
- Even the financial world is talking about it, with CNBC’s Jim Cramer explaining how the movie will “move the needle” for parent company Lions Gate Entertainment in a recent episode of “Mad Money”
- And there are upcoming “Hunger Games” special editions of People Magazine and US Weekly hitting stands March 2, 2012
All these signs (and more I didn’t include) tell me that the story of Katniss, and of Peeta and Gale and Haymitch and Effie and Cinna and so many other characters we can’t get out of our heads or our hearts, is a story that’s seeped into our culture. It’s now a part of our entertainment and media landscape, like so many great books before it. It’s a cultural touchpoint.
What do you think? When does a book become more than “just” a book? When does it become part of who we are as a society?
Posted: February 21st, 2012 under Books. Tags: books, The Hunger Games.
2 comments
Comments
I am very disturbed that our society has embraced such violent entertainment concerning children. We are no better than the society in the”Hunger Games” book exposing children to such disturbing images of violence for entertainment. It feels like a form of child abuse. A civilized educated nation can and should provide better inspiring books than that. I am very disappointed that Scholastic is a part of it.
Comment on February 22, 2012 at 8:22 pm
With all do respect Ann yes it is a very violent book but there is places in this world where that probably happens. All Suzanne Collins is trying to is shed a light on poverty and famine in a more creative way. Yes the books are very volient and graphic but there is a under lying message.
Comment on February 25, 2012 at 1:38 am
