In our review of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, we examine the role of song in the film as a tool for dissent, the role of heroes and radical symbols, and how Katniss fits into that. We also explore how District 13 uses mass media as a revolutionary strategy, and discuss the different ways the Capitol and District 13 wage war. Finally, we talk through how Mockingjay gives us a stark, real-world look into what it’s like to be a refugee, what real-world regions we’re reminded of as we learn more about District 13, and how…boring and artless District 13 seems, and why that disappoints us.

You can also listen to the show on iTunes, on Stitcher, or YouTube.

Media and Recordings mentioned on the show:

• “Strange Fruit” by Billie Holliday
• “A Las Barriacadas,” sung by anti-fascists during the Spanish Civil War
• The version of “The Hanging Tree” played at the end of the episode was sung by Nina Fernando (CLUE-LA) during a Long Beach Walmart Strike on Black Friday, that came at the end of a 24-hour fast. The audio we played was recorded and edited by Brett Banditelli.
• “I Can’t Breathe” protest song
  • Original song by Luke Nephew of The Peace Poets
  • Performance on the subways of NYC (via Facebook)
  • Samuel L. Jackson Challenges Celebs to Sing “I Can’t Breathe”

Writers and Readings mentioned on the show:

• Jose Martin and Jesse Myerson, “Smashy Smashy: Nine Historical Triumphs to Make You Rethink Property Destruction,” Rolling Stone.
• Re: the gutting of a key piece of Wall Street reform that happened in the year-end spending bill fight:
  • Alexis Goldstein, “Citigroup PR: Stop, You’re Making It Worse,” Bull Market @ Medium.com.
• V. I. Lenin, “Meeting Of The All-Russia Central Executive Committee”
  • Quote referenced by Chepe when we discussed how boring and unlikable District 13’s culture was: “Victory will belong only to those who have faith in the people, those who are immersed in the life-giving spring of popular creativity.”
  • Frantz Fanon, “The Wretched of the Earth” (Powells)

Music featured on today’s show are the songs “Five Armies” and “The Complex” by Kevin MacLeod.

The post The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 Review — Protest Songs and Radical Symbols appeared first on Criticize After Dinner.