Although the plot structures of Battle Royale and The Hunger Games parallel quite similarly, The way in which the messages and stories are presented are quite different. In Battle Royale (2000) there are elements of intentional-camp that serve to break stereotypes of gender role in the slasher teen genre. In The Hunger Games (2012) there are elements of unintentional-camp that serve to engage the younger audience, but are seen as comical to a maturer audience.
In looking at the cinematography of Battle Royale we notice that the camera does little to hide any bloodshed within the film. The viewer clearly sees limbs being cut and bodies being riddled with bullets. Whereas, in The Hunger Games, the camera starts to shake violently when fight scenes unfold, censoring a large portion of the action. This shakiness of the camera engages the audience to feel like they’re in on the action, but to a mature viewer this technique seems cheesy because it shows that the action wasn’t choreographed well and serves to censor any gruesome violence. You can see the difference in camera movement through the links provided here:
In Battle Royale the film breaks stereotypes of gender roles in slasher teen films and stereotypes of Japanese women. If we look at one of the girls in Battle Royale we’ll notice that Chigusa trains for some kind of marathon. It’s obvious to the viewer that this character acts abnormal because she seems to have no care of her inevitable death (all characters have timed-bombs strapped to their necks). She runs around in the arena in an all yellow jumpsuit as if enticing her enemies to come fight her. She is later approached by a boy who tries to make sexual congress with her. Chigusa is barely scratched on the face by the boy which inflicts her to stab him multiple times in the groin. There are other female characters that take on roles of confident and independent individuals. I believe the director was trying to demonstrate a more independent and self-thinking generation to Japan. The confident female characters in Battle Royale break the stereotype that all Japanese women are polite, sweet, and dependent on others. These dominant female characters also break into every social circle by seducing boys or befriending lonely classmates, which breaks another stereotype that Japanese women have social inabilities. The film also breaks the the stereotypes of gender roles in teenage slasher films by showing the female as the murderer rather than the victim.
- Tristan Vranizan
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This was a really interesting post to read - your links really helped me see clearly what you were getting at. Your article made me really fascinated in how Battle Royale was received in Japan - especially considering how it went against social norms in so many ways. Great job!
ReplyDeleteThis was very interesting. I have never seen Battle Royale, but I have always wanted to see it. This article makes me want to see it more. I like the idea that Battle Royale breaks gender roles and the stereotypes surrounding Japanese women. Do you think The Hunger Games addressed gender roles/stereotypes in any way?
ReplyDeleteI think these two version's difference is Japan version focus on human nature, but US version focus on anti collective power,the first one describe people's inner distort during the massacre, but US version prefer how do these people against a strong collective power
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