Critical Context: Costuming the Revolution the Female Spectacle of Rebellion

The essay I chose to write about is titled “Costuming the Revolution the Female Spectacle of Rebellion”.  It focuses on how important the clothing Katniss wore is to the rebellion of Panem.  The essay talks about how throughout the book Katniss was never really concerned with what she was wearing.  When she was out hunting for food with Gale she wore practical clothing that was comfortable.  Once Katniss is chosen for the games and Cinna becomes her stylist he slowly begins to transform her into a symbol of revolution, the mockingjay. 

Amy Montz the author of the essay draws some really great parallels between the way Katniss is dressed for the games and how women use clothing and their bodies as ways of protest today.  Montz talks about how Slutwalks are becoming more and more popular around the United States.  Slutwalks are protests in which women dress however they choose.  It can range from very minimal clothing to casual everyday shirt and jeans to a burkas if they choose to.  The main purpose of these protests to make it known that just because a women is dressed a certain way doesn’t mean she deserves to be raped.  Montz makes a clear point saying, "...Slutwalk protesters ultimately turn their viewers' attention to the ridiculousness of the proclamation that a victim of rape could be "asking for it" by the way she dresses" (Montz 142). These walks/protests are a way for women to ban together and make a stand about the way they choose to dress.  Much like how Katniss and Cinna used her fire dress and interview with Claudius Templesmith to make the people of Panem fall in love with her and her story of being a star crossed lover with Peeta.     

The author goes on to talk about how the clothing Katniss wears becomes a symbol of change and hope for all of the districts.  Although Katniss doesn’t really care what she looks like or what she wears throughout most of the book, the people of Panem do.  They see her as a face of revolution.  At one point in the book Katniss is told she is too valuable to actually do any fighting.  It’s upsetting to her to realize that her only real part of the revolution is to look pretty.  Montz states, "While (Katniss) seems quite capable and willing to participate in the rebellion, at no point is she eager to lead it.  Nor, it seems, is Katniss willing to be its poster child" (Montz 144).  Katniss wants a revolution, but she is reluctant to be its leader.  

I agree with what the author of the essay is saying. I tend to pay more attention to the overall plot of a book and overlook details like clothing.  When I read the book for the second time and saw the movie it was much more obvious to me how important Katniss’ clothing actually is. The essay talks about how the way characters are dressed throughout the book effects certain outcomes.  When Prim is chosen for the reaping the back of her shirt is untucked, when Katniss sees that she immediately volunteers to replace her sister.  The outfit Katniss wore at the opening ceremonies catches everyone’s attention.  Lastly, her fire dress makes the people of Panem like her even more.  If Cinna wouldn’t have been Katniss’ stylist or just put her in a coal miner outfit the revolution probably wouldn’t have happened.  It’s strange to think that the things we wear can be seen as anything other than clothing but as the Slutwalk and Katniss prove they can be. 

2011 Slutwalk in Dallis, TX

Citation

Montz, Amy. "Costuming the Resistance The Female Spectacle of Rebellion." Of Bread, Blood and The Hunger Games: Critical Essays on the Suzanne Collins Trilogy. Eds. Mary F. Pharr and Leisa A. Clark. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2012. Page numbers start-end of article. Print.