I finished my first reading of Sunrise on the Reaping before dawn this morning and have been wrestling with my thoughts about it for most of the day. I’ll try to keep these last Placeholder posts for the second Hunger Games prequels spoiler free before putting together a ‘First Thoughts’ post (and look for Elizabeth Baird-Hardy to do the same).
Today I want to open a thread for a list of the ways in Sunrise that Collins has her characters weaponize art as political protest within their arenas. In the first two books, Katniss sings to the Panem audience from a place where she holds no power and effectively wrests the messaging from the Gamesmakers; Lucy Gray Baird does this in Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The art of theater and of the plastic arts, especially painting, play the same role.
Where do you see this in Sunrise on the Reaping? Maysilee’s artistry is perhaps the best starting point because her art focus has a literal weaponization aspect. Who are the other and more subtle players in this regard?
I’m beginning my first re-read of Sunrise tonight, during which I hope to chart the book and each of its three none-chapter Parts. More tomorrow!
