Yet, this suspicion was not without reason. The defensive stance of Church was occasioned by the abuse of the new printing technology. Many used the press mainly for material profit and social influence. For instance, Popes Gregory XVI and Pius IX (1830-1878) suffered from antipapal and anti-Church sentiments that the press propagated by portraying them as antagonists to the emerging nationalistic and democratic movements in Europe. Now, in the film, Katniss changed the rules of the game. Through her gracious character, she circumvented the manipulations of the Capitol in Hunger Games. Amid terror and pain, she took advantage of the television coverage to send messages of hope, justice, and truth to her people and to the leaders of the totalitarian government. She stood strong, compelling, and edifying even as she and the other tributes fought and murdered each other like animals. As much as possible, she evaded her opponents and caused less harm; if she killed another tribute, it was only to defend herself.
One emotionally compelling scene was when she shared food with a girl from another district instead of treating her as an enemy. She rescued her when she got trapped, sang her a lullaby as she lay dying, mourned over her death, and gave her a decent burial. Towards the climax of the film, Katniss and her fellow District 12 tribute, Peeta, attempted to outwit the Capitol from declaring a winner. They planned to eat a poisonous fruit together so their common death would yield no victor and effectively put the Capitol to shame. Sensing their brazen attempt, the Capitol declared both of them as winners of the Hunger Games. Katniss revolutionized the game and showed to the powerful and oppressive leaders of the Capitol that they, the poor from the Districts, have the power of self-determination. Her courage eventually stirred the people of the Districts to a start a revolution against the injustice caused by the Hunger Games. Her character proved her to be a true heroine who knows
what she is fighting for in the arena— not riches, power, fame or pride for her district but justice, selfless love, and authentic humanity. In an analogous sense, this is the same reason for the Church’s shift towards creating and developing a “good press” from the “bad press.” In Rerum Novarum, Pope Leo XIII developed a new and positive approach to communications, especially to the press. Several other documents followed this new view that seeks to use the press, radio, television, and film in the service of the truth, the formation of consciences, and the unity of all believers and all people of good will. At the ripe time, in 1963, the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council promulgated a Decree on Social Communications, Inter Mirifica. It was the first time that social communications was treated in a council of the universal Church. The decree itself introduced the term “social communication” as something not confined to media, technologies, and instrumentalities, but includes all
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