Survival in The Hunger Games: A Comparative Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis of Met Gala 2024 and Gaza Images

Abstract

This study employs multimodal critical discourse analysis to examine the stark juxtaposition between the Met Gala 2024 and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, revealing how global media constructs and perpetuates systemic inequalities. Drawing on Kress and Van Leeuwen’s multimodal semiotic theory, the research analyses eight images, four from each context, to decode how visual and textual elements shape public perception and reinforce power hierarchies. The analysis depicts a dystopian dichotomy reminiscent of The Hunger Games, in which media coverage simultaneously celebrates extravagant privilege while marginalising humanitarian suffering. This differential treatment reflects “digital colonialism”, the prioritisation of Western cultural spectacle over Global South crises. The results highlight the urgent need for media literacy education and ethical frameworks that address the influence of platforms during humanitarian crises.

Keywords: Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis, Digital Colonialism, Visual Equity, Celebrity Activism, Humanitarian Media Ethics