All right. Today I begin my reread of The Hunger Games with my sticky notes in hand. Gonna do a close reading of Katniss as aro/ace spec and compile my evidence. I'll be writing some pieces about it , but also I could live tweet my read w/ relevant quotes if anyone's interested?

Okay seems like people are into this, so I'm gonna go for it. I'm gonna use the hashtag #TheAspecGames so mute that if you want. Okay. Let's go!

First piece of evidence is one we must acknowledge before moving on and it's that Katniss's primary weapon is a bow and arrow. She's literally an Arrow Aro. (Obviously this would not pass scrutiny in academia but like. come on.) #TheAspecGames

First piece of TEXTUAL evidence appears on page 9. Of course, many allo people don’t want kids, and many aro or Ace spectrum people do want kids, so this isn’t irrefutable evidence. #TheAspecGames

On the following page, we have this: “It makes me jealous but not for the reason people would think. Good hunting partners are hard to find.”

What a whole platonic mood that is, honestly. #TheAspecGames

Look I’m 100% Team Katniss as aro ace but I’m saying there might be an argument for lesbian Katniss (pg 38) #TheAspecGames

On a more serious note, I like this paragraph because it actually shows us Katniss viewing physical affection as friendly. She's interpreting this as platonic affection, and appreciates it as such. #TheAspecGames

Another bit from page 38. Again, Katniss asserts there’s nothing romantic between her and Gale, but still appreciates the physical affection. Some might interpret this as Katniss being an unreliable narrator about her own feelings but eh. I think she’s trustworthy. #TheAspecGames

Here’s an interesting bit from page 58. Not necessarily evidence, but potentially relevant for later on. Katniss has learned, and will continue to learn, that survival means adapting to the audience’s expectations. Here, Haymitch alludes to appearance being linked. #TheAspecGames

So far Katniss has described Gale as "good-looking" but that's the only time she's acknowledge aesthetic attractiveness. I would link this to aspec-ness since often (not always) aspec folks learn what is/isn't considered attractive through other people's statements #TheAspecGames

There's an interesting pattern we'll see unfold throughout the series of Katniss learning what is expected of her, and then using it as a weapon to gain favor and win and, as I hope to prove, chief among those things is the audience's expectation of allonormativity #TheAspecGames

Page 60, another categorization of physical affection as friendly #TheAspecGames

Page 63 introduces Cinna. Here, Katniss uses the word attractive to describe him, which as I mentioned before isn’t necessarily evidence. I think it’s fair to say based on context that she’s acknowledging aesthetic attraction, which is something aspec folks can do #TheAspecGames

Personally, I don't /love/ when allos call people attractive cause it's passive and puts the onus/blame of "being attractive" on the other person rather than owning up to our own feelings of attraction as active. However, it can be a useful workaround for aspecs #TheAspecGames

Pages 69 we have some hand-holding... which is... very not romanticized or sexualized by the narrative. These are instructions for survival, like holding hands before crossing the street. It does not even occur to Katniss that it could be anything else #TheAspecGames

The hand holding is mentioned again on pages 70-71, but we see Katniss finding comfort in companionship rather than any kind of romantic/sexual attraction. It’s about not being alone and familiarity of home. It’s about the team. About survival. #TheAspecGames

This isn’t really evidence of any kind, but I’m including it because it’s interesting. Here (page 71) Katniss uses blowing kisses to gain favor with her audience, learning that it’s something that works... #TheAspecGames

THIS IS SO INTERESTING!!!! #TheAspecGames

I want to break this down because there's a lot going on. First, we have another mention of the handholding, but no emotional reaction to it one way or another. But second, we have Katniss experiencing a "unexpected warmth" which can be interpreted a lot of ways. #TheAspecGames

I think the obvious one is that this is a romantic/sexual feeling. I think it would be easy to interpret it that way, and maybe that's the intention. There's a shorthand to these sorts of things in fiction that this seems to mimic, but I think there's more going on #TheAspecGames

Up to this point, Katniss has talked about Peeta's gentleness as a weakness of hers--she likes good people like her sister Prim. She wants to protect them. Here, I think another way to interpret this passage is that she now sees Peeta as someone to protect. #TheAspecGames

And then this last bit which is just *chef’s kiss*

She views his actions as veiled hostility, so she mimics it. Here, she sees Peeta as her audience, and she asses him and uses his expectations to win favor, a tactic she’ll employ later too. #TheAspecGames

I cannot get over how perfectly aro/ace it is that Katniss recognizes flirtation as hostility I'm. This is just. A very aspec thing. Not that it can't also be an allo thing or that aspecs can't like flirting, but wow does this hit home for this aro/ace over here #TheAspecGames

Who’s sick of me talking about hand holding?

Here Katniss categorizes it as performing friendship, but she’s beginning to learn that any kind of link between them can be used to not only defy expectations but create them. #TheAspecGames

FriendFriendFriendFriendFriendFriend #TheAspecGames

F.R.I.E.N.D. #TheAspecGames

This is an interesting one from page 93. There’s an implication here that she would consider r a compliment if he found her appealing. No specification of what kind of appealing, but she’s not inherently opposed to it. #TheAspecGames

From page 112. We’ve established that katniss doesn’t feel romantically about Gale, so this passage might actually point to a queer platonic partnership type of thing #TheAspecGames

Mmmm yes Katniss learning to perform affection #TheAspecGames

Evidence #2 for a wlw Katniss

More to the point, this is interesting because we can interpret this two ways: either she finds the girl sexy (the word sexy definitely has sexual attraction connotation) or she acknowledges objectively what’s perceived as sexy #TheAspecGames

Interesting bit here is Peeta saying that lots of boys like Katniss. We haven’t had any indication of this being the case from Katniss, so either it’s a lie, or she doesn’t notice. Could be evidence that she doesn’t easily recognize that behavior in others #TheAspecGames

I know this next bit is going to give us A LOT to work with, but I'm tired. We just hit the end of part 1, so that's as good a stopping point as any. I'll be back tomorrow with more! Hope you enjoyed this--I've loved chatting with y'all about it so far! #TheAspecGames

Alrighty. When we left off last night, Peeta had just confessed his crush on Katniss... so let’s get started with that ReactionTM #TheAspecGames

So there's not a lot going on in this paragraph that we can use for evidence, but I do want to draw your attention to a couple of things.

1. The choice of the word "boil" which has a nice Angry Feeling
2. The lack of internal dissection of her feelings #TheAspecGames

Number 2 is a strong trait of Katniss's, and it's certainly not unique to this moment. She doesn't doesn't know how she's reacting to this at all until she looks at the screens to see her own face. She focuses on the external because the internal is foreign to her #TheAspecGames

Ah yes. Violence. #TheAspecGames

I do actually hesitate to call this evidence because like... violence is not uniquely an aro/ace spec thing. I make light of it, but usually if there's violence it's an allo aggressor upset that an aspec person is aspec. #TheAspecGames

HOWEVER COMMA since we know quite a bit about Katniss now, I think this reaction is very telling about how she views romantic/sexual affection: she sees it as a threat. And if that isn't a whole aspec mood, idk what is (caveat that not all aspecs feel that way) #TheAspecGames

Damn. This whole entire page (135) #TheAspecGames

Okay there's a lot to unpack here so...

1. Katniss believes she has been made to look a fool because Peeta confessed his crush. It makes her feel uncomfortable.
2. Haymitch explains it is an asset, something they can both use to their advantage #TheAspecGames

3. Katniss says it makes her look weak, and we can infer that this makes her /feel/ weak
4. Haymitch doubles down that it is a tool they can use, that crafting this narrative will make them sympathetic and garner support because it is relateable and endearing #TheAspecGames

"Who cares? It's all a big show. It's all how you're perceived." This right here is the ultimate theme of Katniss's relationship to romance in this book, honestly, and damn does it hit me right in my feelings. #TheAspecGames

God this whole scene is just... *clutches chest* I'm gonna need a drink to recover just from this SCENE it sure is SOMETHING #TheAspecGames

Mmmm yes. Gale. Not. Her. Boyfriend.

I know some will interpret her cheeks burning as embarrassment because they think she is into him, but I think it’s anger. Because once again she’s not in control of how people perceive her relationship to attraction #TheAspecGames

A theme in this book that's relevant to our discussion is Katniss reclaiming the narrative of her relationship to attraction. Here, she is not in control of how . Later, she takes control, even if what she makes them think isn't the truth. #TheAspecGames

Second guessing her reaction to all this because she’s being essentially gaslit about how she’s supposed to feel mmmm yes. How familiar. #TheAspecGames

So much in this bit too... asking for confirmation of how her reaction was perceived. The others tell her she is wrong to feel the way she feels and then she feels embarrassed for reacting strongly and feeling uncomfortable #TheAspecGames

“And there I am, blushing and confused, made beautiful by Cinna’s hands, desirable by Peeta’s confession, tragic by circumstance, and by all accounts, unforgettable.” #TheAspecGames

The way this is phrased is fascinating. It implies a sense of being put upon by Cinna, Peeta, and circumstance. These things make her what she is to the audience. This feeds into the reversal later when she takes back control of how the audience perceives her. #TheAspecGames

A sidebar, I truly do not get HOW positioning them as a team and in love does anything to benefit them with the sponsors because at this point only one person can win so their love is doomed anyway but YOU DO YOU CAPITAL FOLK   #TheAspecGames

Another sidebar (I'm sorry, but it's been like 7 years since I read these books) but HOLY HELL IS IT SAD when they say goodbye to Haymitch and Effie. Like. I've read these before so I know how it ends and I STILL teared up a little. H e l p. An Emotion. #TheAspecGames

Pages 141-142. This is actually a really beautiful summation of the difference between Katniss and Peeta and how they view identity. #TheAspecGames

Peeta sees his as something to be protected, something he owns that he wants to hold on to. Katniss sees hers as expendable. She may not even see hers as existing. This strikes me as classic aspec who doesn't know aspec exists and has internalized that erasure #TheAspecGames

She recognizes that holding on to her identity won't play in the Capital. She knows that the Capital folk (allo folk) won't respond to who she really is because they don't get it. Why hold on to herself when changing herself to fit their expectations will help? #TheAspecGames

This is... not at all how I want any of my aspec friends out there to feel and is actually quite sad. It reads as compulsory allonormativity for the sake of survival. It's tragic, it's violent, and it's all too real for so many of us IRL, not just in fiction #TheAspecGames

Just some more evidence of Katniss finding comfort in platonic physical touch #TheAspecGames

This part of the book will be sparse for a while, but here’s something. Katniss is grateful to Peeta for his confession and the benefit it will provide, and she’s conflicted about it. #TheAspecGames

I know there is an inclination to recognize this conflict within her as romantic feelings--and this certainly could be shorthand for it. However, I also think there's a case to be made for platonic affection or just in general the situation being weird #TheAspecGames

There is a danger/freedom in the age old adage of "show don't tell" when it comes to sexuality and attraction and really this is a prime example. Here we are being shown the surface of her emotions rather than being told, and it allows for myriad interpretations #TheAspecGames

Many people (myself included) will prioritize clarity and confirm an identity so the representation is cannon, but there's something to be said for examples like this where it is uncertain and critical anylsis allows for a lot of exploration/interpretation #TheAspecGames

Here, we see one of the other tributes derisively referring to Peeta’s confession as “sappy romance stuff.” We don’t get a reaction from Katniss, but still of interest. #TheAspecGames

Katniss thinks about the consequences of Peeta’s choice to join the careers and how it affects her chances. There’s little in terms of emotional reaction to this, and mostly she thinks of it in terms of survival consequences. #TheAspecGames

Interesting we’ve gone from hoping Peeta will win if she doesn’t to the thought being unbearable. This is really the closest we get to an emotional reaction about Peeta’s allegiance. #TheAspecGames

And on that note and the promise of the emotional dissection of this after she’s done hallucinating, I’m going to call it a night. To be continued tomorrow! #TheAspecGames

Okay day 3 let’s go! So here we have the promised reaction to Peeta saving her... and that comparison to Gale. It’s definitely interesting, but not necessarily proof of allo-ness #TheAspecGames

I know some will interpret her discomfort about Gale here as an allo thing, but we like textual evidence in this house and this isn't it. What I /do/ see here is Katniss recognizing Peeta's and Gale's possible non-platonic affection for her and being uncomfortable #TheAspecGames

An interesting comparison between Rue and Katniss’s perspectives. We don’t get enough evidence to determine if Rue is allo (she’s also like... 12) but there’s something to be said for how they each interpreted Peeta’s confession #TheAspecGames

Some more evidence of Katniss appreciating platonic physical touch #TheAspecGames

Maybe a stretch, but an interesting parallel to before the arena when everyone essentially gaslit her into believing Peeta’s confession was a favor rather than hostile... again she’s doubting her feelings because her raw feelings have been dismissed in the past #TheAspecGames

Look, I know plenty of allos are clueless when people like them, but Katniss STILL doesn’t even suspect it despite being TOLD because it’s just so not even on her radar. Give me an A give me an R give me an O #TheAspecGames

Oof. Not specifically related to our themes for this discussion, but Rue's death hits hard. Even knowing it's coming, even having read it before. #TheAspecGames

This is a moment, pure and platonic and steeped in grief. This, to me, proves that Katniss is an emotional, caring person who loves deeply and platonically. #TheAspecGames

A dismissal I hear a lot from people is that Katniss is unemotional and cold. But I think this is allos failing to recognize the overwhelming evidence to the contrary. I've been careful to catalog all the instances of Katniss showing affection because of this. #TheAspecGames

I struggle with that analysis because it feeds into the stereotype that aspecs are unemotional, but the thing is... it's just not true. The evidence doesn't hold. Katniss isn't unemotional and cold. She's just not into your allonormative shit. Learn the difference. #TheAspecGames

to connect with someone on an intellectual level and express understanding can certainly be part of romance or attraction, but here it strikes me as a purely platonic desire. #TheAspecGames

And here we are at the end of part 2. This is a moment that gets brought up later as the moment people watching knew she loved Peeta too, but uhhhhhh #TheAspecGames

The second half of part 2 builds up Katniss's desire for companionship--and I don't mean romantic/sexual. She wants family. Katniss's base desire besides survival is platonic, familial affection and love. She loved Prim, she loved Gale, she loved Rue #TheAspecGames

Now, she is alone again, and her emotional reaction to Rue's death is proof of how deeply this affects her. The narrative lingers on that companionship in a truly meaningful way. This loss is not shallow. This is an important need for Katniss. #TheAspecGames

I don't read this particular moment as romantic; I read it as fiercely platonic. I read it as a glimmer of hope for Katniss that she can be part of a team. She continually seeks out companionship--first with Gale as a hunting partner, then in the arena. #TheAspecGames

When she is alone, she is efficient at survival, but when she is part of a team, she is able to collaborate and learn and grow. Regardless, she feels comforted by companionship, and this moment... this allows her that comfort in an impactful way. #TheAspecGames

I'm going to stop here for tonight, since that leaves us at the start of part 3 "The Victor" when I return tomorrow. Thanks for hanging out with me! Looking forward to forging on! #TheAspecGames

Starting things off with a doozy... #TheAspecGames

SO let's break this down. First off we have Katniss explaining the logic behind teaming up with Peeta--and specifically what the reaction will be from the audience if she doesn't. I don't think this indicates that she doesn't want to... #TheAspecGames

We've established Katniss is very companionship oriented. She /wants/ to team up with someone she can trust. But here she's very focused on outward appearances. She knows this is a show and she needs to analyze her audience. #TheAspecGames

She notes that Peeta has been doing this the whole time, as if it comes naturally to him, whereas she has to really think about it. To me, this works as a pretty incredible metaphor for performing allonormativity. It comes naturally to Peeta, but Katniss is acting #TheAspecGames

This is topped off at the end of the passage with Katniss recognizing her audience is watching, analyzing what they want to see (a romance), and performing it with her smile meant specifically for the cameras. #TheAspecGames

Interesting bit here. Katniss cares what Peeta thinks of her. This is the beginning, imo, of Katniss seeing Peeta as separate from the audience she must perform to, something she will grapple with through the whole series. #TheAspecGames

Interesting that Peeta continues to use Hatmitch’s pet name for her... I have thoughts about that being another tricky way of telling the unfamiliar audience that they’re romantic while doubling as a subtle cue to katniss thay they’re platonic and he means no harm #TheAspecGames

Katniss interprets flirting as a joke. The aspec vibe is strong. #TheAspecGames

In case anyone's going to argue that this is just Katniss being humble and trying not to assume he's into her, at what point in this book has Katniss given A SINGLE INCLINATION that she is not highly analytical of others and straightforward about her own shit? #TheAspecGames

There is a particularly bizarre headcanon I see from allos that characterizes Katniss as self deprecating in the "no one could possibly be into me" kind of way and I just?? do not?? know where they are getting it?? there is no textual evidence for it. #TheAspecGames

There’s barely even any hesitance here though before she sets herself to dealing with the situation. There’s nothing sexual about it, and her first hesitation feels linked to what she is “supposed” to think about nudity. #TheAspecGames

I’m wrong!! Nakedness makes her uncomfortable—in general, it seems from this passage. This isn’t definitive proof on its own since allos can be made uncomfy by nudity and plenty of aces are fine with it, but it certainly adds to the picture we’ve got so far. #TheAspecGames

I want to just leave this here without comment... but I do think we have to acknowledge that part of this could be in reference to Peeta’s puss filled leg #TheAspecGames

More nudity discourse... #TheAspecGames

Katniss attempting to perform affection but being too awkward to do it is a whole mood.

I’ll note she’s good at receiving physical affection, but maybe not so much at giving affection (she does okay with prim and rue though what do u think?) #TheAspecGames

AND HERE WE ARE #TheAspecGames

1. This is her first time kissing a boy and it doesn't really make much of an impression on her
2. She explains it away by saying it's overdue, part of the act

I know this is radical but maybe we should BELIEVE HER (I do not buy the unreliable narrator theory) #TheAspecGames

Asdf;fafsfkdjskahkdjakdkja THIS WHOLE PAGE #TheAspecGames

Look I just want to take this page and carry it around with me to give to allos whenever they proclaim team Peeta or team Gale. HAYMITCH IS TEACHING KATNISS THAT ROMANTIC/SEXUAL AFFECTION WILL KEEP HER ALIVE!!!!!! THIS IS NOT LOVE!! THIS IS LIKE. AT BEST GROOMING!! #TheAspecGames

Like even if you think I'm full of shit and you think Katniss couldn't possibly be aspec (what are you doing this far down in my thread if that's the case honestly) this is still NOT ROMANTIC holy hell! But that is not why we're here... #TheAspecGames

I was going to like... break down this section but it just?? says it all???? for itself????? Katniss must perform her relationship with Peeta in order to get sponsors to send help. She must perform allonormativity to survive. What a fucking REAL AS SHIT MOOD #TheAspecGames

Ugg and omg she is trying to mimic a romantic relationship she knows--her parents--to be convincing. This is just. So exceptionally aspec. The evidence here is so good and I'm just OVERWHELMED by how incredible it is and how unwilling to see it so many allos are #TheAspecGames

1. She has forgotten about the romance thing already
2. Haymitch is making her perform romance in order to get gifts, but she is in turn using that romance to get Peeta to eat. She is recognizing it’s also an effective tool she can use to her benefit in other ways #TheAspecGames

We’ve discussed it before, but Katniss LIKES physical affection in platonic contexts. This here backs that up #TheAspecGames

Again just underlining Katniss’s main desire: companionship (I read this as platonic because it seems to reference rue, who was platonic) #TheAspecGames

Again, physical affection. But here we get a sense that it doesn’t have the same effect for her with Peeta not an active participant. Hints of demi perhaps? There’s still nothing particularly sexual about this, but it could apply to platonic affection I guess #TheAspecGames

Katniss recognizes there’s a door she could open, but no discussion of if she wants to. It’s all about Gale and what he might want. As if she has just... never even thought about it for herself. Again looking to others for a cue on how to feel #TheAspecGames

This squicks me out cause she literally knocked him out with sleeping pills basically but uh.

Again it’s an afterthought. She does it for the audience. #TheAspecGames

Okay that’s it for this chapter and tonight, but I want to end on this note: Katniss really did love Rue. Deeply and platonically. If you think Katniss is cold, gtfo. She cared about her in a way that MATTERS and Tresh acknowledging that here is god damn beautiful #TheAspecGames

This here implies that Katniss sees her relationship with Peeta as transactional... might be of note later on #TheAspecGames

And here we see that Haymitch at least recognizes something in Katniss that might prevent her from seeing Peeta’s honest affection for her (and now I want to read through the lens of Haymitch as queer too) #TheAspecGames

Another nod to the transactional nature of the relationship between their romance and the audience #TheAspecGamea

There is A LOT to unpack here #TheAspecGames

First off, this begins as a show for the audience. She says that off the top. This is an “opportunity for getting food” #TheAspecGames

But then we see Katniss acknowledge she has actual affection for him and it’s not all a lie. She DOES care what happens to him. She doesn’t want him to die. This alone doesn’t make her allo, though, since it’s steeped with platonic feelings #TheAspecGames

But then on that next page we have the kiss. This is where I think a case for demi starts to play. A kiss is NOT equivalent to sexual attraction, though, and I think we see her enjoying a physical moment here that has little to do with sex. #TheAspecGames

Also I’ll note here that sexual actions do not equal sexual feelings, and we’ve still seen very little evidence pointing to any sexual feelings OR romantic feelings so far. Regardless of this kiss, my hypothesis still stands #TheAspecGames

This is more evidence of Katniss’s desire for human connection and physical affection. It’s different for her now that he’s an active participant and not just a body she can use for warmth. She wants to have that companionship we talked about before #TheAspecGames

Katniss doesn’t know how to make romance organic. She’s uncomfortable and recognizes Peeta’s allo-ness will help create something the audience will like #TheAspecGames

Katniss begins to realize that Peeta isn’t playing at their relationship for the audience’s benefit—and it makes her happy. (Seeing some shades of demi here) #TheAspecGames

This. Whole. Damn. Page. #TheAspecGames

The play acting here and the way Katniss is always thinking about what Haymitch would want her to do and what will get her more sponsor gifts is just VERY A LOT #TheAspecGames

Also this metaphor of the window and wanting to draw the shutters strikes me as a very arospec thing. I recognize this as something I have felt before I knew I was arospec—wanting to keep those relationships more private because you’re uncertain of your feelings #TheAspecGames

And then lastly we have that reinforcement of the transaction.

I’m interested in reading these through the lens of Haymitch as a villain, pushing allonormativity on her and how much of it is him vs Katniss making him a personification of compulsory allonormativity #TheAspecGames

And now my flight is boarding so... to be continued on my return flight adventures tomorrow night! #TheAspecGames

Okay I'm baaaaack! To recap, we left off where Katniss is just beginning to recognize something in herself that might be a romantic desire, but it's unclear, and also she is highkey recognizing that romance is a tool that Haymitch wants her to use to survive. #TheAspecGames

Interesting tidbit here with Peeta putting words in Katniss’s mouth. She doesn’t react other than to blush (and hope the cameras can’t see it) but this strikes me as an odd crossing of a line uncharacteristic of Peeta #TheAspecGames

I might just be remembering wrong (it's been years) but Peeta always struck me as pretty respectful of Katniss's boundaries and aspec needs, even if he doesn't fully understand them. I'm excited to read books 2 and 3 to see if this reading holds up #TheAspecGames

I think this might be the first time Katniss even considers what a future might look like with both of them alive. No romantic element here, but it’s relevant I think #TheAspecGames

Someone earlier in this thread pointed out the element of trauma, and it's definitely tricky to separate out how much of her reactions to things are because of 1. trauma inflicted during the course of the story 2. trauma inflicted prior 3. aspec stuff #TheAspecGames

There's a question that gets brought up sometimes that is... both troubling and also worth noting and it's the idea that Katniss might be aspec because of the kind of world she lives in. But I think this gets refuted because we have lots of evidence to the contrary #TheAspecGames

For example, plenty of other people aren't asepc who have undergone similar traumas. We see lots of other romances that don't appear to have aspec coding from other tributes in later books, and lots of other characters from district 12 have romances etc. #TheAspecGames

But more than anything, I think this argument--that Katniss avoids attachment because of trauma and because she fears if she loves someone they'll die or be hurt etc.--holds no water because, as we've seen, Katniss WANTS attachment/companionship and platonic stuff #TheAspecGames

To circle it back around, this bit about the future where they can both survive and be safe... it doesn't really change her perspective on romance, but it might change her perspective on the longevity of their companionship and that's worth noting #TheAspecGames

Here’s just another bit that makes it seem like Haymitch recognizes something in her. Might be just about her analytical personality, but I’m also interested in the argument for queer recognizing queer and using that shared understanding to communicate #TheAspecGames

Anyone still saying Katniss is cold can fuck right off. This right here is Katniss having emotions and curbing them because she knows it won’t play with her audience. It’s her AUDIENCE that’s cold and unfeeling. Not her. #TheAspecGames

I just want to shake people who say that because they seem to have forgotten that these are literal children being asked to murder each other for the entertainment of grown ass adults and no matter what you think of Katniss, the Capital people are 9000 times worse #TheAspecGames

“Risk bringing a child into the world.” This is where the reading comes from that it’s fear that keeps Katniss from romance, but the thing is... children are not obligatory. She could fall in love and still not reproduce, or reproduce and not fall in love #TheAspecGames

DEMI DEMI DEMI DEMI DEMI DEMI DEMI #TheAspecGames

Also that last bit about Gale is interesting. She's still seeing her romantic prospects through the lens of how others will view it. She rarely discusses it in terms of what she wants or likes, and that reads verrrrry aspec to me #TheAspecGames

This scene is very different in the book than the movie. The movie gave it a romantic spin in a way this doesn’t. She compares it to losing Rue, a platonic companion, and I think that’s indicative of the platonic root to her relationship with Peeta #TheAspecGames

Okay I'm gonna call it a night. We're verrrrrrry close to the end though! See yall again soon! #TheAspecGames

Okay starting off strong with this tidbit... again performing romance because she must, not because it feels natural or because it’s what she wants to do #TheAspecGames

Another bit here that backs up my theory of Katniss’s desire for companionship. There’s nothing about this that couldn’t be platonic rather than romantic, and we’ve seen her enjoy platonic physical affection before #TheAspecGames

There’s never a question that she’d let Peeta die so she can live. She never even considers it. A testament to her loyalty when it comes to allies—just like with Rue. Similarly platonic, and very strong. #TheAspecGames

Another bit here that could very easily have mentioned romantic feelings but... didn’t. So much of the evidence I’m finding is in the absence of romanticism, and I think it’s a telling authorial choice, canon or no #TheAspecGames

This whole section is really telling. For Peeta, it would be about losing the girl he loves. For Katniss, it would be about losing a comerade in arms—someone she took care of and fought to keep alive. #TheAspecGames

For Peeta, it would be what he'd have to live without (her) and for Katniss it's about what she'd have to live with (killing him). I think that's a significant difference in their priorities... #TheAspecGames

This is FASCINATING because it’s PEETA who says this... the one and only time Peeta seems to understand he can use their relationship to manipulate the audience. Maybe it’s emotionally charged and not a logic thing, but still... significant. #TheAspecGames

Even Cinna understands the performative aspect of the relationship and how carefully they all must tiptoe around it... I love how this is described and how Cinna chooses to interact with it. #TheAspecGames

I’m FASCINATED by how Haymitch now uses physical affection himself as a tool here to communicate with Katniss #TheAspecGames

I have CHILLS

Here Haymitch is acknowledging it’s been about the audience all along. He’s saying it without /saying it/ that’s its never been about him making her do things, it’s been about the Capital making him make her do things #TheAspecGames

This part just gets me to my core. It's so easy to forget that Haymitch is a survivor too--he was a victim of the Capital as much as Katniss was, and he GETS it in a way most other adults don't. This is... striking. #TheAspecGames

I know I talked a lot about Haymitch as an antagonist to Katniss, and yes he is one, but I think their relationship is fascinating and his almost immediate recognition of her aspec qualities, despite how he chooses to exploit them, endears him to me in a way #TheAspecGames

RAISING THE STAKES!!!

Now it’s about everyone she loves, not just about survival. And as we’ve learned before—and is confirmed now—Katniss cares about her family more than anything in the world. She volunteered to save Prim. And that’s the epitome of who she is. #TheAspecGames

What's so wild to me about this is the extraordinary violence of the threat she's dealing with. Most aspecs know the danger of aphobia and have had to perform alloness one time or another to avoid discomfort or even to survive, but this is next fucking level #TheAspecGames

I find this fascinating because not for a second do I doubt she did what she did because she cared about Peeta... but it’s what kind of caring that’s in question for me as a reader. #TheAspecGames

This bit is also interesting... there’s this kind of tragedy to the fact that Katniss’s relationship with Peeta will always be tangled up with trauma. And the fact that he doesn’t totally get that yet means there’s a really disturbingly sad power imbalance at play #TheAspecGames

Idk if it’s just me, but now they’re out of the arena and Haymitch has told Katniss the stakes, Haymitch nudging her toward allo gestures doesn’t feel hostile. He’s trying to help her survive, as he always has been, but now Katniss knows he’s really on her side #TheAspecGames

Katniss’s perception of herself while watching the recap is... interesting... #TheAspecGames

I'm definitely saddened by this because "heartless" sure is. a word. weaponized against aspecs a lot. HOWEVER do I think it's realistic that Katniss might use the word against herself in this situation? Y E P. #TheAspecGames

It's common for aspecs before they ID as aspec to use aphobic words or expectations against themselves, trying to see themselves through an external aphobic lens. Here, Katniss is being forced to by the video editing of the Capital. It's sad, but not untrue to life #TheAspecGames

This is interesting, considering that moment Katniss was reacting as herself, completely. She wasn’t acting for an audience. She was genuinely worried for Peeta. #TheAspecGames

This is interesting because Katniss is seeing it through the lens of the Capital audience and what they see: a girl in love, trying to get to her boy. And it doesn't fully track with her image of herself: a girl in survival mode trying to hold on to her companion. #TheAspecGames

The image they're showing is true, but how people interpret her actions vs. how she was truly reacting don't totally line up... which feels like a very aspec thing #TheAspecGames

Caesar Flickerman to the rescue... #TheAspecGames

“Transforming back into myself.” Interesting how she views her arena self as someone else. And how she’s not being herself with either Peeta or gale and how much that bothers her #TheAspecGames

Katniss's journey to understand and accepting herself is a really underrated subplot to this series I think... and it feels like a pretty queer coded subplot to me. This feeling of "lying" to people about who or how you love definitely hits home in an aspec way #TheAspecGames

This whole page is one big oof. Peeta not knowing what was going on is... really sad. There’s some... consent stuff about this that makes me really uneasy for all of them. #TheAspecGames

This is really sad too... because it feels like Peeta only wants her if she’s in love with him. Even though Katniss’s affection for him is real, she feels like it isn’t fair to him to express it because it’s not what he expects. #TheAspecGames

This is especially poignant and points to demiro or grayro experience. Sometimes arospec folks feel or express their affection in different ways, and we've seen Katniss take a lot of joy in expressing platonic affection. To feel that isn't welcome is... oof #TheAspecGames

Big. Oof. #TheAspecGames

Alrighty. That's it for book one. Based on book one evidence, my best analysis is that Katniss is arospec for sure--most likely demiro or grayro--and ace. What do you all think? Let me know your thoughts, and I'll see you all for book two very soon! #TheAspecGames

Since folks have asked: I don't have a Patreon or a Kofi, but if you want to support me--and read an ownvoices aro/ace book--you can pre-order my YA science fantasy about 3 queer teens saving their planet from an epidemic! Out in October from Scholastic: https://twitter.com/RosieeThor/status/1080243852567433216