The Female Body: Feminism and Game of Thrones
The Female Body: Feminism and Game of Thrones
HBO’s fantasy series Game of Thrones has sparked controversy due to its use of sex, violence, and the treatment of female characters since the airing of its first episode in 2011. From the beginning, the series used images of rape, prostitution, and female nudity to depict the medieval-like world of Westeros and Essos. While many argue that the series exploits the subjects of sex, and violence, others argue that it simply depicts the difficulties faced by women in a feudal society.
George R.R. Martin the series co-executive producer, script writer and author of the original books that the series is based on has been asked why he uses such imagery, and how he manages to create strong female characters. He argues that sex and violence are parts of our world, and should not be dismissed, and how unlike other writers he considers “women to be people”. Although Martin and the creative team behind Game of Thrones have managed to create complex, and interesting female characters, the copious scenes of female nudity do somewhat undermine Martin’s intentions.1
HBO are constantly criticised for the level of female full-frontal nudity, and almost complete lack of male nudity in many of their series including Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire. This double standard in terms of nudity shows clearly how HBO employ the male gaze to attract a wider male audience. Heterosexual males are the target audience for Game of Thrones and many other HBO series, which is clear in the way that the camera often lingers on the female body, while the male body is often conveniently covered up. This is often the case in the various sex, and rape scenes of the show, when characters such as Tyrion and Khal Drogo engage in sexual acts but are covered up unlike their female sexual partners.2
The often gratuitous nude females, and camera’s focus on their bodies rather than their faces revokes their identities as humans and simply presents them as
HBO’s fantasy series Game of Thrones has sparked controversy due to its use of sex, violence, and the treatment of female characters since the airing of its first episode in 2011. From the beginning, the series used images of rape, prostitution, and female nudity to depict the medieval-like world of Westeros and Essos. While many argue that the series exploits the subjects of sex, and violence, others argue that it simply depicts the difficulties faced by women in a feudal society.
George R.R. Martin the series co-executive producer, script writer and author of the original books that the series is based on has been asked why he uses such imagery, and how he manages to create strong female characters. He argues that sex and violence are parts of our world, and should not be dismissed, and how unlike other writers he considers “women to be people”. Although Martin and the creative team behind Game of Thrones have managed to create complex, and interesting female characters, the copious scenes of female nudity do somewhat undermine Martin’s intentions.1
HBO are constantly criticised for the level of female full-frontal nudity, and almost complete lack of male nudity in many of their series including Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire. This double standard in terms of nudity shows clearly how HBO employ the male gaze to attract a wider male audience. Heterosexual males are the target audience for Game of Thrones and many other HBO series, which is clear in the way that the camera often lingers on the female body, while the male body is often conveniently covered up. This is often the case in the various sex, and rape scenes of the show, when characters such as Tyrion and Khal Drogo engage in sexual acts but are covered up unlike their female sexual partners.2
The often gratuitous nude females, and camera’s focus on their bodies rather than their faces revokes their identities as humans and simply presents them as