Since clapping eyes upon Game of Thrones in 2011, I like many others have been gripped by tales from Westeros and the other countries across the Narrow Sea. One thing that has always made me feel uncomfortable is the portrayal of the female figure.
I'm not talking about the boob-count of episodes, or even the gratuitous sex scenes (anyone else remember the ridiculous 2 woman scene in season 1,with Littlefinger doing a monologue over the top).
I'm talking about the normalisation of rape. Making rape look cool, like it is something that can be thrown into the background of a scene and somehow just be 'background'. Not to mention Sansa being raped in the most recent season.
Women's bodies in GoT are not respected at all. I wish I felt that the books were that way, and I have only read the first 1 and a half. What I did learn was that Danaerys wasn't raped by Khal Drogo, as was portrayed in the show. He was gentle and caring, asking for permission and seeking her enjoyment too. The show deliberately used rape, for the sake of it.
I really want to know what happens, but I feel that watching it is completely at odds with my strong feminist views. So I have written this post.
Do you feel the same as me? I'd love to hear what you think!
Tuesday, 2 June 2015
Game of Thrones and Misogyny
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I have only read the first book, and yet to see any of the shiws, so I was shocked when I saw an interview with the lady who plays Danaerys talking about the scene where Drogo rapes her. It has totally put me off watching for precisely the reasons you mention. To deliberately twist the storyline so they can show another violent rape is just wrong.
ReplyDelete