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Game of Tropes: the Orientalist tradition in the Works of G.R.R. Martin
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posted on 2015-04-24, 00:00 authored by Mat HardyGeorge R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels (and their television adaption, Game of Thrones) have become arguably the most well known fantasy epic of the last decade. However, the world of A Song of Ice and Fire conforms to many of the same Orientalist tropes that have dominated Western literature since the popularisation of the 'Arabian fantasy' in the 18th and 19th centuries and its subsequent perpetuation in film and television. Derivative imaginings of the real world Middle East are commonly reflected in non-Earthly fantasy worlds and Martin's work incorporates this standard vision of the Eastern Other. Owing to its popularity, the A Song of Ice and Fire series represents a significant reinforcement of Orientalist stereotypes and proves that fantasy locations have significant power to cement these ideas in the popular imagination. Moreover, the negative portyal of the East in these works supports Said's argument that the Orient is an invention of the West, and that our depiction of the Other is a means of framing our own cultural superiority.
History
Journal
International journal of arts & sciencesVolume
08Issue
01Pagination
409 - 420Publisher
University PublicationsLocation
Cumberland, RI.ISSN
1944-6934Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalUsage metrics
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