Game of Thrones
Death is so terribly final, while life is full of possibilities ― George R.R. Martin
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Forget the big historical names, it’s historic fear of disease that Game of Thrones nails
It’s that time of year again, the new season of Game of Thrones is upon us and (in what has become something of a tradition) a raft of articles and think-pieces have emerged listing the many ways in which the biggest TV show in the world is inspired by history. We hear that Daenerys Targaryen is Joan of Arc, that Tyrion Lannister is Richard III, that Queen Cersei is a “beautiful expression of arbitrary terror”, and that the houses of Lannister and Stark are lifted from the medieval houses of Lancaster and York.
Despite being a fantasy drama, the world of Westeros has long been praised for its realism and sophisticated exploration of power. Yet, in focusing on individuals and specific…
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A Battle For My Life
I had just finished filming Season 1 of “Game of Thrones.” Then I was struck with the first of two aneurysms.
Family, duty, honor: looking at historical parallels to the royal incest in Game of Thrones
GoT touches on many dicey topics, though, as the seasons have progressed; torture, murder and war have become widely accepted by the public as just good TV. However, one aspect of the show that still manages to disgust viewers is the incest that occurs within the ruling families.
Game of Thrones Meets the Water Cooler
Not only can we have a shared experience with viewers as it unfolds, but people have "watch parties" to enjoy the show as a group. Viewing Game of Thrones becomes an event. Moreover, we talk to friends and even strangers about the show. At work places across the globe, co-workers enhance their relationships through "water cooler conversations" after each episode.
Game of Thrones Star Lena Headey Pleads for Solution to Heartbreaking Mental Health Crisis Among Refugees
The actress, one of the International Rescue Committee's Voices on behalf of refugees around the world, reveals her experience a dangerously overcrowded camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, and explains why "ignoring and hating is not the answer."
Science Behind the Fiction: The horrible diseases that would kill you in Westeros
Everybody knows that the world of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire and HBO's Game of Thrones is one of suffering and death. When building his story, the author pressed his finger all the way down on the pain scale. It’s basically a planet consisting entirely of Australia; everything wants to kill you in the most entertainingly excruciating ways.
'Game Of Thrones' Finds Fans Among Disability Rights Activists, Too
This fantasy universe is far more realistic than lots of other television shows, Cokley says, when it comes to representing people with disabilities on screen.
22 Medical Conditions Present In Game Of Thrones Characters
To all you medical and psychology students and practitioners, here’s a quick list of characters from Game of Thrones, along with their proper medical condition or trait...
A psychologist diagnosed 'Game of Thrones' characters as if they were his patients — here's what he came up with
Is Joffrey a psychopath? Why is Ramsay Bolton so mean? Westeros doesn't seem to have psychologists to answer these questions, but thankfully the real world does.
A Therapist Explains Why Everyone On 'Game Of Thrones' Has Serious Issues
If you watch "Game of Thrones," you already know that Westeros isn't exactly a hotbed of emotional stability or healthy relationships. And the reason why -- apart from the fact that it makes for great drama -- is that nearly everyone on the show suffers from major mental health issues.
Can ‘Game of Thrones’ teach us about the meaning of life?
“Game of Thrones” storytelling gives its audience the opportunity to contemplate and debate fundamental concerns about the meaning of human life – issues that are central to all world religions.
Game of Thrones: greyscale, diagnosed and explained
A dermatologist gives us his best guess as to what causes the series' most mysterious ailment.
Is Game of Thrones a metaphor for the spread of infectious diseases?
I’ve heard pundits call Game of Thrones a metaphor for climate change before, but this is new. According to Cate Hill, a medical entomologist (aka bug scientist) at Purdue University and a huge Game of Thrones fan, the story is a metaphor for the danger posed to humanity by infectious diseases.
Kit Harington Opens Up About Mental Health Problems After ‘Game Of Thrones’ Twist
Kit Harington finally reveals how being front and center on HBO‘s record-breaking megahit affected him — and we don’t mean his bank account.
The Real History Behind That Gruesome Greyscale Treatment on Game of Thrones
The idea of exiling people who suffer from a skin-related condition to a far-away and terrible place is likely to make viewers think of leprosy, which remains one of the most famous diseases associated with the Middle Ages, the real-world historical period on which Game of Thrones often draws.
Forget the big historical names, it’s historic fear of disease that Game of Thrones nails
Despite being a fantasy drama, the world of Westeros has long been praised for its realism and sophisticated exploration of power. Yet, in focusing on individuals and specific dynasties, critics perhaps overlook the most significant way Game of Thrones holds a mirror up to the real world – in its disturbing depiction of disease. To my mind, this is where the show really excels. By harnessing historic fears of contagion, George R R Martin and the TV showrunners have conjured up fictional sicknesses that speak to our deepest fears rather than biological reality, and illuminate the process of “othering” and stigmatisation that has blighted the sick for centuries.
A Wiki if Ice and Fire
Keep with the diseases in Westeros.
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