Game of Thrones Says Goodbye


     While GAME OF THRONES ( G. of T. ) is immensely popular and has been since its inception in 2011, May 19 will be the last episode. Can you imagine that this critic was waiting until just a few weeks before its demise to watch it? Can you imagine that  it will not be an upsetting event to do so, at least for this viewer who is not sorry missing it all these years. Why? Because the reasons for its popularity  are not new, exciting or challenging. Unless you're a teenager or a fan of fantasy literature. Sex and Violence is old hat, and that's what the program is basically about. Period.
     Yet there are other causes for its popularity which seem more interesting. One of these stems from the existence of multiple sources: a combination of genres, so to speak. Horror immediately comes to mind (although its roots in fantasy are obvious ): the conflict between good and evil, often juxtaposing the use of opposing symbols  (children are traditionally good but are often evil in modern horror - think of "Damien." And think of the young blond  boy who holds great power in G. of T. He is one of the most despicable characters in a recent series, all the more so because he's so pure - looking. ( By the way, we used to label his demeanor as androgynous. Is he part of the transgender revolution now? )
     Ambiguity plays a part in the good/evil conflict of horror regarding G. of T. at least when someone hasn't seen many episodes: WHO is good and WHO is evil? Viewers are mesmerized looking for the answer. But ambiguity  relates to another genre convention connected with horror: the dual nature of man. Think of "King Kong" who is both a scary animal and similar to a human being. This dual nature appears common in G. of T., applying to the more bizarre creatures in the plot. 
     But G. of T. owes its genre considerations to other sources besides horror. How about the combination of not only fantasy but "magic realism"  apparent in the films, "The Lobster" with Rachel Weisz and even the Oscar -winning " The Shape of Water?" Then again,  magic realism also reminds us of Surrealism. 
     We can't deny that mixtures of genres and styles are stimulating and may even derive from Post Modernism which is an important concept to consider.  ( Put somewhat simplistically,  Post Modernism is an ironic play with styles and the preference for the virtual over the "real").
     Yet, how about the underlying subjects / themes of G. of T. which also give it its popularity: greed, betrayal, hate, power, control, to name a few. Do these elements remind us of modern times despite the Medieval setting? Has real life become a "game" in the struggle for power, in the  acquisition of a title, position or a "throne?" Considering this idea, perhaps GAME OF THRONES was worth watching anyway. 
     It's another example of how "Art imitates life." Popularity has its advantages after all.

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