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Is “Game of Thrones” Misogynistic?

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Game of Thrones has been called one of the most graphic shows on television, and this had led to criticism for its frequent sex and nudity, often focused on women, sometimes with very graphic violence. Some critics have called much of this gratuitous, to the point of soft pornography. Even cast member Stephen Dillane compared the show to “German porn from the 1970s.” The controversy has continued to grow, with many pointing out that the nudity isn’t even historically accurate (given the grooming habits of the characters involved) and that some scenes in recent episodes even deviate from their source material in a violent and demeaning way for the women involved. George R. R. Martin has defended the show, arguing that such scenes were crucial to the stories because they showed how “the true horrors of human history derive…from ourselves.”