Game of Thrones and Modern Culture

What is your take on the Game of Thrones obsession? Everyone seems to have something to say about it–while you consider the intricacies, watch as Jack Black contributes to the conversation in his signature style.

What exactly does Game of Thrones and all of its hype say about modern culture? If nothing else, it clearly illustrates that we do not lack passion. Whether you watch the show religiously or couldn’t care less about which house or whose dragon will reign in the end, there is no avoiding exposure to this series. It has influenced naming trends of both babies and pets–the popularity of the name “Khaleesi” for baby girls has risen drastically in recent years according to Social Security Administration records, and people are naming their pets “Lady” and “Ghost” at increasingly higher rates. And it has impacted tourism to a similar degree; according to this Vox article, the show was responsible for the 10%+ increased annual growth in tourism in the mid 2010s in Spain and Dubrovnik, with Northern Ireland seeing a dramatic boost as well. Millions of people hosted watch parties for the finale, which (among other factors) indicates that watching and consuming all of this media fosters a sense of community. The show has been the focal point of SNL skits, Sesame Street scenes, late night show monologues, and Simpsons episodes.  And while there has been a lot of backlash among some against the way the latter part of the series was executed, the fact that there is a petition with hundreds of thousands of signatures calling for the season to be re-written further evidences just how high thoughts, emotions, and connection run when it comes to GOT.

All things considered, I view this whole phenomenon as a benefit to society. Good things happen when people care and when people come together. Maybe, as big hearted leaders, we can use this momentum to bridge some of the more divisive issues we face as a community.