The three you mention —
In general, though, the level of misogyny in Martin, (particularly) Bakker, etc is plain ridiculous. To claim that's a legitimate reflection of the real world is absurd. Yes, there is prostitution, rape, gender/sex discrimination, etc to be encountered in everyday life even in the most wealthy of communities - but even the worst specific examples to be found in history don't come close the everday life portrayals those authors describe in their stories.
In general, though, the level of misogyny in Martin, (particularly) Bakker, etc is plain ridiculous. To claim that's a legitimate reflection of the real world is absurd. Yes, there is prostitution, rape, gender/sex discrimination, etc to be encountered in everyday life even in the most wealthy of communities - but even the worst specific examples to be found in history don't come close the everday life portrayals those authors describe in their stories.
This is actually not true at all. All of the things that happen in these stories happen all over the world and are happening now in places like Africa and the Middle East. The specific example you give of the wolf being sewn to the head of the king in Martin is the kind of corpse defacement that was done by the Greeks in the past as seen in how Hectors corpse was treated. I understand wanting to be blind to this stuff going on but it does happen and we should certainly write about it. It is also necessary to show the world he is creating and the lack of good and the very grey nature of his world.
Most is not simple light and dark and light is very infrequent in life and it should be in literature. The kind of fairy tales where we show good always winning due our children a disservice when we perpetuate them. Most of the world does not work that way.
Violence, rape, and agency in the "gritty fantasies"
- 17/12/2011 01:36:54 PM
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Martin, Goodkind...
- 18/12/2011 01:58:33 PM
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On more of a "meta" level, what makes a fantasy story "gritty" in the first place?
- 19/12/2011 02:58:57 PM
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There has to be something more, though.
- 19/12/2011 03:47:56 PM
1017 Views
Re: There has to be something more, though.
- 19/12/2011 05:29:30 PM
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Re: There has to be something more, though.
- 19/12/2011 09:06:14 PM
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My problem with aSoIaF...
- 20/12/2011 05:16:42 AM
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The Rhoynish influence pretty much ends in Dorne.
- 20/12/2011 06:15:54 AM
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And that makes sense?
- 20/12/2011 08:54:16 AM
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Yes and no.
- 20/12/2011 03:10:54 PM
1017 Views
Re: Yes and no.
- 26/12/2011 03:12:01 AM
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The power and influence of women in the Middle Ages was limited, but not non-existent.
- 26/12/2011 01:37:40 PM
834 Views
Re: The power and influence of women in the Middle Ages was limited, but not non-existent.
- 29/12/2011 02:47:06 AM
963 Views
Re: There has to be something more, though.
- 20/12/2011 12:21:39 PM
827 Views
Re: There has to be something more, though.
- 26/12/2011 03:01:34 AM
817 Views
Re: On more of a "meta" level, what makes a fantasy story "gritty" in the first place?
- 26/12/2011 01:15:35 AM
936 Views