The hit HBO series Game of Thrones has won 26 Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series in 2015, and has 18.6 million people watching each episode, an HBO record. That’s roughly the same population as America’s third most populated state, New York. That’s a lot of people. That’s a lot of cultural influence.
What draws people to Game of Thrones? Certainly the artistry, the plot, the characters, the intrigue, the battles, the dragons, and, of course, the excessive and gratuitous nude sex scenes (including a graphic, lengthy rape scene that made news earlier this year).
Much like the Fifty Shades of Grey book and movie phenomenon, it brings up the age old question, “When it comes to sex and nudity, where is the line drawn between art and pornography?”
Porn or Art: Where is the line?
What makes a porno movie a “porno” and what makes Game of Thrones a record-shattering, Emmy-winning icon of popular culture? They both have plots. They both have lots of sex. I suppose the difference is Game of Thrones has more plot to it than it does sex, so it’s considered a drama and not a porno, whereas a porno has more sex than plot. And I suppose one would say the purpose of Game of Thrones is art, while the purpose of a porno is sex. Though that’s a very subjective statement that many in the porn industry would refute, at the end of the day, both purposes are money, but that’s another story.
Would the population of the entire state of New York openly admit to watching pornos, loving pornos, discussing pornos at the water cooler at work and discussing the plots of their pornos on their Facebook feeds? Obviously not.
At the end of the day, what is porn? Do you just know it when you see it? If so, what is it you are seeing when you know it? For my personal thought life, I’d argue that the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition is porn. For most, if they found that their kids were looking up online videos or photos of naked people having sex (whether acting or actually having it) and/or photos of naked women where they know their kid’s mind is doing the rest, they’d call it porn.
If someone cropped out one of the graphic sex scenes from Game of Thrones and put that single scene online, by itself apart from any of the plot and intrigue, and your teenage son downloaded it, would you call it porn? Yes, you would.
So why is it that when we dress these scenes up with HBO glitz and glamour that all of a sudden they are socially acceptable? Is it because we actually love porn, but don’t want to admit that publicly? We don’t want to surf the dirty websites, but if we can get our porn via HBO (all on Netflix and/or Amazon Prime now, by the way), it’s like having our cake and eating it too. Porn without the social stigma. Porn that your spouse actually lets you watch. Porn you can rationalize.
How We Deceive Ourselves
We are really good at deceiving ourselves and typically jump at any opportunity to do so. What’s so sad and ironic about Game of Thrones is that even though the actresses are much better paid, Emmy-awarded and more famous than the women in “pornos,” they are still just human beings and the emotional effect on them is the same. Most of them will never admit this, but the truth remains.
What’s so ironic and sad is that every once in a while, one of these A-list actresses does admit the disgust she feels about being in these sex scenes, but our culture’s insatiable addiction to porn and entertainment are always too much to consider changing how sex is portrayed.
Earlier this year, GQ and Esquire Magazine’s 2015 “Sexiest Woman Alive” Emilia Clarke made news when she told the Daily Mail she “can’t stand” the sex scenes she’s in on Game of Thrones.
The Daily Mail article by Sebastian Shakespeare reports, “Emilia, who plays the exiled princess Daenerys Targaryen, refused to appear in any more topless shots in the drama two years ago, according to her co-star Oona Chaplin, who disclosed that Emilia had told program bosses she ‘wanted to be known for my acting, not my breasts.’”
There’s obviously a lot of hypocrisy by Ms. Clarke in these quotes. I don’t use the “h-word” as a personal judgment toward Clarke but to again bring out the point that our entire culture wants the best of both worlds when it comes to sex. Being naked on screen is what made Clarke famous and is much of the reason why the show is so popular. It’s very double-minded.
If you want to get to the truth of how things are really perceived, you need to look no further than the wonderful world of website comments. One such comment in the Emilia Clarke article said, “We don’t watch you for your acting, love.” This is what’s really happening when these Hollywood actresses think they are being artistic on-screen with their bodies.
What they are really doing is creating a sexual bond with millions of men, just like Genesis 2:24 and 1 Corinthians 6:16 tell us takes place during sex: “The two will become one flesh.” In Matthew 5:28, Jesus tells us that to think about having sex with someone who isn’t your spouse is the same on the heart-level as actually doing it, so we shouldn’t be surprised by such responses.
Like a one-night stand, you have millions of men only interested in Clarke for her body. The announcement by Clarke that she will no longer be exposing hers is the same as the one-night stand being over. You can dress these episodes up with as much “art” as you want, but they are always going to just be a naked body to most of the men watching them.
Porn or Human Dignity
And if you think you can somehow filter out the porn and only take in the art, you are deceived and double-minded as well. Porn does what porn does: as soon as it enters the scene, it removes all dignity and humanity. All that is left is body parts and the consuming of other humans. You can’t keep someone’s dignity once you have already devoured it.
You don’t get porn and human dignity; you get porn or human dignity.
Choose wisely.
I saw the first episode of Game of Thrones, and it was a most horrible experience. Having experienced rape, to see a rape scene – of all things – clearly being abused as an excuse to show nudity to attract male viewers, was so disgusting to me, I quit watching right then and there. Not to mention the incestuous scene, where the woman is supposed to be a minor too. I wonder how people can justify watching any such thing for any reason. Game of Thrones is more than just porn, in fact, the plot and the general acceptance of people watching it makes it much worse than the average porn.
Thank you for this comment, Isobella. I’m not a rape survivor, nor do I share the perspective of either this article or most of the others commenting here, but I do not watch Game of Thrones for exactly the reason you offer here. The presentation of rape as a consumable intended to sexually excite an audience is reprehensible. Science fiction and fantasy is my favorite literary and television/flim genre, and as such, many people question why I don’t watch GoT. The way it uses rape as a plot device is the first reason I articulate when I explain why; the violent treatment of women (a woman and her newborn child are literally eaten by dogs) is another. It was heartening to see this perspective from a community that many on my side of the political aisle perceive as largely indifferent to rape (or who see it as consequences of women’s behavior rather than rooted in rage/control issues).
I refuse to pay to watch a movie that I know has nudity in it (Every once and awhile I rent a movie unaware of a scene in it). If there is a movie I am wanting to watch, but know has a scene I would need to.skip, I wait until I can get it for free/in a way that the money is not getting back to the manufacturer (at a second-hand store, for example). That way I am not vicariously paying for sex.
I do the same thing with most things though. I buy my clothes second-hand so I can support charities instead of child labor. I buy my coffee from a local roaster I know personally. Etc. Imho, if you are paying for something that is produced unethically, you are supporting that.
I asked a priest friend once if it was ok to watch a movie with nudity in it (If I remember the conversation correctly) and he said that it depends on what your motivation for watching the movie is. I think we can try to recognize that there may be good aspects to movies even if there is nudity in them. This is a little bit of a hyperbole, but you wouldn’t fault a missionary to a tribe of natives for seeing naked or mostly naked people, probably because their hearts are in the right place. I would be interested in what other people think about this.
Hi Ben, I agree that there are definitely good aspects to movies even if there is nudity in them, but that doesn’t give us license to watch the nudity. That’s actually a major way to rationalize the consumption of these lustful images. Do I miss out on a lot of artistic and even redemptive movies because I won’t watch movies or shows with female nudity in them? Sure. But is it worth it? Of course it is. I’m really not missing out on much. (A friend had the movie Crash on CleanFlicks and loaned it to me. CleanFlicks takes all the nudity out of a movie — a really great resource, though a bit expensive unless it’s a movie you really really want to see. And I just googled it to see if it’s still around, it’s not, but some of the movies might be. Not endorsing them, just trying to provide an example that worked). I don’t think our motivation can be the answer because the porn is still there. It goes back to the analogy of my article. If your son was watching some porn but insisted there were good aspects to it, like in the plot, there’s no way you’d let him off the hook with that answer. As a guy, we are going to enjoy those images no matter how much we try to convince ourselves otherwise or somehow tell ourselves the good outweighs the bad. Not if that bad is stuck in your brain, which you know it will be. As for the missionary analogy… nudity and sexual nudity are two very different things. For example, there is lots of nudity in Schindler’s List, but for the most part no one is going to be lusting over that. The same would be true of nudity for a missionary in an African tribe. The context is entirely different in that it’s not being presented as sexual at all. There might be some who shouldn’t put themselves in that environment, but a rule shouldn’t be drawn against it. Whereas Game of Thrones and 99% of Hollywood movies and shows with female nudity in them are very intentionally presenting them to be seen as sexual. It’s really apples and oranges. Does that make sense?
I was with you until you started blaming only women for porn on TV.
“Being naked on screen is what made Clarke famous and is much of the reason why the show is so popular. It’s very double-minded.
If you want to get to the truth of how things are really perceived, you need to look no further than the wonderful world of website comments. One such comment in the Emilia Clarke article said, “We don’t watch you for your acting, love.” This is what’s really happening when these Hollywood actresses think they are being artistic on-screen with their bodies.”
Yes, they chose to take the acting job. So did the men who act in the scene and the men who write, produce and direct this stuff.
Hi Theresa, I’m not sure where you are drawing the conclusion that I blamed only women for the porn on TV. The quote you quoted from me does not say that. That quote is showing the a naked woman’s body is one of the reasons the show is so popular. The show is not popular because of naked men’s bodies. I believe this is true as a general rule in all of Hollywood, but is especially true of Game of Thrones as it is primarily marketed to men (i.e. battles, dragons, fantasy). I’m not saying some women don’t like those things too, but the trend leans toward men. That is not at all the same thing as blaming women for porn on TV. If I said that, I’d own up to it and correct myself. But the way you put words in my mouth isn’t very respectful or helpful.
I agree with Noah…
It takes two, but the naked female body is the draw and push. I saw a food commercial for a hamburger, and man was it sensual…and embarrassing. Who was eating the hamburger in a sexually charged way “a woman.” I’m not blaming the woman….but they are what is used. Why was not a man used….because it’s not appealing as a woman would be. My wife and I stopped eating at that establishment after we saw the commercial.
I don’t have HBO and have never seen Game of Thrones….thanks for the insight Noah, now I’m sure to stay away from that one.
Go get’em Noah!
Would you then say that every single movie and/or show that has a sex scene is porn?
Hi Izzi, no I wouldn’t make a blanket statement like that. I think every sex scene that has female nudity in it (topless) is porn to almost every man out there. But sure there is some grey area. There are lots of times when a scene goes to sex but the scene ends or cuts to the morning and nothing is shown. Some of it is the discernment of the watcher. I won’t watch shows where a woman is vocalizing an orgasm, even if there is nothing visual on display. This is because I know that causes me to struggle, so if that pops up in a show, I just turn it off and won’t watch that show again. A lot of Netflix and Amazon Prime shows are notorious for that. That’s a personal discernment decision I make, not a rule for everyone to follow. Though I will say most people, or at least speaking for men because that’s who I’ve talked to the most about this topic, are not honest with themselves about what gets them going sexually. I won’t watch most network television sitcoms because of the casual sex everywhere. Nothing is shown obviously, it’s network TV. But casual sex was a big temptation for me, as in “the world got it right, you and this monogamy thing got it wrong.” I found there was any easy way to keep these messages out of my head and it was to simply not watch. I can confidently say I haven’t missed out on anything.
Yep, I would….what does it conjure up in one’s head? I really have no idea why films put sex scenes….what’s the point? If one’s answer is “they are just portraying life? then why are we not seeing more people using the restroom? keep the sex out and get on with the story….good grief.
Great article! Just wanted to point one thing out: Your quote from Matt 5:28 is incorrect. Jesus isn’t talking about just “thinking about having sex with someone who isn’t your spouse.” He refers to lusting, which is to sexually objectify someone in your mind, removing their dignity. You can even lust after the person you’re married to, by thinking of him/her as a sexual object.
good point James. I don’t think what I said is incorrect–as I think what Jesus taught certainly encompasses that thinking about having sex with someone who isn’t your spouse is included in his command, which I know you’d agree with. That’s what fits into the point I was trying to make in this article about what happens when we lust outside of marriage. But true for you to point out that lust does in fact go deeper than this. We certainly can objectify our own spouses. In the book I wrote that I’m currently seeking publishing for, I have a whole chapter on that actually, because I saw that trend in my own life and marriage– so I definitely appreciate you bringing it up. But I didn’t feel it was necessary to add that in to the article for the point I wanted to make. Hope that makes sense.
It always confuses me when people say we can objectify/lust after our spouses. I don’t quite understand how sexual desire for our spouse and wanting to be with them physically is different than ‘lust’. Is it because they are our spouse, we are we love the whole person and want to be with them because of that? Is that what makes it different from ‘lust’? I mean, I love my husband and I want to have sex with him. I DO think of his body in a sexual way and want him when we are apart. I mean, Song of Solomon is all about admiring and enjoying each other’s bodies. I certainly don’t think that is objectifying him, even though during those times all I am thinking about is his body. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
@Shea – it’s a really tough area to distinguish the difference. I agree that Song of Solomon is even erotic in nature – the lovers have a strong longing for each other in every way. I remember having this conversation recently with a group of adults at our church, and we were all over the board! Something I read recently pointed towards lust = use and love = oneness. That our bodies are not meant to be used, but loved. Is it possible to long for a spouse, including his/her body and be focused on the oneness that it brings to be with him/her sexually? Probably. I’m not going to pretend to be the “lust police”. But, if my longing for my wife is constantly due to what I need and simply using her to satisfy my urge, then I’ve probably moved into the lust/use arena. I don’t know that I’ve answered any questions, but simply just wanted to offer some food for thought.
Peace, Chris
-Covenant Eyes
You don’t get porn and human dignity; you get porn or human dignity.
False. I cannot think of any good reason to believe that porn itself strips anyone of their dignity. Slavery does. If anyone is acting in porn against their will, that is what robs them of dignity, not the fact that it’s porn.
Do yourself a favour and find a memo of a person who’s managed to get out of the porn industry. Or better yet, read some of the studies that study human trafficking and porn. Porn = slavery. None of them do it for fun. Most of them “chose” to do it out of sheer desperation. His point stands.
Hi Mark, two things I believe… One is that God designed sex to be within marriage only because that’s the only place a person’s full humanity can be supported. It’s the only place where the vulnerability, trust and commitment exist to support the potency of sex. Meaning that a person is more than just their external appearance. A person is made up of flaws, their personality, quirks, strengths, weaknesses, fears, hopes, etc. Those are the things that make a person human. So when we engage in sex based on external appearance only, it dehumanizes. Sex was designed by God to be a “one flesh” experience, which encompasses all of those things, not just external body parts. Second, “acting in porn against their will” isn’t the only thing that creates a dehumanizing situation. Just because a woman chooses to act in porn for whatever reason, it only means she too is buying into Satan’s lie. There are plenty of women who think their only value is in their physical appearance or who don’t care about the “one flesh” union for sex that God designed. But when we as men lust over them, even if they want us to, we are still reinforcing and perpetuating the lie that they believe about themselves.
Well said, Noah! Well said..! (Clap…clap…clap…clap…)
thanks Xavier!
Great article! In fact it is one if not the best in my opinion that has been posted at covenant eyes. We need a lot more voices like yours. Very straight forward and not scared to speak the truth. Keep up the great work!!
Wow, thank you Tsauc. That is a wonderful encouragement. Praise God for his light shining in the darkness.
Well said; and honestly, very little (if any) content produced in the last 20-30 years (sometimes further back than that) or so is watchable. Just because something doesn’t contain porn or “soft” porn doesn’t clear it for viewing for the believer.
A man after my own heart
I would add, that virtually all of today’s viewing is laced with porn, including most commercials. We cut the cord a long time ago. We now use a ROKU to stream many free and wonderful channels – especially the tremendous Genesis Science Network..
Very well written and truthful. It bothers me a great deal that so many “Christians” are watching Game of Thrones and advertising that they do so on Facebook. I have taken them to task but they desire the gratification of their flesh more than obedience and holiness.
I’m really disturbed that this pastor says nothing about the appalling amount of violence in the show. Americans love their violence more than their porn and it shows in our culture. This show has not been sanitized, and while there are some consensual sex scenes, most involve rape and prostitution, because women were and continue to be victims of rape and prostitution, all of which has been occurring prior to the advent of the porn industry. If the sex is realistic to the period and graphic and so is the violence, why only focus on the former? Perhaps it has less to do with a concern for women and more to do with denying the reality of women’s existence as victims of real sexual violence. And, unlike real women, actresses can choose to say no, as evidenced in the article. Finally, I watch this series, and I actually wish there was less sex and violence because it’s a great show and I’d like my son to see it. But I watch it in spite of this, not because of it as I’m sure millions of other viewers do. And it doesn’t lead me to lust after any of the characters or actors because I’m committed to my marriage and simply seeing a few moments of sex in a show doesn’t change that.
The author chose the sexualized aspect of the show for the focus of the post but because he is ignoring nor condoning the violence. It simply wasn’t his focus.
Obviously as the author of this piece. I would expect you to have watched the show to judge its content.
As a fan of the series, the nudity depicted is in context with the storylines.
It portrays the elite class as oversexualised and brutal. Absolutely in line with characteristics of their lives. Most, well nearly all nudity was in the brothel in the first couple of series. This also showed up the false virtues of the characters who frequented these places and helped blur the lines of who really is a good guy.
Look at our elite and ploiticians of today and their scandalous ways and this so called porno isnt that far from reality now. By all means bury ones head in the sand and deny that humans are ever guilty of sex and brutality . Curiosity is the human trait that makes shows like GOT popular, for even if set in a fantasy world, the general public are still fascinated by the vulgar lives of those who are deemed above us in class based society.
Most episodes have absolutely no sex in it. When they do have sex it is a quick glimpse or insinuated. You see breasts, yes…. so what. I see them every single day. Half the planet has them. They’re NOT scary.
Don’t pretend you know what Game of Thrones is. Because you don’t.
It’s the decline of society. I am no strong Christian. I have my weaknesses and I fall for sin, but I point out to my friends (who disagree every time) that this society is degrading and has been since 100 years ago. We are little by little leaving God behind and fulfilling our own desires.
as a gay woman, i feel slightly excluded from this discussion. whenever i watch GOT, all i think about is Daenerys’ naked body as well. discuss
I agree… Everything is laced with porn nowadays…. Best choice is just not to watch any of it no matter how good the storyline is supposed be.
Be careful because Roku has tons of porn too.