HBO’s Game of Thrones: A Global Cultural Phenomenon

In this course we will study the HBO series Game of Thrones as a global cultural phenomenon. We’ll explore the series’ development from a straightforward television adaptation to a transmedia narrative set in a recognizable visual universe. We will examine how the series reinvents the fantasy genre within the changing media landscape and how issues of race, class, and gender affect the production and reception of the series on a global scale. We will also consider the material ways in which the series’ fans engage with the universe of the show through the consumption and creation of merchandising, cosplay, fanfiction, and blogs. 3 hrs. lect.