Present Shock reaction post- Alfie Tutt

Game of Thrones presents a perfect example of Rushkoff’s ideas, reflecting presentist cultural ethos. Game of Thrones reflects Rushkoff’s idea of Meta narrative, and furthermore the TV show does not have an identifiable end, but instead keeps threads going most likely to entertain the reader while abandoning traditional narrative structure. Games of Thrones is a perfect example of the presentist cultural ethos because it is set up closely to a fantasy role playing game, and reflects the present in some sense because it is taking a rather different spin on medieval times while not relating itself at all closely to the idea at hand. Game of Thrones is a perfect example of narrative collapse because there is no linear story, but instead reflects our need for multiple story lines and events.

Game of Thrones mainly reflects Rushkoff’s ideas of Meta narrative. Rushkoff defines Meta narrative as a show that “creates sustained tension-with little expectation of final resolution” (Rushkoff 34). Game of Thrones embodies this idea because of its ability to sustain tension while not providing a clear vision of a final resolution, the main purpose being in order to create agitation amongst viewers, and increase their attention towards the show. The last season of Game of Thrones executed this technic well because it ended on an unresolved conflict of Jon Snow’s death, and whether he would potentially show up later in the next series. Game of Thrones also embodies the style of Meta Narrative because it embodies a role playing game, from the opening scene all the way to the final credits because of its ability to create an arced storyline or narrative arc. Game of Thrones also uses Rushkoff’s idea of having no identifiable end, and therefore creating multiple sub stories or threads abandoning the linear path that most generic movies and television shows attempt to take. Rushkoff identifies that the “traditional linear story works by creating a character we can identify with, putting that character in danger, and then allowing him or her to discover a way out” (Rushkoff 19). On the contrary to the linear story, Game of Thrones takes on multiple perspectives from a variety of characters, with different issues. The multiple perspectives result in multiple plots and eliminate the use of one overarching story. It is worth noting that the book series that ties into Game of Thrones has not yet been completed, but regardless of this fact the storyline still seems to bring no exact end to the series.

Furthermore Game of Thrones can be used to present a strong twist on medieval and even mythological stories altering the traditional narrative and presenting a new version based on presentist culture. While not actually having stated the time period in congruent with the real worlds time period it is widely speculated that Game of Thrones is loosely based on medieval times and furthermore myth. Game of Thrones presents misguided views on life in medieval time, and also presents more of a presentist version of the War of Roses between rival families. One main presentist view which was been added to Game of Thrones even though already being around in medieval times, is the battle of the religions, which has become more relevant, with questions arising about radical religious groups. Game of Thrones takes in the presentist idea of radical religious groups such as the followers of the Lord of Light, the contest going on between multiple religions in Game of Thrones. Even though there were some religious conflicts around the medieval period, the idea of religious conflict has surged in the past couple of years especially, and is evident with the religious divides in Game of Thrones. Furthermore, Game of Thrones presents a presentist view of the world because of the opening title that is reminiscent of a fantasy role-playing game or board game, and adds a presentist touch to the show. In an interview with Wired, Rushkoff states that Game of Thrones embodies narrative collapse because “ it’s structured less like a TV show or a movie than a Soap Opera…these open ended narratives are much more consonant with the open-ended, fantasy role playing like sensibility of presentism”(Wired).  Game of Thrones embodies the new idea of an open ended TV show presenting an obvious presentist theme that was not common in previous years and may have been looked down upon.

In conclusion Game of Thrones, even though mentioned briefly in Present Shock, embodies the themes set forth by Rushkoff much more than mentioned, and further expands on many of Rushkoff’s ideas through different means.

Work cited:

Rushkoff, Douglass. Present Shock: When Everything Happens Now. New York: Penguin, 2013. Print.

"Living in the Present Is a Disorder." Wired.com. Conde Nast Digital, n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2015.