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Cinematic Thanatourism and the Purloined Past: The “Game of Thrones Effect” and the Effect of Game of Thrones on History

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Virtual Dark Tourism

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Cultural Heritage and Conflict ((PSCHC))

Abstract

With an average weekly viewership of twenty-three million people from 170 different countries, HBO’s ultra-bloody fantasy series Game of Thrones is the most-watched television show on the planet. Despite Westeros’s high body count (or some would say because of it), fans of the show are flocking in unprecedented numbers to the locales where the show is filmed. This chapter argues that the Game of Thrones virtual dark tourism industries in contemporary Iceland and Northern Ireland appropriate the identity and history of fictional places in order to invent a new model of national identity that destabilizes the definition of “history” through the act of overwriting it.

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Notes

  1. 1.

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    Sarah Vowell, Assassination Vacation (New York: Simon and Schuster, 2005).

  3. 3.

    Chris Rojek, “Indexing, Dragging and the Social Construction of Tourist Sights,” in Touring Cultures: Transformation of Travel and Theory, ed. Chris Rojek and John Urry (London: Routledge 1997), 59.

  4. 4.

    Charlotte Runcie, “Why Game of Thrones is Taking Over the World,” The Telegraph, April 12, 2015, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/game-of-thrones/11525133/Why-Game-of-Thrones-is-taking-over-the-world.html (accessed August 2, 2016).

  5. 5.

    Thom Dunn, “Game of Thrones Might Be Fantasy, but its Economic Impact on Northern Ireland is Very, Very, Real,” Upworthy, August 26, 2015, http://www.upworthy.com/game-of-thrones-might-be-fantasy-but-its-economic-impact-on-northern-ireland-is-very-very-real (accessed July 27, 2016).

  6. 6.

    Ming Teoh, “Game of Thrones Boosts Travel to Filming Locations,” AsiaOne Travel, June 27, 2016, http://travel.asiaone.com/travel/destinations/game-thrones-boosts-travel-filming-locations (accessed August 14, 2016).

  7. 7.

    Benedict Anderson, Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism (London: Verso, 1983), 6; Geoffrey Cubitt, Imagining Nations (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1998), 3.

  8. 8.

    Tim Edensor, National Identity, Popular Culture and Everyday Life (Oxford: Berg, 2002), 12.

  9. 9.

    Glen Croy and Sine Heitmann, “Tourism and Film,” in Research Themes for Tourism, ed. Peter Robinson, Sine Heitmann and Peter Dieke (Wallingford, UK: CABI, 2011), 199.

  10. 10.

    Lila Abu-Lughod, Dramas of Nationhood: The Politics of Television in Egypt (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2005), 7.

  11. 11.

    See David Crouch, “The Power of the Tourist Encounter,” in Tourism, Power and Space, ed. Andrew Church and Tim Coles (London: Routledge, 2007), 49 and Jean Baudrillard, Passwords, trans. Chris Turner (London: Verso, 2003), 39.

  12. 12.

    Erika M. Robb, “Violence and Recreation: Vacationing in the Realm of Dark Tourism,” Anthropology and Humanism 34, no. 1 (2009): 52.

  13. 13.

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    Robert Niles, “Theme Park History: A Short History of Universal Studios Hollywood,” Theme Park Insider, July 2013, http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201307/3564/ (accessed September 2, 2016).

  15. 15.

    Bob Pagliari, “From a Death-Denying to a Death-Defying to a Death-Deriding Society,” Catholic New York Online, April 1, 2004, http://www.cny.org/stories/From-a-Death-Denying-to-a-Death-Defying-to-a-Death-Deriding-Society (accessed November 22, 2016).

  16. 16.

    Dan Jones, “How Game of Thrones is (Re)Making History,” Wall Street Journal, March 31, 2013, http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2013/03/31/how-game-of-thrones-is-remaking-history/ (accessed July 27, 2016).

  17. 17.

    Chris Rojek, Ways of Escape: Modern Transformations in Leisure and Travel (London: Rowman & Littlefield, 1993), 71.

  18. 18.

    The most prominent example of this is the body of advertisements produced by Icelandic clothing company 66 North. See https://skift.com/2013/12/01/the-stark-66north-ads-that-define-the-rugged-identity-of-iceland/#9.

  19. 19.

    “World’s Strongest Man Archive,” The World’s Strongest Man, http://www.theworldsstrongestman.com/worlds-strongest-man-archive/ (accessed July 28, 2016). See also, Clive Martin, “Meeting Earth’s Strongest Men at the Top of the World,” Vice, March 7, 2014, http://www.vice.com/read/hanging-out-with-the-last-living-vikings (accessed August 2, 2016).

  20. 20.

    “Hafþór Björnsson,” The Worlds’ Strongest Man, http://www.theworldsstrongestman.com/athletes/hafthor-bjornsson/ (accessed July 28, 2016).

  21. 21.

    See Gunnar Karlsson, The History of Iceland (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2000), 9–16.

  22. 22.

    Jesse Byock, “History and the Sagas: The Effect of Nationalism,” in Sagas to Society: Comparative Approaches to Early Iceland, ed. Gísli Pálsson (London: Hisarlik Press, 1992), 44.

  23. 23.

    Raymond Powell and Katia Isankova, “Dark London: dimensions and characteristics of dark tourism supply in the UK capital,” Anatolia: An International Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Research 27, no. 3 (2016): 340.

  24. 24.

    Jack Shepherd, “Game of Thrones Season 7 ‘Filming in Iceland’ Because Winter is Here,” The Independent, July 17, 2016, http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/game-of-thrones-season-7-filming-in-iceland-because-winter-is-here-a7141321.html (accessed August 14, 2016).

  25. 25.

    Phillip R. Stone, “Dark Tourism and Significant Other Death: Towards a model of mortality mediation,” Annals of Tourism Research 39, no. 3 (2012): 1578.

  26. 26.

    “Game of Thrones Tour,” Gray Line Iceland, http://grayline.is/tours/reykjavik/game-of-thrones-tour-8706_88 (accessed August 21, 2016).

  27. 27.

    “The Farmhouse,” Þjóðveldisbærinn, http://www.thjodveldisbaer.is/en/buildings/the-farmhouse/ (accessed August 7, 2016).

  28. 28.

    Ibid.

  29. 29.

    “Game of Thrones Season 4, Episode 3: Wildlings Attack Village,” Video Clip, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmp3esRz4Wk (accessed August 2, 2016).

  30. 30.

    J. Tercier, The Contemporary Deathbed: The Ultimate Rush (Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2005), 234.

  31. 31.

    Michelle Baran, “Dark tourism: the human urge to witness sites of violence, disaster and tragedy is as old as the species. Now it has a name,” Travel Weekly, March 20, 2012, http://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Dark-tourism (accessed August 2, 2016).

  32. 32.

    Paul Duncum, “Attractions to Violence and the Limits of Education,” The Journal of Aesthetic Education 40, no. 4: 25.

  33. 33.

    Robb, 54.

  34. 34.

    Nest of Giants, directed by Clive Martin, Vice Films, 2014, http://www.vice.com/video/nest-of-giants (accessed August 2, 2016).

  35. 35.

    Randall J. Strossen, “Hafthor Wins World’s Strongest Viking, sets Sights on World’s Strongest Man,” Ironmind, January 31, 2015, http://ironmind.com/news/Hafthor-Wins-Worlds-Strongest-Viking-Sets-Sights-on-Worlds-Strongest-Man/ (accessed July 27, 2016).

  36. 36.

    For a representative list of offerings, see Discover Northern Ireland’s Game of Thrones tour company page, “Game of Thrones-Experiences,” Discover Northern Ireland; http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/gameofthrones/ (accessed August 2, 2016).

  37. 37.

    See, for example, “Four Day Game of Thrones Itinerary,” Ireland.com , http://www.ireland.com/en-gb/itineraries/northern-ireland/got-itinerary/ (accessed August 14, 2016).

  38. 38.

    Gabe Zalvidar, “Tourism Ireland Brilliantly Posts Game of Thrones Signs, Tidbits All Over Northern Ireland,” Travel Pulse, April 23, 2015, http://www.travelpulse.com/news/entertainment/tourism-ireland-brilliantly-posts-game-of-thrones-signs-tidbits-all-over-northern-ireland.html (accessed August 2, 2016).

  39. 39.

    “Game of Thrones Exhibition,” Trip Advisor, https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g186470-d190009-r210153102-Waterfront_Hall-Belfast_Northern_Ireland.html (accessed August 2, 2016).

  40. 40.

    Sue the Fury, “Game of Thrones Stamps and ‘Doors of Thrones’ Unveiled in Northern Ireland,” Watchers on the Wall, May 4, 2016, http://watchersonthewall.com/game-thrones-stamps-doors-thrones-unveiled-northern-ireland/ (accessed July 27, 2016).

  41. 41.

    Kas Rousey, “Game of Thrones Transforms Northern Ireland into Westeros and More,” CBC News, April 24, 2016, http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/game-of-thrones-ireland-1.3544556 (accessed July 15, 2016).

  42. 42.

    Samantha Shankman, “Tourism Ireland Makes Deal with HBO to Bring Game of Thrones to Life,” Skift, April 3, 2014, https://skift.com/2014/04/03/tourism-ireland-makes-deal-with-hbo-to-bring-game-of-thrones-to-life/ (accessed July 27, 2016).

  43. 43.

    “Northern Ireland is Game of Thrones Territory,” Ireland.com , http://www.ireland.com/en-gb/articles/game-of-thrones-locations/ (accessed August 7, 2016).

  44. 44.

    “Game of Thrones Boat Tour,” Winterfell Tours, http://www.gameofthrones-winterfelltours.com/ (accessed August 7, 2016).

  45. 45.

    Stephanie Rosenbloom, “Following Game of Thrones to Belfast and Beyond,” New York Times, July 7, 2013, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/07/travel/following-game-of-thrones-to-belfast-and-beyond.html?_r=0 (accessed August 2, 2016).

  46. 46.

    “Game of Thrones is Now Part of Northern Ireland’s Creative Heritage—See the Classics as You’ve Never Seen Them Before,” Tourism Ireland, http://www.ireland.com/en-gb/what-is-available/ireland-on-screen/game-of-thrones/destinations/northern-ireland/county-antrim/articles/paintings/ (accessed July 29, 2016).

  47. 47.

    Josh Duboff, “The Queen Visits Game of Thrones Set, Refuses to Sit on Iron Throne,” Vanity Fair, June 24, 2014, http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2014/06/queen-elizabeth-game-of-thrones-set-iron-throne (accessed July 31, 2016).

  48. 48.

    “Game of Thrones Creators Reveal Reason Queen Didn’t Sit on Iron Throne,” Hello Magazine, March 27, 2015, http://us.hellomagazine.com/film/2015032724286/game-of-thrones-queen-visit-iron-throne/ (accessed August 7, 2016).

  49. 49.

    Marlow Stern, “Game of Thrones Creators Explain Why Queen Elizabeth Refused the Iron Throne,” The Daily Beast, March 26, 2015, http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/03/26/game-of-thrones-creators-explain-why-queen-elizabeth-refused-the-iron-throne.html (accessed July 29, 2016); Zainab Abdul Aziz, “Queen Elizabeth Visits Game of Thrones’ Set, Declines Iron Throne,” Today News, June 24, 2014, http://www.today.com/news/queen-elizabeth-visits-game-thrones-set-declines-iron-throne-1D79842316 (accessed July 29, 2016).

  50. 50.

    Laura Fowler, “Top 10 Destinations to Watch in 2016,” Condé Nast, http://www.cntraveller.com/recommended/itineraries/best-travel-destinations-2016/page/ireland (accessed August 2, 2016); Nicola Brady & Pól Ó Conghaile, “Where to go in 2016: The 20 Hottest Travel Tickets this Year,” The Independent, February 1, 2016, http://www.independent.ie/life/travel/where-to-go-in-2016-the-20-hottest-travel-tickets-this-year-34325795.html (accessed August 2, 2016).

  51. 51.

    Francess McDonell, “Northern Ireland Tourism is More Than a Game of Thrones,” Irish Times, May 31, 2016, http://www.irishtimes.com/business/work/northern-ireland-tourism-is-more-than-a-game-of-thrones-1.2666316 (accessed August 2, 2016).

  52. 52.

    Maximilian Rapp and Michael Rapp, “War and Peace in Belfast’s Murals,” Satellite Magazine, http://www.satellitemagazine.ca/2013/09/war-and-peace-in-belfasts-murals/ (accessed August 3, 2016).

  53. 53.

    “The Troubles,” BBC History, http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/histories/troubles (accessed August 2, 2016).

  54. 54.

    Ibid.

  55. 55.

    Rosenbloom, “Following Game of Thrones.”

  56. 56.

    “Welcome to the Best Game of Thrones Tour in Northern Ireland,” Game of Thrones Tours.TV, http://www.gameofthronestours.tv/ (accessed August 2, 2016).

  57. 57.

    “Game of Thrones & Belfast City Tour Combo,” City Sightseeing Belfast, http://gameofthronestour.com/game-thrones-belfast-city-tour-combo/ (accessed August 3, 2016).

  58. 58.

    Emma Willis, Theatricality, Dark Tourism and Ethical Spectatorship (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014), 17.

  59. 59.

    See Sarah Gordon, “Follow in the Footsteps of Game of Thrones with Special Set Locations Map as Ireland Promises it ‘Won’t Cost an Arm or a Head,’” Daily Mail, April 4, 2014, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2596834/Game-Thrones-fans-urged-visit-Northern-Ireland-series-four-kicks-off.html (accessed August 4, 2016); Maureen Coleman, “Tourism Chiefs to Build Massive Campaign Around the Scenes and Sites Where Game of Thrones was Filmed in Northern Ireland,” Mirror, April 2, 2014, http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/game-thrones-hbo-tourism-ireland-3341131 (accessed August 4, 2016).

  60. 60.

    Cited in Willis, 119.

  61. 61.

    “A Peace Prayer for Northern Ireland,” The Chicago Tribune, April 12, 1998, http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1998-04-12/news/9804120323_1_northern-ireland-sen-george-mitchell-peace-talks (accessed August 4, 2016).

  62. 62.

    Robb, 52.

  63. 63.

    Melanie Lieberman, “Travel to These Game of Thrones Filming Locations is About to Skyrocket,” Travel + Leisure, http://www.travelandleisure.com/culture-design/tv-movies/game-of-thrones-travel-interest-increase (accessed July 29, 2016).

  64. 64.

    Nolan Feeney, “Game of Thrones Gives a Tourism Boost to Southern Spain,” Time, October 23, 2014, http://time.com/3534261/game-of-thrones-tourism/ (accessed August 2, 2016).

  65. 65.

    Cecilia Rodriguez, “Game of Thrones is Transforming Croatia into a ‘Kingdom of Tourism’ and Set-Jetting,” Forbes, March 30, 2015, http://www.forbes.com/sites/ceciliarodriguez/2015/03/30/game-of-thrones-is-transforming-croatia-into-the-kingdom-of-tourism/#33d26d59126b (accessed August 2, 2016); “Indicators Show that 2016 Will be a Record Year for Croatia Tourism,” The Dubrovnik Times, April 22, 2016, http://www.thedubrovniktimes.com/news/croatia/item/501-indicators-show-that-2016-will-be-a-record-year-for-croatia-tourism (accessed August 2, 2016).

  66. 66.

    Jason Karaian, “Some of Europe’s Sickliest Economies Are Getting a Game of Thrones Tourism Boost,” Quartz, April 2, 2015, http://qz.com/375420/some-of-europes-sickliest-economies-are-getting-a-game-of-thrones-tourism-boost/ (accessed August 2, 2016).

  67. 67.

    Michael Winfrey and Jasmina Kuzmanovic, “Can Game of Thrones Save Croatia?” Bloomberg Markets, April 2, 2015, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-02/can-game-of-thrones-save-croatia- (accessed August 2, 2016).

  68. 68.

    In his editorial review of a Game of Thrones walking tour in Dubrovnik, scholar Sam Jacob observed that the guides spoke “as though these were real events, real historical figures.” See Jacob, “Experience a Version of History Without the Homework,” http://www.dezeen.com/2014/07/17/sam-jacob-opinion-dubrovnik-reconstruction-heritage-game-of-thrones-tourism/.

  69. 69.

    Robb, 52.

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  1. Rollins College, Winter Park, FL, USA

    Jana Mathews

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  1. Department of History, Marietta College, Marietta, OH, USA

    Kathryn N. McDaniel

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Mathews, J. (2018). Cinematic Thanatourism and the Purloined Past: The “Game of Thrones Effect” and the Effect of Game of Thrones on History. In: McDaniel, K.N. (eds) Virtual Dark Tourism. Palgrave Studies in Cultural Heritage and Conflict. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74687-6_5

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