While I do not consider myself up-to-date on the latest trends and fashions, I am a fan of certain popular television shows, such as Game of Thrones. When I watch such dramatic scenes as Ser Jorah the Andal fighting bravely and fiercely to save his queen, Daenerys Targaryen, from an army of the undead, I wonder what impressionable minds will think about the proper role of men and women.
For those familiar with the show, Daenerys is not the kind of woman who often needs protection. She is far from a “damsel in distress,” yet the cliché of the bold, strong—and male—hero saving the hapless, high-born female is an easy sell to a mass audience. Whether these are entertaining stories is not the question worth considering as much as whether the writers are unwittingly promoting a tired narrative that does nothing to empower women or humanize men—as multifaceted human beings and not stoic, sacrificial lambs.
Why not deliver plot twists where the female character saves the man? Why not develop more male characters who are not strong enough, brave enough, or confident enough to save anyone? Why not promote relationships (in television, movies, and music) that are not predicated on pain, sacrifice, and high-drama? After all, not everyone needs saving.
A good story is not always good social commentary. I, for one, prefer the latter.
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