The visual representation of Daenerys Targaryen in the first season of Game of Thrones

Abstract

The representation of gender and power relations of female characters is an important area in studies of multimodality. The TV series Game of Thrones , produced by HBO, achieved high notoriety in 2011, becoming a worldwide phenomenon. The object of the present study is Daenerys Targaryen , a character who has a significant role in the narrative, enduring a drastic transformation throughout the first season of the TV series. Based on the grammar of visual design (KRESS; VAN LEEWUEN, 2006), the study analyzed twelve screenshots from six different scenes from the first season of the series. Results show a change in terms of agency, empowerment and independence of the character sustained by her visual representation. Also, from a critical perspective, the study raises issues about feminine representation in the media and notions of gender and culture.