Author George R.R. Martin defends inclusion of sexual violence in Game of Thrones

GEORGE R.R. Martin has defended the inclusion of sexual violence in Game of Thrones, saying it would have been “fundamentally false and dishonest” to omit the controversial scenes.

George. R.R. Martin has defended the inclusion of sexual violence in Game of Thrones.

GEORGE R.R. Martin has defended the inclusion of sexual violence in Game of Thrones, saying it would have been “fundamentally false and dishonest” to omit the controversial scenes.

Martin, whose book series A Song of Ice and Fire inspired the TV show, smacked down his critics in an interview with The New York Times.

There is at least one SPOILER ahead, so proceed with caution if you are not up to date.

MORE: Fan rewrites horrifying Game of Thrones scene

“An artist has an obligation to tell the truth. My novels are epic fantasy, but they are inspired by and grounded in history,” Martin said.

In the show’s most controversial sex scene so far, Jaime Lannister raped his sister, Cersei.

“Rape and violence have been a part of every war ever fought, from the ancient Sumerians to our present day,” he said.

“To omit them from a narrative centred on war and power would have been fundamentally false and dishonest, and would have undermined one of the themes of the books — that the true horrors of human history derive not from orcs and Dark Lords, but from ourselves.”

MORE: Game of Thrones, episode five reviewed

The debate over sexual violence in Game of Thrones had been simmering for several years, but it was well and truly ignited by a scene in this season’s third episode.

One of the program’s most popular characters, Jaime Lannister, was shown forcing himself on his sister, Cersei. The scene was particularly controversial because it wasn’t portrayed as rape in Martin’s corresponding book.

In the show’s most disturbing sex scene so far, Cersei was raped by her brother, Jaime.

“The graphic novels and television programs are in the hands of others, who make their own artistic choices as to what sort of approach will work best in their respective mediums,” Martin told the Times.

MORE: We answer the biggest puzzle in Game of Thrones

“As for the criticism that some of the scenes of sexual violence are titillating, to me that says more about these critics than about my books,” he said.

“Maybe they found certain scenes titillating. Most of my readers, I suspect, read them as intended.”

George R.R. Martin has written a number of confronting sex scenes into his novels.

Martin said many of the sex scenes in his books are supposed to disturb the reader. The same principle presumably applies to the TV show.

“Whatever might be happening in my books, I try to put the reader into the middle of it, rather than summarising the action,” he said.

MORE: Game of Thrones actors react to season four’s bombshell

“That requires vivid sensory detail ... When the scene in question is a sex scene, some readers find that intensely uncomfortable. And that’s 10 times as true for scenes of sexual violence.

“But that is as it should be. Certain scenes are meant to be uncomfortable, disturbing, hard to read.”

What do you think about sexual violence in fiction? Should Game of Thrones omit confronting scenes? Comment below, or talk to us on Twitter: @SamClench | @newscomauHQ