Throughout these tours, we have brought meaning and context into what could have been considered a “simple” toy. We began this journey by exploring how toys and objects are often influenced by media such as TV series, movies, and gaming. In this case, we started with a presentation of the worldwide famous TV show Game of Thrones which due to its popularity quickly became a reference in pop culture. From this particular TV series, a great deal of merchandise came to life such as clothing, objects, toys, and much more. From this increase in the production of merchandise, following the success of Game of Thrones, it is clear that it is easy for fans and collectors to find their favorite characters in figurines. This certain rise from TV and movie characters to be depicted into toys shows a high potential for franchises to exploit this nostalgia found among people and their affectioned characters. This feeling of nostalgia has therefore often been used by companies, such as Funko, to sell more products and make more money. This was already done by making the Funko Pop! into a limited number, however by using nostalgia Funko allows people globally to connect with almost any character.
You might not think about it but the impact that costumes have on a single scene of a show can be massive. Yet, in the case of Sansa Stark her costumes impact how she is seen and portrayed throughout the 8 seasons of Game of Thrones. As we discuss in the articles, at the beginning of the show Sansa Stark is an innocent girl, well-bred and from a good family. There is no doubt that the viewer can get that simply from looking at the actions done by Sansa. However, her innocence and naivete is emphasised in her pastel outfits. But as the show go on and as Sansa’s character develops so do her costumes. The coronation outfit worn by Sansa Stark is a culmination of all the trauma she has endured over the course of the show and a reminder that she has survived it. We started this journey by discussing the historical and cultural context of Game of Thrones, a harsh, mediaevalesque world, where women struggle to assert their own agency. We finished by discussing the symbolism costumes have throughout the show. From a weak girl, dressed in pastels, to an independent ruler, dressed in metal and leather, so much can be told simply from looking at a characters’ costumes.