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Justyn Gray

UWRT 1104-057: Writing and Inquiry in Academic Contexts (I & II) with Studio

Professor Gabrielle Volstad

28 February 2019

Analysis of The Walking Dead

Books, movies, television shows, and music they all have something in common. They

are created to entertain us, but we fail to realize the hidden messages and explanations behind

these creations. We do not realize that a character in a book or movie said this line for a reason

or an artist wrote this lyric to explain something to us. We are too caught up on the entertainment

portion of them. Others realize the arguments and topics that the authors are trying to explain to

us and they learn from these messages. Some of these arguments also explain to why we as

people do react to others actions or events.

The Walking Dead a very popular tv show created by Robert Kirkman, Frank Darabont,

and Angela Kang follows a group of people who are trying to survive the end of the world. The

end of the world is a very popular topic for some movies and tv, but it shows people what they

wouldn’t believe would happen to them. The purpose of the tv show is to explain our flight or

fight reaction and our willingness to keep our values and morals . Every human has a fight or

flight response to events and situations and the storyline of the show provides examples of that

fight or flight for people like us to see first hand. Some people do not believe what they are

capable of until it happens and this show provides some proof. They began to develop this idea

by putting the characters in different scenarios every time to show their decisions were always

for the best of them or their family. For example in the first episode they show Rick Grimes who

is a main character shoot a little girl who was a zombie. Many people first instinct would be I
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would not shoot a little girl whether she was a zombie or not. Rick had to do whatever it took

because it is his life or hers and she’s already dead. Another example would be Glenn another

one of the characters helping Rick get out of a tough situation. Even though they are in the end of

the world he knows they are still human and he still showed sympathy like a human being and

helped Rick.

The audience of this film is everyday people. It is the end of the world and they follow

characters who were everyday citizens in the world. They weren’t government officials, military,

not even the president. They were common people small town police officers, a pizza deliverer,

and a hunter. They relate more to us so we will understand the message the author is trying to

teach because the characters are more like us rather than using the president. The audience

knows that humans have morals and that we have a fight or flight reaction. The audience needs

to know that there is no limit to the things humans are capable of when their way of life is

threatened. They also need to know that when things are getting out of hand never lose your

morals. When Rick and the others were trapped in the department store Rick came up with the

idea to cover themselves with zombie blood and flesh to blend in and mask the swell. That is

quick thinking and not many people could come up with that idea because of the thought of

covering yourself with rotten human flesh. Humans are capable of much more when they are

scared for their lives.

The subject of the show is there is no limit to humans capabilities. Humans are capable of

many things no matter the circumstances. In the show they have to make split decisions in the

heat of the moment. They make decisions nobody would ever think we humans are capable of

doing especially to other human beings. When your life or the life of your loved ones is on the

line you would do anything to protect them and yourself. The writer obviously knows humans
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are capable of big things by the different situations he puts the main characters through. Some of

the the characters have never killed or even shot a gun before, but they have to quickly learn in

order to take care of their family. The audience knows they want to take care of their families,

but they do not know the severity of some situations and what they might have to do when they

come across these situations.

The writer uses a popular creative way to display this argument that people are capable of

many things when in a fight or flight state. He uses the end of the world appeal like used in the

popular movies Zombieland and I am Legend. The zombie apocalypse end of the world is very

popular as some other movies have been made including zombies taking over. His argument is

still the same and that is people would do whatever it take to protect themselves and their

families. For instance after Rick woke up in the hospital he did whatever it took to make sure his

family was safe and protected. He tracked them down and found them and now he was back in

their lives.

Using the rhetorical triangle The Walking Dead touches all of the points. As far as ethos

you can trust the character known as Rick Grimes. He is a police officer and in a time of crisis a

police officer might be one of the most trustworthy people. You see Rick do whatever he needs

to do to protect his family so you idealize that character based off his family values. You respect

that character because with all the confusion and all the killing he keeps his family on his mind

which would be the same thing anybody watching would do. He only cares about the safety of

his family and friends so he doesn’t care about dealing with strangers as seen in future episodes.

I know that he cares about his family the most which would make me trust him more than

anything. Using pathos the show has a lot of emotion. Some of their friends and family is killed

which makes people sad. It makes you think would you have the heart to kill your mother, father,
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brother, or sister if they were about to turn into a flesh eating zombie. The audience realizes that

decisions have to be made to keep everyone around you safe so I would say the emotion used is

pretty effective. It also uses excitement from the action and thriller of will they make it out alive

or will they find food in the next store. It excites you and makes you think how would I handle

that exact situation.

Logos is used when they constantly bring up that you have to do whatever you have to do

to protect your family. Before a decision is made they have to think about which one would be

the best for their families sake. It makes you question yourself and think about the possibilities

and statistics of the decisions. Would this be the best decision if I was in the same situation? It

uses kairos because of the time it was introduced. It was introduced during a time where zombie

apocalypse movies and video games were becoming popular. Zombieland and I am Legend were

popular movies at the time. Video games like Left 4 Dead and Dead Nation were being released

at the time so zombies taking over was a very popular theme for many. The show used the theme

to teach a message and I believe it was very effective.

People will do anything when their families or their own lives are at stake. Your fight or

flight response that makes you capable of so many things. The show shows us how ordinary

people become capable of looting, breaking rules, and even killing because they are scared for

their lives. It tells me that I do not know what I am capable of because I haven’t been pushed to

that limit.