This term paper examines how gender roles are represented in the post-apocalyptic television series The Walking Dead by analysing two opposite female characters, Andrea and Lori. After briefly summarising how the concept of gender developed historically, it clarifies important terms and aspects which concern gender roles, masculinity and femininity and stereotypes about gender.
Accordingly, the author argues that Andrea represents an almost masculine character while Lori depicts a stereotypical, feminine character. In order to prove this, she analyses the named characters in detail by using significant film sequences.
Furthermore, the paper shows how the depiction of female gender roles in the series is connected with the fact that it is a post-apocalyptic series. For this purpose, it argues that female gender roles change to more masculine ones in a post-apocalyptic environment.
The American horror drama television series “The Walking Dead” is based on the same-titled comic book series by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard. It takes place in a post-apocalyptic world which is helplessly exposed to humans who turned into flesh-eating zombies and cannot be controlled by the state in any way. The series tells the story of a group of people from Atlanta who survived the zombie apocalypse and aim to find a safe place to stay without being attacked by the “walkers”, as the zombified humans are called in the series.
The first episode opens up with the police officer and main character Rick Grimes who awakens from a coma in a hospital. He is unaware of the zombie apocalypse and wants to leave the abandoned building but on his way home he already sees some “walkers”. Slowly he realises what happened and instantly wants to find his wife Lori and his son Carl. After a tough way through zombie-dominated places he actually finds his family who is accompanied by other survivors. Rick becomes the leader of this group and from that point onwards they fight together against the zombies and try to manage their new life. As the series progresses numerous characters fail in the fight against the “walkers” but also in the new-ordered social constructs.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The Concept of Gender
- 3. Andrea: A Representative of Masculinity and Male Gender Roles
- 4. Lori: A Representative of Femininity and Female Gender Roles
- 5. Do Gender Roles Change in a Post-Apocalyptic World?
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the representation of gender roles in the post-apocalyptic television series The Walking Dead, focusing on the contrasting characters of Andrea and Lori. It aims to analyze how these characters embody masculine and feminine stereotypes, respectively, and explore whether gender roles shift in a post-apocalyptic setting.
- The historical development of the concept of gender
- The representation of masculinity and femininity in The Walking Dead
- Analysis of Andrea and Lori as representatives of contrasting gender roles
- The influence of the post-apocalyptic setting on gender roles
- The persistence of gender stereotypes despite societal changes
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by introducing the television series The Walking Dead and its post-apocalyptic setting. It establishes the main characters, Rick Grimes, Lori, and Carl, and their struggles for survival amidst the zombie apocalypse. The chapter outlines the paper's central thesis: examining how gender roles are portrayed through the analysis of Andrea and Lori. The chapter establishes the methodology for analyzing the characters, focusing on significant film sequences to support the arguments presented.
2. The Concept of Gender: This chapter provides a historical overview of the study of gender, tracing its evolution from early psychoanalytic and biological perspectives to the emergence of sociological and feminist viewpoints. It discusses influential theories, such as the "doing-gender" paradigm and the "structuralist" paradigm, highlighting the ongoing debate about the nature of gender as a social construct. The chapter also defines key terms like masculinity, femininity, androgyny, and gender roles, explaining how they are shaped by societal expectations and stereotypes. It explores the persistence of gender stereotypes despite attempts at social change, emphasizing the significant impact of these stereotypes on individual behavior and self-perception.
3. Andrea: A Representative of Masculinity and Male Gender Roles: [This section would contain a detailed summary of chapter 3, analyzing Andrea's portrayal and how it challenges or reinforces traditional gender roles. This summary would be at least 75 words and would need to be written based on the missing text of chapter 3].
4. Lori: A Representative of Femininity and Female Gender Roles: [This section would contain a detailed summary of chapter 4, analyzing Lori's portrayal and how it exemplifies or subverts traditional gender roles. This summary would be at least 75 words and would need to be written based on the missing text of chapter 4].
5. Do Gender Roles Change in a Post-Apocalyptic World?: [This section would contain a detailed summary of chapter 5, discussing the analysis of how the post-apocalyptic setting impacts gender roles. This summary would be at least 75 words and would need to be written based on the missing text of chapter 5].
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Gender roles, masculinity, femininity, androgyny, stereotypes, post-apocalyptic setting, The Walking Dead, Andrea, Lori, social construction of gender, gender studies, feminist theory.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Gender Roles in *The Walking Dead*
What is the overall topic of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the portrayal of gender roles in the post-apocalyptic television series *The Walking Dead*, specifically focusing on the characters Andrea and Lori to explore how they represent masculinity and femininity, and whether these roles shift in a post-apocalyptic context.
What are the main objectives of this research?
The paper aims to examine the historical development of the concept of gender, analyze how masculinity and femininity are represented in *The Walking Dead*, study Andrea and Lori as contrasting examples of gender roles, assess the influence of the post-apocalyptic setting on gender roles, and determine the persistence of gender stereotypes despite societal changes.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper includes an introduction, a chapter defining gender, chapters analyzing Andrea and Lori's portrayal, and a concluding chapter discussing the impact of the post-apocalyptic setting on gender roles. It also features a table of contents, chapter summaries, and a list of keywords.
Which characters are central to this analysis?
The primary focus is on Andrea and Lori, who represent contrasting portrayals of masculinity and femininity within the show's narrative.
How does the paper approach the concept of gender?
The paper considers the historical development of gender studies, referencing key theories such as "doing-gender" and "structuralist" paradigms, to provide a comprehensive understanding of gender as a social construct. It also defines key terms like masculinity, femininity, androgyny, and gender roles.
What is the significance of the post-apocalyptic setting?
The research explores whether the extreme circumstances of a post-apocalyptic world alter or reinforce traditional gender roles, comparing the representations to the societal expectations and stereotypes present before such a crisis.
What are the key themes explored in this paper?
Key themes include the representation of masculinity and femininity, the persistence of gender stereotypes, the social construction of gender, and the influence of a post-apocalyptic setting on established gender norms.
What are some key terms and concepts used in this paper?
Key terms include gender roles, masculinity, femininity, androgyny, stereotypes, post-apocalyptic setting, social construction of gender, gender studies, and feminist theory.
What kind of methodology does the paper employ?
The paper uses a textual analysis of significant film sequences from *The Walking Dead* to support its arguments concerning the representation of gender roles.
Where can I find more detail on the analysis of Andrea and Lori?
The paper provides chapter summaries outlining the analysis of Andrea and Lori. However, the full details of this analysis are found within the complete chapters 3 and 4 (not fully provided in this preview).
- Quote paper
- Katharina Zeiger (Author), 2013, Gender Roles in the TV Series "The Walking Dead". What is the Impact of the Post-Apocalyptic Setting?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/458181
