Katharina Zeiger

Seminar paper from the year 2013 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 2,0, Ruhr-University of Bochum (Philologie), course: The Apocalypse in American Culture, language: English, abstract: 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.