The Walking Dead

Introduction
In the history of the literary world, much debate has risen over what is valuable to the reader, and what it detrimental. At first, the debate focused purely on writing as a technology. Plato never agreed on writing as a great technology, believing that the human mind would deteriorate by becoming more forgetful. He believed that it made the authors vulnerable to the readers, having to defend their choice of words in their writing. He compared this to storytelling, and how every storyteller can change small parts of the story to fit the audience, allowing flexibility within the work. On the other hand, Walter Ong praised the new technology, stating that writing allowed greater communication between the author and the readers. He understands that the written word has altered human consciousness, creating a backbone in the literate mind that is seen today.

More recently, the internet, television, and video games have been placed in the spotlight of literary critics. Like before, the most recent debate has been whether or not to accept other non-traditional forms of literature as value for the literary world. For Rushkoff, the internet is a great tool for authors to interact with their readers in a way that was not possible before. He proves with his success as an author, and shows that readers love interacting with the author, when he created a thread allowing his readers to make their own edits. Again, there can be no debate if everyone agreed on the same thing. For Nicholas Carr, the internet is making readers lazy, or, rather, stupid. He believes that with the increase of articles and e-books, scanning has been equipped into the human mind as a primary tool for reading, instead of divulging into a book and its world. If this is the case, then no form of literature that is primarily on the internet or out of the books can properly be attributed.

This is not the case for the Walking Dead, originally released as a comic series by Image Comics. The following wikia article focuses purely on the analysis of the comic series by Robert Kirkman and the TV series that was released and approved by Kirkman himself, as a co-producer of the show. The significance of the comic series or TV series isn't what is important, however, it is the significance of the readers and their response to it all. The three catergories that will be the focus are: personal responses, remediation, and interpretive disputes. Personal response and interpretive disputes are categories that both focus on the user communities created surrounding the show. These communities prove to be valuable in the literary world, by showing those like Nicholas Carr that people are still able to read a story, completely engrossed by it, and still analyze the work with their own interpretations. They also provide leverage for those like Rushkoff, who depend on communication between author and reader, by doing the same for both Kirkman and his comics as well as the viewer response of the TV series.

Personal Responses
Throughout the literary world, there are several communities that spawned based on several things. Some are knowledge communities, where the users band together to collect all the information about the work. Such information can vary depending on the community's focus. For example, in Henry Jenkin's "Spoiling Survivor", he writes about a community whose sole purpose is essencially spoiling the season. There were brain trusts who targetted the specific location or the individuals within the show. The rest of the community connected to put pieces together, finding out other information like the order of the boot, challenges, and the overall winner. Conversely, some communities have an interest in the work that's purely personal. The following text will consider the source of such personal response. Unlike the community in "Spoiling Survivor," who deciphered information like it was detective work, the subsequent communities see The Walking Dead as a work that they used personally, in a less questioning manner, but rather, in a more intimate and welcoming manner. Though both types of communities created relationships within, one could compare relationships of users in "Spoiling Survivor" to be business-like in nature, compared to the friendships that rise within [The Walking Dead communities].

The Walking Dead (Comics)
Like all forms of art and literature, there are almost always some fan base that follows. For some, it is pure admiration of the work, for others, it is the effect of the work on their lives, and the impact that the authors have created upon them. In Roamers and Lurkers, a community for The Walking Dead fans, josh is a walker started a thread titled "What Does The Walking Dead Mean To You? ." For him, he praised The Walking Dead as a means of escape and a way to get through his depression. His email to artist Charlie Adlard is as follows:


 * I have contacted you before about an autograph but that is not what this email is about.


 * I just wanted to say thank you for being a part of what has become one of my favorite media outlets. I've never really been into comics/graphic novels until my friend bought me the first walking dead compendium for Christmas last year. Ever since i have been hooked.


 * As someone who suffers from depression i've found the walking dead to be an unexpected way to cheer myself up and take my mind off things going on in my life. I want to thank you and everyone else involved with the comic for giving me that way to relax. The comics have had a fairly big impact on me; to the point where in a few weeks i will actually be getting a walking dead tattoo done to remind me of how the comics cheer me up!


 * So once again i would just like to say thank you. Keep up the amazing work. Your artwork is incredible.


 * All the best for the future.


 * Joshua Hammond

DaneBramage is another user that shares his story of dealing with alcoholism, by using the story as a "triumph in the face of incredibly horrible odds and adversity" and "hope." Anderlation also sympathizes with the others, stating that "Walking Dead to me is a great story, with great characters that I care about and feel an interaction with every read" and "could be seen as escapism really." As the thread continues, the community agrees that The Walking Dead is a great form of entertainment that gives readers an escape from reality. The users were able to understand each other, and even praised and supported each other with what they were all going through.

The Walking Dead also initiates some discussion and thought into individual life in the real world, despite its morbid theme of death. WalkerBaitress put a great deal of thought into why post-apocalyptic works and stories have grown popular with many communities in recent times. She notices that many people in the world are afraid of what is new, different, and what is becoming of the world as it continues to deteriorate. This deterioration, shown in The Walking Dead prominently through the desertation of the cities as survivors leave for safety, parallels the world's financial crisis (and individuals' struggles to stay afloat during the time) and the growing concern of conservation of the environment. The thread ends fairly quickly, but not before josh is a walker was able to post Charlie Adlard's response. Adlard's short, but admirable response also led to the users' recognition of the creators and their ability to take the time to respond as well as speak to their fans during comic conventions.


 * Joshua - I really appreciate you saying that. Thank you.


 * And I'm so glad our comic has gone someway to helping you. I hope can continue to do that!


 * Cheers


 * Charlie

The Walking Dead (TV Series)
In the same thread, "What Does The Walking Dead Mean To You?", Sweetsister shares her story about why The Walking Dead attracted her. Originally, it was the increasingly popular zombie apocalypse theme, that The Walking Dead obviously encompasses. However, she explains why the show becomes more than just another zombie thing:


 * I get to see these strangers become a “family” who care for each other, fight with each other, but at the end of the day back each other up as any family does. I’m also drawn into the story because I always ask myself if it were me could I find the strength to fight. Could I go on if everyone I knew previous to the ZA was dead?

Here, she questions herself, her own attitude. Perhaps that's how people generally are, they want to think of a scenario that'll let their inner strength shine. For Sweetsister, a zombie apocalypse will show who can find the strength to fight as well as have the right attitude to form a sort of "family" (whether it's keeping the peace, defending the group, or rummaging for supplies). While she thinks positively about herself and the human race, Cracked's article, 5 Reasons You Secretly Want a Zombie Apocalypse, has a different perspective of how things may change after a zombie apocalypse. The number five reason is because of "Guilt-Free Violence (That's Politically Correct)." The author of the article, James Davidson, exclaims that killing a zombie wouldn't trigger moral or political reactions since zombies are already dead. Furthermore, the living would be able to get free stuff since everyone else is dead or hiding away to survive, while also opening doors for the average Joe to become the leader of a pack.

Remediation: It Lives On!
Many forms of remediation arose after the increasing popularity of The Walking Dead comics and the TV series. The most popular and well-known form of remediation for the series is the video games. Now, there has been much debate about whether or not videos games can be placed in the same level as art and literature. For Roger Ebert, video games cannot be art because there is a goal, a way to win. He believes that there needs to be more to an end state, such as creating an emotional response, in a video game before it can reach the same literary praise as novels, poems, and even movies. For others, like James Paul Gee, videos games are a legitimate form of art. The thought that is put into the storyline, the graphics, they all come together to create a masterpiece. As the debate continues, video game productions have been working on several ways to prove that it is a form of art, and therefore, a form of remediation that can be analyzed. The creation of a story, meaning behind the game, makes video games something that is loved by many enthusiasts, especially for the fans of The Walking Dead.

The Walking Dead (2012 Video Game)
Since the popularity of zombie games have risen, it was safe to assume that The Walking Dead would quickly transfer over to video game production. Some believed that zombie games overran the gaming community, and became somewhat repetitive. However, The Walking Dead video game adaption soon became a popular game. Not only was it similar to the TV series, it actually paralleled it, as a new episode of the game came out monthly. The reason for its praise, however, wasn't because of the time span at which it was released, but how planned and thought out it was. The Walking Dead video game was a role playing game, that allowed the player to chose what to say and do, which ultimately led to the fate of their characters and others. But that wasn't all. Additionally, unlike other zombie games, like Left 4 Dead, and focused on each individual zombie as a threat instead of a horde, something Robert Kirkman wanted.

If the debaters about video games being literature/art actually saw The Walking Dead video game, they would be pleased with the outcome. The video game development team received statistics throughout game play from the gamers. What they discovered was the opposite of Cracked's pessimistic view of humans during a zombie apocalypse. An overwhelming amount of gamers chose the the most moral choice in situations like whether to run ahead leaving someone behind, or chopping his leg off to save him from the zombies (the latter was the most "moral" choice).

The Walking Dead (2013 Video Game)
Another The Walking Dead video game is in development, and announced to be released in 2013. Instead of following The Walking Dead comics and TV series, it creates a prologue for the story, by following Daryl and Merle when it all started. In a reddit thread, users compare the upcoming game to the original. Walking_Pneumonea predicts the differences between the two: "Telltale made a Walking Dead game that showed how zombie games can be about the story and characters instead of mindless zombie shooting. And now Activision is putting out a Walking Dead game about mindless zombie shooting (most likely)." Even Robert Kirkman disagreed with the creation of the first person shooter game, saying that it would "be pointless" because the game would be compared to others such as Left 4 Dead and Resident Evil. He continues by saying that The Walking Dead is more than just shooting and killing, in fact, it's about something more - about the interaction between the characters and how they evolve as they continue surviving.

Interpretive Disputes
Sometimes critics focus on the work of art itself to evaluate its value in the literary and artistic world. These critics usually read into why the author may have written the piece, how it was written, and the themes of the work. This can be done with great insight, especially when a complex work arises. Since The Walking Dead is both a comic series and a TV series, viewers generally seek meaning within themselves. Instead of focusing on the author's intentions to understand The Walking Dead series, many look into the interpretations of the community as a main source.

Presentation of The Walking Dead World
Another Cracked article reviews The Walking Dead tv series, negatively portraying the story, and showing how it should get better. For example, the article raises certain events that changes the development of the story:

- The number of survivors are dwindling, and the amount of "red shirts" (people that are only there to get killed off) have lessened enough for the story to completely focus on the survival of the group and each individual's personal wars.

- Two main characters died - Shane, who did everything he can for the group whether it was moral or not, and Dale, the group's moral conscious.

- The setting changes from a farm that has food, water, and the illusion of safety, and the show alludes to a prison, which will probably be the best place to survive.

Though most people agreed (that the show would be come better) in the comments section, Julian985 disagreed because of those same reasons. He states that a prison would be a horrible idea to be in, to fight away hordes of zombies, believes that Shane was the best character, because although he was moral, he did "everything" for the group, and proceeded to predict that the show would turn into a Man vs. Man competition. Even further within the comments, mini disputes appeared about why Shane was awesome. Another commenter disagreed, stating that there was a difference between the attraction of a character's physique and the attraction of a character's decisions. Shane's personality sparked interest elsewhere. In The Walking Dead sub-reddit, scarter25 asked other redditors what they thought of Shane. There were two major events that showed Shane's characteristics:

Killing Otis: Shane shoots Otis's leg to attract the zombies towards a disabled man. If he had thought about it, the walkers chasing them were exactly that - walkers. They both had a chance to survive, by running away to the car. The fact that Shane shot Otis's leg instead of his head, meant that he did not care to give Otis a merciful death. He allowed Otis to suffer by getting eaten by zombies.

Releasing the Zombies: In the farm, Hershel still believed that zombies were people, and there was hope for a cure. Shane never liked the idea of it, and eventually went and unleashed the barn's zombies out into the world. This meant that the group had to shoot Hershel's "family" (that was inside the barn) and waste rounds doing so. If he had just wanted to show Hershel that there was no hope in bringing the walkers back to life, he could have stopped after he shot one three times, and asked "Can a living person still keep going after that?"

Becoming a Walker
In most movies, zombies have certain characteristics and differences that can only be found in that specific world. For example, in 28 Days Later, the (fast!) zombies must feast on human flesh to avoid starvation. Many wonder what the "rules" are for the walkers in The Walking Dead. Here's the best compilation that the community put together after discussion:


 * A live person already has the virus, as revealed to Rick in the CDC and to everyone at the end of Season 2. This means that there are 3 ways to turn: the first is the most obvious, which is get attacked by walkers and turn; the second was also shown, which is to get bit by one and get away, but eventually turn because it took over the brain stem; and the last, most upsetting way, which is to die from natural causes, bleeding out, or getting shot (without getting shot in the head, severing the brain stem) and turning within several minues to hours.


 * Walkers are attracted to the smell of living humans. Therefore, if a living human masks his smell with "death and decay," it will steer walkers away from him. Because of this, Micchone (the teaser/cliff hanger of Season 2) tied two walkers to herself. Both walkers had no arms, and no bottom jaw, disabling them from being able to attack any living thing, but enabling Micchone to walk free among the walkers.


 * Walkers still have some humanity in them. In one episode, a young female walker picked up a teddy bear. In another, walkers inside a church were sitting as if in a service. It was concluded that if undisturbed, walkers would revert to wandering around attempting to do their daily tasks.

Resources
Roamers and Lurkers - The Walking Dead Community

The Walking Dead Forums

The Walking Dead Sub-Reddit

The Walking Dead Wiki