Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Bringing Back Civilization...

     In a zombie apocalypse basic survival takes over but at some point life must restart no matter how different that life may be. Rick and the group found the prison and began to settle down roots, even defending it against a rival town lead by the sociopath, "The Governor." (Darabont, 2010-2013) After the attack Rick brought back the remaining members of Woodbury and with the facilities provided by the prison plans to restart civilization. But what exactly does that entail? The group faces a lot of hardships as they create security, stable living conditions, purpose, supplies and food, medical care, schools, and a governing system. The prison is like a city within itself. It contains eating corridors, laundry facilities, medical facilities, security, and confinement for troublesome people. This facility offers a lot of possibilities for the group to restart their lives.
Prison
Zombiephile, T. (2012, March 20). The Walking Dead Season 3 Preview. Retrieved April 30, 2013, from The Zombiephiles: http://www.zombiephiles.com/zombies-ate-my-brains/the-walking-dead-season-3-preview
     I have often wondered why Rick choose to take the people of Woodbury to the prison instead of his group going to Woodbury. Woodbury has all the makings of a town, wouldn't that work better for recreating the world? But when I think about it the prison makes more sense. 1) They already know the layout and the governor does not know the layout of the prison 2) There is land 3) There is a large enough facility, at the prison, to cook, feed, have sleeping corridors, medical care, and living space for the group, and 4) There is a fence that surrounds the entire prison in several layers for protection from the walkers and invaders.

Purpose

     What gives a person purpose? Usually it is knowing that they are making a difference in the lives of their family and those who surround them. How can one achieve this? Some find it in working to provide for their family. How can this fit into the prison? There are many things that need to happen in order to bring back civilization such as growing and scavenging food and supplies, rebuilding the structures, organizing living corridors, developing a school, and law system, etc..

Security and stable living conditions

     The first step is to fortify everything. In order to secure the prison the group must organize to clear out the walkers, mend fences, fortify the wall or fence on the back side of the prison, clear out cells and create an area to contain problematic people or those who may turn (such as elderly who may pass during the night). Once the group has secured the grounds and building they can begin to rebuild their lives. This may take a while to accomplish, so the group must be prepared to scavenge enough food until they can grow their own. Inside the prison the group can clean up and create living corridors for each individual. The sense of home is important for people to feel comfortable enough rebuild their lives and not remain in survival mode.

Construction

     The importance of maintaining the prison's structural integrity from the buildings, fences, to the working machines within the facility will be a full time job. The group will need to assign some people to this job. This job is imperative to the safety and security of the group as they will prevent walkers from invading the premisses, however, this job is also very dangerous. As these workers will be out mending and repairing loud noises are typically made which can attract walkers. They will have to be able to work quickly, be creative, and always on their guard.

Scavengers  

     Until the group is self sustaining for food, they will continue to have to rely on someone to run to stores to provide for the group. Although there are some material objects that they will always have to scavenge for food and water are the primary source of concern. This job is very dangerous as they have to leave the safety and security of the prison fortress into the area where walkers lurk. However, without this group of workers the group would not survive.

Farming

    In order to maintain the amount of food they will need to sustain life the group will have to start growing their own food. Eventually, the food that they are scavenging will get slim and expire. Part of developing a new civilization is assigning people to do work and there is plenty to do in creating a farm. Whomever is assigned to this project will have to cultivate it, plant, create an irrigation system, weed the garden, and harvest when the time is right. A concern for the people may be how the zombie bodies, rather burned or buried, have tainted the ground. Beginning the farm will take time, not only for the plants to grow but in developing where the best location for the farm would be.

Food Preparation

     Once the food has been grown it will need to be preserved in order to last throughout the year. The group members assigned to Food Preparation must ration portions, preserve food, cook food, serve food, and clean up after meals. This job is extremely important as it will dictate how well the group will survive and prevent them from starvation.

Cleaning

     With so many people living in an area there is bound to be messes. This job is important to maintain the health of the group. If the bathrooms are not cleaned, the laundry not done, and other general cleaning the group would suffer from illnesses and other viruses/bacteria that can rapidly spread. It is important to maintain clean living conditions to ensure everyone is healthy.

Medical 

     There will always be a need for medical attention people get hurt and sick all the time. This group will be responsible for retrieving and dispensing medications, caring for ailments, and injuries. They would also be responsible for finding homeopathic solutions instead of medications since they will eventually run out of medication or it will expire. This job is essential to the health and survival of the group. Hershel is a veterinarian and has done a great job so far in aiding the people who have been injured or needed medical attention. It is my hope that with Woodbury came someone with more experience in this area. (Darabont, 2010-2013)

Child Care and Education

     Inevitably children will be born as people begin to restart their lives with each other. There will need to be a form of child care while parents are working and school for children of the right age. We must remember that the children are the future of the land and need to have knowledge to be able to run it. Rather schooling would be exactly as it currently is or not would be debatable but nonetheless a child needs to understand the basics in life in order to be an asset to the group. The people in charge of this will have a huge job ahead of them in deciding what and how to teach the children. Beth seems to be a natural in this position as we have watched her take care of Judith in Season 3. (Darabont, 2010-2013)

Government and laws

     People need rules and guidelines in order to direct their behavior in an appropriate manner. In order to maintain civility they will have to create laws to dictate what is right and wrong behavior. This may be the hardest job of all as they will have to decide what is important to enforce and how they will enforce it. They will have to determine consequences for the infractions and how to implement them. Luckily they have Rick who was a Sheriff. (Darabont, 2010-2013)

     This is not a complete list of all it would take to develop a new society but it is the hardships that the group is facing. But with the looming pressure of providing for and ensuring the safety of his now enlarged group Rick is going to have to make some hard decisions. They have a lot of hard work ahead of them but after the hard work is completed they will be able to live life somewhat "normal".

     The importance of bringing back civilization is extremely significant to the group in order to maintain their sense of morality and humanity. Rick found this to be of the utmost importance when he realized at the end of Season 3 that Carl's moral compass shifted in a direction that he didn't like. We will only know how he proceeds with this endeavor as we watch Season 4 on the AMC's "The Walking Dead". (Darabont, 2010-2013)

 

 

Works Cited 

Frank Darabont. (2010-2013). [The Walking Dead]. Gale Anne Hurd.  Atlanta, GA: Stargate Studios.

Friday, April 26, 2013

Zombies...what the what?!?

Zombie Herd
 will33t4food. (2011, October 17). the walking dead recapping: what lies ahead. Retrieved April 26, 2013, from TV Dinner & a Movie: http://tvdinnerandamovie.com/2011/10/17/the-walking-dead-recapping-what-lies-ahead/

There are some questions I have that I don't know the answers to, my intention is to post them on here and see if any of you have thoughts as to clear up my confusion.
  1. I have to be honest when I say that I don't quite understand zombie herds. I mean if only the brain stem is activated then what causes them to follow each other? I get that they follow noise and living things, but what causes them to casually walk amongst each other across landscapes. For example in Season 2 Episode 13 Beside the Dying Fire they show the beginning of the heard that attacked the farm starting in Atlanta, Georgia where they followed a helicopter and just kept walking adding to their number as they went. (Darabont, 2010-2013) What I don't understand is what causes the others to join? What compels them to aimlessly wander together instead of stopping until they see something alive? 
  2. Was the herd that passed them on the freeway the same herd that later attacked the farm? (Darabont, 2010-2013)
  3. The zombies only seem to be intelligent in Season 1 via turning door knobs, looking in peep holes, climbing fences, opening doors, etc. (Darabont, 2010-2013) Why is this? What causes those zombies to be more intelligent then those that come in later Episodes? 
  4. When birds or animals eat the zombies after they have been killed do they become zombies? Or does the infection only infect humans? Are there zombie pets? If so does it affect them the same way it does humans?
  5. If the sensory motor area of the brain doesn't come back and there is no blood flowing through the zombies bodies, how are they walking around? Wouldn't the muscle tone erode and they wouldn't be able to stand let alone attack, especially after 3 years?
  6. How is it that the zombies don't decay faster, it is Georgia and it get's pretty warm there, wouldn't the human body, if not alive, decay quickly?
  7. How did the zombie infection initially start? Was it through vaccinations?  Through food? Water? What was the initial cause of the plague? And how did everyone obtain it?
  8. Why does a scratch or bite activate the infection in the body's system? What triggers the activation in the system? Is it just a blood-borne infection?
  9. Since the CDC was studying the zombie infection, was it developed as chemical warfare but went wrong in development and released onto the entire population?
  10. When someone dies of old age does the virus still activate? If so, wouldn't there then be concern over older folks passing in their sleep and everyone waking to a walker?
  11. Has burning or burying the walkers tainted the ground? What about the water? 
  12. If a women who is pregnant becomes a zombie does the baby inside her become a zombie too and eat her from the inside out...kinda gruesome to think about. 

If you have insights or thoughts, please feel free to post. I will add to this as I learn and understand more and come up with more questions about zombies.

Works Cited 

Frank Darabont. (2010-2013). Days Gone By Season 1 Episode 1 [AMC's The Walking Dead]. Gale Anne Hurd.  Atlanta, GA: Stargate Studios.

Frank Darabont. (2010-2013). Beside the Dying Fire Season 2 Episode 13 [AMC's The Walking Dead]. Gale Anne Hurd.  Atlanta, GA: Stargate Studios.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

The walking dead in fast forward. Season 1 Episode 1 Days Gone By.


Uke, K. (2011, June 12). The Walking Dead (2010) . Retrieved April 25, 2013, from The Ukulele Blog: http://theukuleleblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/walking-dead-2010.html
     Oh no I'm out of gas, there's a bunch of cars. Hey little girl! Oh no zombie #1 little girl, shot dead. Car chase. Get those criminals boys. Shooting. Got em *high fives* They shot me! Oh no, I'm fine, don't tell Lori. Crap we forgot about one, he shot me again! Pain. Hospital. Blurry Shane. Scary vase. I'm awake, where is everyone? Pain. Holy crow there's a dead body, bullet holes, and blood everywhere. Door's "don't open dead inside"? Scared. Light a match. Run outside. Can't see. The outside is the morgue for the dead. The smell....stupid flies. What the heck happened to the army?(Darabont, 2010-2013)

Morgan's Zombie wife.  
Cornet, R. (2013, April 18). The Walking Dead: The Top 25 Zombies . Retrieved April 25, 2013, from IGN: http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/04/19/top-25-best-the-walking-dead-zombies-walkers-biters?page=2
     Half dead body crawling toward me. Scared. Ride bike. Home. Family gone. Crap! Cry, scream, hit self, stop dreaming. Nope its real. Sit down outside. Hit with a shovel. Pain. Crap! Man shot. What's your wound? Pass out. I'm awake. Tied to a bed? Questioned. Cut free. You shot a man! Man? No Zombie. Prayed. Ate dinner. Learned of the zombie infection. Don't get bit! Crap! Criminal? Nope Cop. "She's here." *Crying* My wife died, she's a zombie. Couldn't kill her. Door knob turns. (Darabont, 2010-2013)

 
     Rick kills first zombie #2. They dead? Yup. You sure? Yup. Beat crap out of zombie. Pain.  Home. No pics family alive! Find out about Atlanta and CDC. Idea! Shower time! *sings and laughs* Get guns. Got to find my family. Going to Atlanta. Group of zombies are dangerous. Got it. Cop zombie #3, didn't like him shot dead. Leave to Atlanta. (Darabont, 2010-2013)

      Lock self in house. Go to the park, find half zombie. Target practice zombie #4, #5. Sorry this happened to you. Shoot half zombie #6 Nope still can't shoot my wife. (Darabont, 2010-2013)

     Leave for Atlanta. Hello? Hello? Anyone out there. We hear you, don't go to the city come to us. He can't hear us. Have to go put up signs. NO! Crap! Lori's mad. Run after her. Slap me but don't die. Make out. Whoops Carl's there. No worries. (Darabont, 2010-2013)

     Run out of gas. Walk to farm. Their dead. Guess I can take what I want. Truck doesn't work. Horse? Sweet. Ride horse to Atlanta. *Doot dat do Giddy up*(Darabont, 2010-2013)
Crap!  
Outlaw, K. (2003-2013). ‘The Walking Dead’ Review & Discussion. Retrieved April 25, 2013, from Screenrant: http://screenrant.com/the-walking-dead-reviews-kofi-85345/
     In the city. Where is everyone? Just a couple of zombies keep going. Helicopter. Crap! Lot's of zombies. Trapped! Don't take me take the horse. Holy Crow! They ate my horse. Oh no their after me! Hide under tank. Shooting, shooting, shooting zombie #7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Dropped guns...crap! Going to die shoot self, nope found hole in floor of tank. Lock self in. What to do what to do. Zombie #12 inside kill...ears ringing! Disoriented. Look outside. Yup zombies still there and so are my guns. Shut self in. What to do what to do! Voice over the radio...help? (Darabont, 2010-2013)

Work Cited 


Frank Darabont. (2010-2013). Days Gone By Season 1 Episode 1 [The Walking Dead]. Gale Anne Hurd.  Atlanta, GA: Stargate Studios.

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Will the real Daryl Dixon please stand up?

     First, let's start with giving kudos to Norman Reedus for doing an amazing job at bring such an emotionally diverse character to life! It is the stamp of a true actor to be able to engulf the emotions on the face and eyes of their character so the audience gains a true feeling for the part. Good job Norman! View his official website here or click here to view his production company website.

Daryl Dixon’s ‘Walking Dead’ Love Interest & Other Season 4 Spoilers – The Stir (blog). (2013). Retrieved April 25, 2013, from The Fanatics.com: http://thefanatics.net/daryl-dixons-walking-dead-love-interest-other-season-4-spoilers-the-stir-blog/
     Daryl Dixon is first mentioned by the group and it is obvious they don't like him. Our first glance at Daryl is via his brother, Merle, who had been locked on the roof of an Atlanta department store. If Daryl was anything like him the viewers were in for an interesting ride. When the group finds a deer, Daryl had tracked for miles, being eaten by a walker we gain our first look at the now fan favorite character who leaves a lasting impression of hostility, anger and relentless attitude toward others. But how does a man who acts like this become the fan favorite? (Darabont, 2010-2013)

What made Daryl who he is today?

     Daryl in season two eluded to abandonment issues when he spoke of his relationships with his father and his brother Merle. When Daryl and Andrea go searching for Sophia he tells a story about a time when he ran away, in this story it is revealed that he was often left to fend for himself while his father was out gallivanting around with women and Merle was in juvenile detention. Although I doubt Daryl would admit it, this caused him to lack trust in other people. He didn't need anyone then and he doesn't need anyone now. However, the real problem for Daryl is that he longs to be needed and when he finds his niche in the group, being Rick's right hand man and searching for Sophia, he found his calling and would give everything he had to protect his new family. (Darabont, 2010-2013)

Daryl finding Cherokee Roses, a sign of hope for Carol.
 The Walking Dead Wiki. (2011, Novemeber 6). Retrieved April 25, 2013, from Cherokee Rose: http://walkingdead.wikia.com/wiki/Cherokee_Rose
     Belonging, however, doesn't dissolve his trust issues. As revealed when he falls down a ravine and is stuck with an arrow, he has a hallucination of Merle who tells him that the group doesn't care about him because they aren't family. (Random question: why did he eat the squirrel raw when he was injured? That was gross! (Darabont, 2010-2013)) He battles the past and the abuse that led him to his current beliefs. I found the episode where he was shot by Andrea to be very revealing about his character. When Rick approaches him, gun drawn, he states "that is the third time you pointed that thing at my head are you gonna pull the trigger or what?" (Darabont, 2010-2013) When Andrea grazes his head with a bullet he is in complete shock that someone shot him, and I think a little hurt. Later that night when Carol brought him dinner, she leaned in to kiss his cheek as thank you for searching for Sophia and he flinched. Again, I think this is a reaction he learned as a child, getting close to someone means you will be hurt. I think it has also been a long time since someone has actually touch him without it being demeaning or harmful to him. Of course, if someone touching you is associated with being harmed you will flinch, but when he realizes that she meant him no harm he wasn't sure how to react. He simply wasn't used to being treated in a kind manner. It's as if he's being seen for who he really is for the first time. Daryl also doesn't know how to accept compliments and brushes them off by saying he didn't do anything special and that "Rick and Shane would have done the same thing..."(Darabont, 2010-2013)  but when Carol told him "you're every bit as good as them...every bit." A piece of the hardness chipped off of Daryl.The real reveal to the growing change is Daryl is when Andrea goes to his tent to apologize. Daryl instantly forgivers her saying "You were protecting the group, we're good." but he still can't let go of the past and quickly finishes with "hey, but you shoot me again, best pray I'm dead." Daryl fights the urge to let the group in as his defense mechanisms begin to crumble. (Darabont, 2010-2013)

The physical scares that caused emotional damage. 
Daryl-Dixon-tattoos-300x225.jpg. (2013). Retrieved April 25, 2013, from The Walking Dead Wiki: http://walkingdead.wikia.com/wiki/File:Daryl-dixon-tattoos-300x225.jpg
     In season 3, however, we learn more about the abuse that Daryl endured as a child when Merle rips off his shirt and reveals the scars from his father's beatings. Merle didn't realize that the abuse had been so bad on Daryl and tries to explain why he left. Again we are led to the understanding that Daryl has abandonment issues stemming from his past relationships or lack there of with his family. I wonder if the reason that Daryl struggles to let people in the group in is because he isn't sure if they will survive and why waste time on them if they won't be around, that just leads to being hurt right? This is when Daryl realizes that he trusts the group more than he trusts his brother Merle, despite the fact that he still loves his brother he leaves him to return to the group (taking Merle with him). We come to realize that the harsh and aggressive behaviors exhibited by Daryl are the way he protects himself. It is simply easier to push people away then to allow them to come into his life and expose him to potential pain. I wonder, however, with all the progress that Daryl has made in trusting the group, how will the death of his brother effect him? Will it cause him to retreat to the safety of not letting people in because they will only leave...or will he continue to grow and open up...we'll have to stay tuned in to season 4 to find out. (Darabont, 2010-2013)

     Many fans are asking about romantic relationships with Daryl, and there are obvious undertones of "feelings" between Carol and him (as a side note, I just want to mention that I am fascinated that the fan base wants him to have a relationship because the moment that he does the girls will scream she's not good enough have me..just an interesting thought), however, Daryl refuses to let people get close enough to start a relationship. Not saying he doesn't desire one or want one but that he may feel in letting someone in that close he risks losing so much. He watched as Rick lost Lori and what that did to him, I am not sure that he wishes to endure that kind of pain. We will find out as we watch more as the character develops. (Darabont, 2010-2013)
It's almost as if he's never been touched before.
 Chupacabra: Awkward Thank You Dinner. (2012, July 30). Retrieved April 25, 2013, from The Walking Dead Survival Cooking Blog: http://www.thewalkingdeadsurvivalcookingblog.com/2012_07_01_archive.html

But....there is another side to Daryl...

Daryl Dixon, played by Norman Reedus.
Furious, N. (2013, February 2). Daryl Dixon Joins Walking Dead Panel. Retrieved April 25, 2013, from Comicbook.com: http://www.comicbooked.com/daryl-dixon-joins-walking-dead-panel/
     I want to propose that there are at least two sides to Daryl, the hardened, defensive, distrusting and aggressive man who is reacting to defense mechanisms put in place from the abuse he endured, and the strong and sensitive Daryl who, I believe is the "real" Daryl. Daryl's armor is strong but we begin to see the people around him chisel away at it.We start to see the softer side to Daryl when Sophia goes missing. He beings to relentlessly look for her refusing to believe that she was dead. I believe this stems from him wanting things form his past to turn out ok and is trying desperately to fix the problem. Daryl, when he let's his guard down, wears his heart on his sleeve. The most touching moments are when he finds the flower and brings it to Carol as a sign of hope, when he holds her after finding Sophia in the barn telling her not to look and when he sits with her saying nothing while they wait to bury Sophia. He understands the pain of loss and is compassionate to her feelings. I think he was personally crushed when they saw that little girl walk out of the barn.
     Daryl is fiercely loyal and protective of those that he loves and brings strength to those that surround themselves with him.  He feels compelled to provide for them (even if it is hunting squirrels, at least it's food lol) and give them whatever their needs are in order to survive. This is the real Daryl. This is the Daryl that he hides from people because if you get to this point with him there is no turning back. With him it is all or nothing he will give everything he has once he let's you into his life. This scares him because it makes him vulnerable and open to being hurt, that's why he guards it with everything he has. (Darabont, 2010-2013)


     My hope for Daryl, who is by far my personal favorite character, is that he continues to grow and heal from the past so that he can look forward to a better future. I fear that he will regress with the loss of his brother, but I hope that the shell he reverts back into isn't so hard that no one can ever crack it. We will only know for sure as we continue to watch on AMC's "The Walking Dead." (Darabont, 2010-2013)

Works Cited 


Frank Darabont. (2010-2013). [The Walking Dead]. Gale Anne Hurd.  Atlanta, GA: Stargate Studios.

Frank Darabont. (2010-2013). Season 1 Episode 1-6 [The Walking Dead]. Gale Anne Hurd.  Atlanta, GA: Stargate Studios.

Frank Darabont. (2010-2013). Season 2 Episode 1-13 [The Walking Dead]. Gale Anne Hurd.  Atlanta, GA: Stargate Studios.

Frank Darabont. (2010-2013). Season 3 Episodes 1-16 [The Walking Dead]. Gale Anne Hurd.  Atlanta, GA: Stargate Studios.