P5- Representation

Ethnicity:

The Walking Dead does feature characters of different ethnicities, as of season 4, three members of the main cast are of a different race. Michonne and Tyrese are both African-American main characters in the TV show and the comic book it is based off. They're both tough characters and fan favourites, though they did not come into the show in the first season but have since survived to the latest episodes. These characters are seen as heroic, brave members of the group and have no stereotypical traits. 

However, before Tyrese was introduced into the show there was another black male character stereotypically named 'T-Dog'. Whilst this character was kind, he was portrayed as a stereotypical 'ghetto' black man by his use of language and clothing, i.e. backwards cap. T'dog's character was present through out season 1-3 and gradually got less and less screen time over this period until he eventually sacrificed himself for another character. The article in which I found on different ethnicities in the show said that, 'T-Dog has no role in the show. He may as well be called Token Black Inclusion No.1'. 

Also in the article that I found on race in The Walking Dead, another female black character, Jacqui, was given a unexpected death when her character had not been given any real story development. It was to complaint that before Michonne arrived on the show, 'the only woman of color in the TV series was Jacqui, and the team was more than happy to leave her to die at the CDC when it exploded, while Dale stayed behind to guilt Andrea, a white woman, into leaving.  Everyone ran out of that building without giving Jacqui a second thought, and no one has thought about her since.' The fact that these two characters have been neglected and left for dead when they're story lines had no importance is surely a sign of discrimination and how much white characters are valued in the show in comparison. 

However, as I previously mentioned there are still four African-American currently alive as of season 4, two of these (Michonne and Tyrese) are main characters in both the show and comic book whilst the other male and female characters are starting a tentative relationship. 

Another ethnicity is featured with the character of Glenn, another fan favourite and reoccurring cast member. Glenn is an Asian-American man who was first seen as nothing but '[zombie] bait than an actual member of the team'. That is until Glenn met Maggie, a white woman and the pair have since gotten married. Whilst Glenn's beginnings in the show may not have been as equal as the other members of the team, he has since been given more valuable and riveting plot developments with his wife, the couple are popular and fans certainly root for the pair.

Source- http://www.racialicious.com/2012/10/12/25626/

Regional and National Identity:

^Source- http://razoofoundation.org/2013/03/3-things-walking-deads-daryl-dixon-teaches-about-social-media/ )

The Dixon brothers as pictured above are a stereotypical representation of 'rednecks', however, as the show has progressed we have witnessed the characters becoming humanized. Daryl (left) has even grown to become a fan favourite due to his background of negligence and abuse. This is why the 'redneck' stereotypes portrayed by these two brothers are not quite as offensive as they appear to be, they are shown to move on from their prejudiced views of racism when thrust into the post apocalyptic that unites all survivors. This stereotype is not so much an offensive one as the viewers see the brother's moving on and growing up, instead they are viewed in a much more positive light.

Gender:

In season 1, Carol was portrayed as a weak, scared woman at the hands of her abusive husband. This serious issue in the show was handled very well and after the death of her husband audiences finally were able to watch Carol's growth into an independent and strong woman able to fight to protect herself and others. 

The following piece of text has been taken from an interview with Melissa McBride, who plays Carol.

The representation of females in characters such as Carol gives female audience a role model with whom they can relate to in the show. It's important that character's such as Carol exist in order to break stereotypes of women being the weak, sexualised objects that men have to protect. Of course if Carol did fit these out dated gender stereotypes then TWD would lose it's female audience which has proved to be an equal percentage as he male audience.