First of all there will be a general overview of the myth of American exceptionalism. To properly analyze the show then and prove that it is not just another narrative that glorifies American exceptionalism and its perpetuation, but actually depicts a stance which stands in stark contrast to this myth, some of the exposed key elements from the myth of American exceptionalism will be taken and juxtaposed in opposition to some significant scenes from the television series.
Table of Contents
- I. Introduction
- A. The Myth of American Exceptionalism
- B. Anti-Exceptionalism in "The Walking Dead"
- 1 Symbols
- 2 Western
- 3 Higher Law
- 4 Frontier Thesis
- II. Conclusion
- III. Bibliography
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper analyzes the television series "The Walking Dead" and its portrayal of American exceptionalism. It aims to demonstrate that the show, despite its seemingly heroic narrative, subverts the myth of American exceptionalism by highlighting its contradictions and limitations.
- The Myth of American Exceptionalism and its historical roots
- The portrayal of American exceptionalism in "The Walking Dead"
- The role of the zombie trope in critiquing American society
- The Western genre and its relationship to American exceptionalism
- The show's exploration of themes of survival, community, and morality
Chapter Summaries
The introduction provides a brief overview of the show "The Walking Dead" and its popularity, setting the context for the paper's analysis. It establishes the connection between the show and the zombie trope as a metaphor for societal anxieties. The chapter then introduces the concept of American exceptionalism and its various interpretations.
Keywords
The main keywords and focus topics of the text include: American exceptionalism, "The Walking Dead," zombie trope, Western genre, post-apocalyptic fiction, societal anxieties, survival, community, morality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does "The Walking Dead" promote American exceptionalism?
The paper argues the opposite: that the show actually depicts a stance of "anti-exceptionalism," standing in stark contrast to the myth that glorifies American superiority.
What is the "Myth of American Exceptionalism"?
It is the belief that the United States is inherently different from and superior to other nations due to its history, institutions, and values.
How does the show use the Western genre to critique this myth?
The analysis juxtaposes key elements of the Western genre and the "Frontier Thesis" with significant scenes from the series to show how these heroic tropes are subverted.
What does the zombie trope represent in the series?
The zombie trope serves as a metaphor for societal anxieties and helps to highlight the contradictions and limitations of American society under extreme pressure.
What is the role of "Higher Law" in the analysis?
The paper examines how the concept of a moral or higher law is challenged when traditional American structures collapse in a post-apocalyptic world.
How are themes of community and morality explored?
The show explores whether community and morality can survive when the exceptionalist framework of the "American way of life" is no longer functional.
- Citation du texte
- Matthias Köbrich (Auteur), 2012, Anti-Exceptionalism in "The Walking Dead", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/231867
