Pathos of The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead is an unlikely, gruesome, out of this world, concept that has utilized pathos to create an enormous fanbase. The writers take us out of the social, economic, and political, and instead dive deep into the emotional level. Readers and viewers even claim to feel physically uncomfortable and find themselves sitting on the edge of their seat. To learn even more about the connection between The Walking Dead and its fans, we interviewed Dan Caban, Jordan Poll, and Marlena Smith. All three interviewees identify as diehard fans of Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead. "It's just a constant state of unease!" exclaims Caban. The Walking Dead creates a relationship between the fans and the main characters of the series with two major levels of pathos. The first level is where people respond emotionally as if someone close to them is threatened, and the second level in which a main character has to make a decision that either reinforces or threatens our values as viewers.
When you look at a show such as this, one that we all know is far from plausible, why does it still have such an effect on us? Fans of The Walking Dead have described intense emotions such as stress, panic, anxiety, nerves, as well as even being brought to tears when a character on screen does the same. As interviewee Jordan Poll says, "I see myself in the characters. Thus, I want to see what directions they make. Plus it is an adrenaline rush of sorts." The use of pathos is the reason we end up feeling similar, if not the exact same emotions during the same scenes, no matter how far fetched. Pathos goes beyond the limitations of plausibility and normalcy and touches something much deeper.
After speaking with several fans of the show, a strong emotional connection seems to be created between the survivors and their viewers. Still, one viewer, Poll, expressed her empathy toward the zombies and their unfortunate fate. "They don't have control over what they are doing. They are dead. Their brains are just functioning enough to register primal instincts such as hungry and moving. It is so sad. Plus the survivors are twisted." The other interviewees, Smith and Caban, expressed specific connections toward particular survivors and the events they are forced to endure. Caban, stated that emotional connections are made in the first season, and carry on to the others, like when Rick is reunited with his family in the first season. Although the show is widely known for killing off it’s main characters, Smith stated that this is one of the things that provides the strong pathos of the show. "To me, it's a great plot, with awesome twists and turns" claims Smith. It seems that most fans agree, because you never know what is going to happen and who will be safe, it makes the show more realistic.
By speaking with Caban, Poll, and Smith, core emotions associated with survival, like desperation, fear, and stress, are revealed by story based in an apocalyptic world. "Even though I know it will never happen, there are still situations that characters get into that I feel like I need to prepare myself for. For example, I need to be able to defend myself as well as others" states Poll. The writers and authors of this series have expertly used their knowledge of pathos to keep their viewers and readers on the edge of their seats, waiting to quench their thirst on the survival emotion they find themselves attached to.
When you look at a show such as this, one that we all know is far from plausible, why does it still have such an effect on us? Fans of The Walking Dead have described intense emotions such as stress, panic, anxiety, nerves, as well as even being brought to tears when a character on screen does the same. As interviewee Jordan Poll says, "I see myself in the characters. Thus, I want to see what directions they make. Plus it is an adrenaline rush of sorts." The use of pathos is the reason we end up feeling similar, if not the exact same emotions during the same scenes, no matter how far fetched. Pathos goes beyond the limitations of plausibility and normalcy and touches something much deeper.
After speaking with several fans of the show, a strong emotional connection seems to be created between the survivors and their viewers. Still, one viewer, Poll, expressed her empathy toward the zombies and their unfortunate fate. "They don't have control over what they are doing. They are dead. Their brains are just functioning enough to register primal instincts such as hungry and moving. It is so sad. Plus the survivors are twisted." The other interviewees, Smith and Caban, expressed specific connections toward particular survivors and the events they are forced to endure. Caban, stated that emotional connections are made in the first season, and carry on to the others, like when Rick is reunited with his family in the first season. Although the show is widely known for killing off it’s main characters, Smith stated that this is one of the things that provides the strong pathos of the show. "To me, it's a great plot, with awesome twists and turns" claims Smith. It seems that most fans agree, because you never know what is going to happen and who will be safe, it makes the show more realistic.
By speaking with Caban, Poll, and Smith, core emotions associated with survival, like desperation, fear, and stress, are revealed by story based in an apocalyptic world. "Even though I know it will never happen, there are still situations that characters get into that I feel like I need to prepare myself for. For example, I need to be able to defend myself as well as others" states Poll. The writers and authors of this series have expertly used their knowledge of pathos to keep their viewers and readers on the edge of their seats, waiting to quench their thirst on the survival emotion they find themselves attached to.