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Intro:
The figured world of which I wish to observe is that of the nomadic main character
group in the AMC television show, the walking dead. I have followed this show since its
initial release, and the show means quite a lot to me. More specifically, I am choosing the
first season to observe, because it has the most memorable group dynamics. I am currently in
the process of rewatching the series again, so I know that this assignment will hardly feel
like a chore.
Figured world: A figured world is its own ecosystem of social boundaries and practices. The
figured world contains many unique aspects to it through its identifying communities,
artifacts, actors, and community practices.
The specific figured world that I will be observing is the nomadic group of main
characters in the show The Walking Dead as they travel through Georgia. In this post
apocalyptic landscape, the rules and habits that we adhere to. The purpose of the group starts
off with the concept of strength in numbers. Humans in this world are under the conclusion
that the best way to survive is to stick together with other humans to achieve the common
goal of survival. Because of the survivalist nature of the group, certain activities are similar
to ours, but differ in execution. We need to get food, so we go to the supermarket, when they
need food, they have to loot and pillage abandoned towns for all they can find. We need
shelter and protection, so we go to our homes and hide under the blankets. When they need
protection, they find shelter, and hide under their piles of firearms. Generally speaking, this
group needs to be careful and does follow certain precautions to ensure their survival. These
precautions are to be expected, things like staying quiet at night, and never travelling alone.
Loud noises and anything else that might make a scene are unacceptable at night when it
would be easy to be killed. During the day, life is almost normal, except that you are never
allowed to travel alone. Carrying weapons and keeping an eye out for supplies are common
practice and should be expected. Some basic practices of the community include keeping all
of the supplies in a easy to access location and having someone always there to watch over
it. Other practices include having the man with the gun on the front lines in case of a breach.
Having the older woman and children in the home base while the men gather resources is
also common practice.


Actors: People or things that play large roles in the figured world. They carry out large or
important tasks and play a recurring role in the community.


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Rick: The main protagonist in the show, the storyline most closely related to Ricks
life events. He serves as the leader of the group as well as the voice of hope. He is an
opportunist who has down to earth tendencies and just want to keep people safe.
People rely on him to pull through, and he is more equipped than most to handle the
pressure of handling lives.
Shane: Ricks best friend, and a way for the show to introduce romantic drama.
Before the observed episode, Shane slept with Ricks wife Lori. Shane also has an air
of aggression in him, and in a lot of ways portrays the bully archetype.
Dale: The caretaker of the group, Dale sits with his trusty lawn chair on top of his
beloved RV, watching over everyone. He is much more than a look out however
though. He provides a view of innate wisdom in situations, and always moves people
to think more logically than to act on emotion.
Carl: Carl, as annoying as he is, provides the embodiment of hope. He is the reason
that the group of survivors needs to survive in the first place. The older generation
tries to protect the younger one so that humanity can live on.
Artifacts: Items contained within the figured world that have some importance to the
communities.
Ricks Gun: Ricks gun symbolizes a lot about him. He carries a very powerful
handgun as a side arm that never leaves his side, portraying how he is always on
point on keeping a watch out. It also symbolizes Ricks ability to deal with big things
like their nothing, showing his leadership skills.
Daryls Bow: The bow that killed the deer is also what makes Daryl exactly like it.
The bow is an unconventional weapon, especially in the modern age of guns. Like
Daryl however, the bow is different, yet extremely effective. The bow is silent and
make for a great way to kill walkers.
Merels Hand: After being trapped on the roof of a shopping center for nearly 2
days, Merel had no choice but to escape from the handcuffs by any means necessary.
The hand represents the awful things that Merel had to go through to feel the need to
do this.
Dales Rifle and Lawnchair: Although nothing is the same, or will be the same, Dale
represents a lot of the ideals of the past. One of the only ones who had a gun from the
beginning, Dale looks over everyone as a paternal figure helping out their children.
Dales lawncare is a way to keep in mind the luxuries of the past.
Domain: A shared project for the communities of practice as a whole to work on and
complete.
Survival: All anyone in the group wants is a decent place to live and raise their
families. The danger that is now all around all of them inhibits them from living
normal lives, but that does not mean that they cant try to live a safe life. Everyone
has specific jobs meant to help that goal, like gathering food, and staying on watch
for walkers.
Communities of Practice: Groups of people or things that are contained within the figured
world. They all share common aspects, including goals and aspirations.


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Survivors: The group of survivors has one domain, survive. They are rigorous and
stop at nothing to protect what and who is theirs. They gather food and fend of the
other community, which is the walkers.
Walkers: The living turnt dead. A disease came and wiped out half of the human
race, and that half ate most of the rest. After death, people turn into walkers given
enough time.
Practices of the Community: Actions that help the overall group towards their common goal,
or to help distinguish themselves as separate pieces to the same machine.
Gathering food: Whilst going out, the recon team tries to pick up anything that might
be of any use to the group, considering that food and tools come hard as them,
Gathering Ammo: Guns are a necessity for stayin alive. Yes, the noise of shooting is
bad, but when it comes down to it, ammo is more important. Guns are used mainly as
a last resort, if there is no way out.
Staying on lookout:
Literary Practices:
CB radio: How the group attempts to reach people from the outside world, by talking
on the radio on a specific frequency every day. That is also to a degree what helped
lead Rick to the group.
Campfire: When at the camp, the group all sits around the fire and talks about the
events of the day and how they should go forward. In a way, the campfire is more
like a meeting to determine where they go. Rick led the first campfire in the first
observation.
Character Bio Analysis:
Rick
Lori
Carl
Shane
Dale
Glenn
Andrea
Carol
T-Dawg
Daryl
Merel
Interview Questions
Interviewee: Travis Davis
Tell me about how you got started watching The Walking Dead


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I heard about other people watching the show, and was invited to watch it
with some friends. I really like the show, and after a few episodes, I was
hooked.
Give me an example of some of your favorite characters and why
Rick. as the show progresses, you see him become more of a leader. HIs
reason and logic skills greatly increased, and he becomes a much better
man for it.
Dale proves to be a leader from the beginning by setting precedents and
organizing a structure to the group, keeping people in line.He seems to be
the most kind hearted of the characters, and is more likable for it.
How do you feel about the group dynamic going into the third episode?
The dynamic is very tense with the merle situation, but he is relief when
Rick meets his family and son. You can see the rising conflict between
certain member of the group, including Rick and Shane, and Rick and
Daryl.
Reflect on the first season, what surprised you? What did you like or dislike?
I was pleased that Rick was able to meet up with his family, and that no
major members were killed. the group is torn apart however, by the
conflict between Shane and Rick. I was surprised at how many people
from the episodes would die off, and how quickly the cast would turn
around. There seemed to be less auxiliary members each episode.
How do you think the group dynamic could be made better? (i.e leadership,
aggression)
The group is lacking in strong leadership, because the people who are
supposedly in charge have conflicting ideas, which leads to people leaving
and splitting off. The group needs a more finalized leadership structure, as
to make more efficient group choices.

Observation 1:
Episode 3: Tell it to the frogs
00:30 ~ Merel, the racist and bigoted man from the previous episode, is strapped to the rail
on top of the shopping center. The silence around him is erie for the atlanta city landscape.
He is mumbling, obviously delirious from dehydration, about events of his past. The screen
zooms out to show the empty streets. Merle returns to lucidity, and starts screaming and
panicking about being trapped. The screen pans out as Merle reaches for the saw blade, and
shows the walkers trying to push through the door to get to him. The screens cuts to the
introduction and theme.


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5:23 ~ After the intro, the screen cuts to a scene of the base camp. This is the place where
the majority of the survivors stay and live. Looking over the entirety of the camp, Dale sits
with gun in hand, searching for anything that might be a threat. Lori, Shane and Carl sit by
the fire. Lori cuts Carls hair, while Shane maintains his gun. The conversation they carry
out seems almost normal, a family talking about family practices. Shane offers to take Carl
out and teach him how to catch frogs to feed the group. The impression that is given off is
that the small group of survivors are trying to carry out actions similar to those of a regular
community in order to preserve some form of humanity.
11:08 ~ Around the campfire, the group of survivors sit down and listen to Rick, the newest
arrival. Rick speaks about his journey that helped lead him to the group that contained his
wife and child. Shane, once Ricks partner and best friend, is seemingly jealous at Ricks
family, and sits next to them quietly. The topic of Merle comes up, and the group recognizes
the fact that Merle may very well be alive on that roof. They all recognize the fact that when
Merles brother Daryl gets back, and they dont have Merle, that no rational discussion will
be had. The group goes to sleep.
31:28 ~ In the morning, the camp activities continue. Carol washes and irons clothes, and
food is cooking over the fire. A scream is heard, presumably by carl and other young
children. Weapons are dispersed quickly by Dale, and the men of the group follow a very
concerned Lori to the scene of the scream. The children are all ok, and the reason of their
scream kneels over a dead deer. The walker that came close to attacking the children is now
tearing apart the deer, who has arrows protruding from its hide. Once the walker had been
disposed of, movement could be heard from the bushes in the distance. To much relief, the
noise is found to have come from the arrival of Daryl, who shot the deer. Daryl comes off as
very abrasive at first, and the groups seems to take offence. On his way back to cook what
meat he could, Daryl called out for his brother. After finding out that not only was his
brother left to die in Atlanta, but that he could very well still be alive, Daryl reacted.
Punches were unsuccessfully thrown, and Shane and Rick managed to subdue Daryl into a
position to talk without hostility. After some persuasion by Lori, the small group including
Rick, Daryl, Glenn, and T-Dawg, decide to go back and find Merle. Shane asked Rick if he
has any bullets for his sidearm, and refills it for him. The small recon groups head back to
Atlanta in a moving van.
39:00 ~ Lori finds out from Dale that Shane took Carl down to the Quarry to catch frogs.
Lori is visibly angry at this news. When she gets down there, Shane is already attempting to
teach Carl the art of frog catching. She expresses her distaste that her son was allowed to be
down here, out of sight of Dale, without her permission. She take Carl, and informs Shane
that he is my no means allowed near her family under any circumstances. Shane, visibly
offended, tries to reason with her to no avail.
41:43 ~ Ed, Carols husband, stands over the women in the quarry while they wash their
clothes. When the women laugh over a provocative joke, Ed walks over to investigate. There


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is some tension when it is obvious that Ed is not wanted there. He doesn't quite understand,
or chooses not to, but stays. Andrea tells Ed to do his own laundry, and throws his trousers at
him. Ed throws them back, and tells her to stop complaining. Ed insults the women and
threatens them with violence. He also hints that he is going to beat Carol, come now, or you
gonna regret it later. He tries to grab Carol, and when the women fight back, he slaps
Carol. At this point, Shane comes over and attacks Ed. After Shane beats Ed to the point of
unconsciousness, the women drag him away. Shane tells Ed that if he ever hits anyone
again that he will beat him to death.
44:16 ~ The recon group gets to Atlanta, and immediately starts the trek to the shopping
center. On arrival, they encounter a large group of walkers at the entrance to the roof. Once
dispatched, the group moves through the door to find a hand saw, a bloody cuff, and Merles
hand.
Observation 2:
Episode 4: Vatos

0:00 ~ Screen cuts to Andrea and her sister in the quarry lake, in Dales boat. They seem to
be having fun doing something that was considered leisurely even pre-apocalypse. Andrea
and her sister talk about the differences in the way they were raised, bringing up specifics in
the way their father taught them knots. They realize through this that they are very different.
Andrea catches the fish, and her sister throws them back.
3:29/ 7:02 ~ Dale notices that jim is digging holes, seemingly for no reason, on the top of the
hill. When approached about the holes, Jim does not respond to Dale talking to him. When
offered walter, Jim looks away. Noticing this peculiar behaviour, Dale returns to his RV at
the front of the camp.
4:31 ~ The group that went out to scout and find Merle reaches the rooftop to find a
gruesome scene. Merle had cut off his hand with a pipe saw in order to escape the handcuffs
that Rick put him in. Daryl furiously points his crossbow at T-Dawg, who stands with his
hands up. Rick responds to Daryl by pointing his magnum in Daryls face to deter him. They
pick up Merles hand and decide to try to track him down through the building. After
searching all throughout the city, they realize that Merle cauterized his wound and must have
survived.
8:38 ~Andrea and her sister return to the camp with their bundle of fish, and the camp is
happy that they will eat well tonight. Andrea comments on how badly oiled the boat was,


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and Dale disregards the comment entirely. Dale informs the group of the situation with Jim,
and the group decides to confront him.
11:37 ~ The camp goes to confront Jim, and at first, he ignores them. When he finally does
answer, he is snappy and annoyed. The group is obviously concerned about him, and he
claims that he is fine and just want to be left alone. Lori tells Jim that he is scaring her child.
Jim threatens Shane when he tries to take the shovel, and Shane ends up having to subdue
Jim and handcuff him.
16:07 ~ After searching for Merle for a while, the recon group decides to retrieve the bag of
guns that was left beside a tank in an earlier episode. Although everything seemed to be
going according to plan, a small hispanic boy and his friends attack Glenn and Daryl and
take half of the guns. The group of men escape with glen and half the guns. Daryl manages
to get up and shoot one of the men in the buttox before they escape though. Rick and T-
Dawg get there in time to help Darryl up and bring the Hispanic boy and half the guns with
them to escape themselves.
18:16 ~ Screen cuts to Jim being tied to a tree, and it is explained that he had heat stroke and
that he was not thinking clearly. Jim is very apologetic and seems genuinely bad about the
way he acted. Jim tries to console Carl about his not being back from the recon mission yet,
claiming that he is a police officer and that he is one of the toughest men he has ever seen.
Lori walks over to Jim, and Jim tells Lori that she shouldnt ever let Carl out of her sight.
22:23 ~ After being threatened by Daryl and sympathized by Rick, the boy agrees to take
them to his hideout where the men, the guns, and Glenn would be. Armed with hot guns a
rifles, Rick and Daryl approach the front door with T-Dawg covering them with a hunting
rifle. Carnal, the groups leader, comes out to approach Rick. Each group threatens the other
at gunpoint. Each group want the guns and their people, and Carnal tells Rick to give him
the guns, or fight for Glenn.The Group take the boy back to a small room where they discuss
what to do. Eventually, they decide that Glenn is worth saving, and return to Carnal. After
an aggressive conversation, both groups are up at arms with each other. Just as both groups
are about to open fire, an elderly woman walks in and stops the fight under the premise that
she thinks Rick was there to arrest her grandson. Realizing that neither group wanted to hurt
the feelings of an old woman, they take Rick to Glenn. It turns out that the group that was
holding Glenn hostage was a group trying to take care of the elderly people who were left in
Atlanta. Rick feels for the group, and commends Carnal on his leadership. Rick leaves with
Glenn and his hat, but gives Carnal a few guns before they go. They see that their car has
been stolen, and start runnin back to camp after the realization that Merle would be bringing
vengeance back to camp.
37:32 ~ Sitting around the fire, the camp is having a fish fry. The atmosphere seems happy,
and the group forgets the trouble of the past. Conversation is made, with one of the group


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members asking Dale why he still winds his watch. Dale responds by saying that even if the
world has ended, time is a very valuable resource, and it is worth keeping track of. He
claims that it is worth holding on to some of the small things from the pre-apocalyptic era, as
to remain human. This is when the undead attack..
39:47 ~ After going to the bathroom, Andreas sister is fatally bitten. Rick and the recon
group are close to camp, and hear the screams and gunshots. The camp fights back against
the undead, attempting to shuffle the woman and children to the RV, while the men fight
back with whatever they can find. Just as it seems that the group is about to be overrun, Rick
and the recon group returns and helps to clear out the remaining walkers. Rick is reunited
with his family, and peace returns once again. As Andreas sister lay dying in her arms, Jim
remembers why he was digging all the holes, they were graves.
Observation 3:
Episode 5: Wildfire:
0:00 ~ The group sorts through the dead from the attack, burying members of their group,
and burning the walkers in a mass grave. Glenn gets angry with Daryl when he tries to put a
member of their group in the mass grave, claiming that they have to be humane and put
friends where friends belong. The rest of the group takes turns stabbing walkers in the head
to ensure they dont come back, and tossing them into the fire.
2:17 ~ Andrea lays over the body of her dead sister, and the group is worried about Andrea,
and about her sister turning into a walker soon. When Rick approaches Andrea about the
issue of her sisters turning, she pulls a gun on him and threatens to kill him. The group
knows its a time bomb, but they have to let her morne.
5:41 ~ A member of the group notices that Jim is bit, and it is brought to the groups
attention. The group is in disbelief, and has no idea what to do. Some members, including
Daryl, want to kill Jim on the spot, while others, including Rick, want to take Jim back to
Atlanta to the CDC. Shane disagrees and says that the group should go the local military
base as it is probably safest place around.
12:50 ~ Andrea notices her sister shallow breathing, as her sister comes back to life. Her
hands start to twitch and her eyes slowly open, revealing the glazed over eyes that mark the
undead. Andrea starts to stroke the walkers hair, almost as if the thing was still her sister.
the group notices the walker and starts to move in to act. Just before the group can do
anything, Andrea takes her gun and shoots the walker, hugging her sister for the last time.
They bury her sister in a grave with the other fallen members of their group.


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18:52 ~ Lori and Rick argue over what the group should do moving forward. Rick still
thinks the group should head over to the CDC, but Shane still thinks that they should go the
military base. Rick asks his wife to support him, but she says that she needs to stay out of it.
Meanwhile, Jim is getting very sick from his bite, and it is evident he will need medical
attention soon if he is to live.
25:00 ~ Whilst out searching the perimeter for walkers, Shane and Rick talk about their
differing plans. When they split off, Rick walks in front of Shane, and shane has a moment
where he considers shooting Rick in the back. Dale catched him doing this and gives him a
very disapproving look. Shane advises the Dale to move forward.
33:01 ~ On the groups way to the CDC, Jims sickness gets even worse, and he can't take
the travel any more. He knows that he is a dead man, and decides he would rather die alone,
staring into the sky, than staring into the room of Dales RV. The groups drops him off and
says their heartfelt goodbyes. Jim is departed as he sits against a tree, waiting out time itself.
37:56 ~ A video transmission is started, and it is made clear that the stream is coming from
the CDC, confirming Ricks belief. IN the transmission, it is hinted that the US government
has fallen, and the speaker of the transmission may be the only scientist left alive. The man
lives everyday, testing walker tissue and studying the disease that makes them come back
from the dead. It is apparent that not much progress is being made when an accidental full
decontamination wipes out the scientists work.
43:50 ~ The group reaches the CDC just before nightfall, and no one thinks that there is
anyone left in the building. Most people think that they should just head to the military base
at this point, but Rick is set on staying. Just as the walkers start to come after them, and all
hope seems lost, the doors open, and they are let inside.








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