The Dead Still Walk: White Masculinity and the World of The Walking Dead

In this thesis, I explore how the television program The Walking Dead discusses white masculinity in a variety of contexts. Through a reading of the character of Daryl Dixon and the actor who portrays him, Norman Reedus, the thesis examines how the construction of white masculinity animates both fictional character and star persona. The study reveals that television programs like The Walking Dead can help to discuss larger social issues, such as white masculinity, in a fictional setting to highlight themes such as redemption and the postracial fantasy in a way that challenges traditional social understandings of the world. The thesis also explores the way Norman Reedus, the actor who plays Daryl Dixon, uses aspects of the Dixon character to construct a more traditional form of white masculinity. This work contributes to conversations surrounding popular culture, masculinity, and star studies. In summation this study highlights how popular culture can be used as a vehicle for questions about the current state of the world. Keywords: The Walking Dead, Popular Culture, Masculinity, and Postracial