Photo of Hannah, aka “Bicycle Girl Zombie” – the first walker encountered by Rick Grimes in Episode 1, Season 1 of “The Walking Dead.” Credit: AMC.
Photo of Hannah, aka “Bicycle Girl Zombie” – the first walker encountered by Rick Grimes in Episode 1, Season 1 of “The Walking Dead.” Credit: AMC.

Extended Interview: Robert Kirkman

Hannah, aka “Bicycle Girl Zombie” – the first walker encountered by Rick Grimes in Episode 1, Season 1 of “The Walking Dead.” Credit: AMC.
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Photo of Hannah, aka “Bicycle Girl Zombie” – the first walker encountered by Rick Grimes in Episode 1, Season 1 of “The Walking Dead.” Credit: AMC.

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About This Episode

This is an extended audio interview from “The ‘Science’ of Zombies and the Walking Dead, with Robert Kirkman” on StarTalk Radio with Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Can we learn anything about anthropology, sociology, morality and physiology from fictional zombies? To find out, Neil deGrasse Tyson interviews Robert Kirkman, the Creator/Executive Producer of The Walking Dead, who says that his show is less about science fiction and more about the way people interact in extreme situations. Explore how people establish affiliations during times of scarcity, how group dynamics influence the success of tribes, how charismatic leaders can bring their societies to wage war, and why moral relativism based on changing circumstances can make otherwise shunned and perverted behavior seem acceptable and even normal. You’ll hear why civilization is so important to establishing and preserving morality, and why the fear of a fragmented or non-existent civilization as the result of a major disaster may be at the heart of why The Walking Dead is so popular.

Please note that this is the raw interview, with minor edits made to the original interview by our producer to address recording issues, not content. Enjoy!

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