8. Why Zombies? Why Now? Zombies are versatile! Scary Funny Social Commentary Zombies as “the other”! People of Color Nazis Communists Modern Day Gladiators It’s okay to kill zombies! Zombies as US!!! The ultimate consumer Unrepressed Fascination with Death Community “When they aren’t eating us they’re bring us together”
9. The Voodoo Zombie! The Magic Island by W.B. Seabrook in 1929 H. P. Lovecraft’s Novellas in the 1920s and 1930s White Zombie (1932) starring Bella Lugosi I Walked with a Zombie (1943) Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959)
10. The Grandfather of the Modern Zombie George A Romero Night of the Living Dead (1968) The ”New” Zombie Zombies as social commentary Post- Civil Rights Movement Vietnam War American Counter-Culture Movement
12. When There’s No More Room in Hell… Dawn of the Dead (1978) George A Romero Post Vietnam Rascism Feminism “The ME Decade” Zombies as the ultimate consumer. Dawn of the Dead Movie Trailer
13. The Moral Dilemma Day of the Dead (1985) George A Romero What makes a zombie not a human? Bub What makes a human not a human? The Military
14. Zombies get a Sense of Humor Return of the Living Dead (1985) Dan O’Bannon and the subsequent Return of the Living Dead Series The Evil Dead (1981) Sam Raimi, and The Evil Dead Series Sean of the Dead (2004) Edgar Wright Zombieland (2009) Ruben Fleischer
15. Zombies in Print The Zombie Survival Guide and World War Z by Max Brooks The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman Day by Day Armageddon by J.L. Bourne Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith Library of the Living Dead Press
16. In Conclusion…. Zombies are the dismembered, half gnawed fingers on the pulse of America’s prejudices', anxieties, and desires. “They’re coming to get you, Barbra…”
17.
18. Document of the Dead. Dir. Roy Frumkes. Perf. George A. Romero, Tom Savini and John Amplas. 1985.
19. Greene, Richard (Editor) and K Silem (Editor) Mohammad. The Undead and Philosophy: Chicken Soup for the Soulless. Peru: Open Court, 2006.
20. Harper, Stephen. "Zombies, Malls, and the Consumerism Debate:." 2002. American; The Journal of Popular American Culture. 15 March 2010 <http://www.americanpopularculture.com/journal/articles/fall_2002/harper.htm#2>.
21. Night of the Living Dead. Dir. George A. Romero. Perf. Duane Jones, et al. 1968.
22. Wikipedia: The Evil Dead. The Evil Dead. 8 March 2010. 8 March 2010 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Evil_Dead>.
23. Wikipedia: The Return of the Living Dead. The Return of the Living Dead. 8 March 2010. 8 March 2010 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Return_of_the_Living_Dead>.
24. Wikipedia: Zombies in Popular Culture. Zombies in Popular Culture. 15 Febuary 2010. 1 March 2010 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombies_in_popular_culture>.
Zombies are versatile!Scary- The traditional zombie “Flesh Eater”Funny- “Sean of the Dead” and “Zombieland”. It’s easier to make fun of people when they’re dead.Social Commentary- Tools to demonstrate our perceived evils. Racism, consumerism, the military, Zombies as “the other”!Nazis- It’s easier to kill a Nazi when he’s a zombieCommunists- An invisible infectionModern Day GladiatorsIt’s okay to kill zombies! Movies featuring blood, guts and gore speak to American bloodlust. Killing without guilt.Zombies as US!!!The ultimate consumer-Unrepressed- Selfish, paying attention only to their need to feed.Fascination with Death- Humans have had customs surrounding death since civilization began. Neanderthals and red ochre, cremation of the Romans, dance macabre after the black plague, veneration of bones after WWIICommunity“When they aren’t eating us they’re bring us together”- Forced sense of community in a community-less America, “We can Do It!”, a common goal in an America divided.
