The Zombie Group! discussion

I often have people tell me they "don't get the whole zombie thing". As a result, i committed to blog the things I enjoy most about zombies:

Why Zombie?

The key points for me are:
- Zombies Always Win
- Zombies Never Give Up
- Zombies Are Everywhere
- Zombies Are Individuals
- Zombies Are Inherently Funny
- Zombies Are Gruesome

So what do others think? Why are zombies so appealing in film, literature and pop culture in general?

For me the appeal is the single-minded destructive appetite. It's an amazingly simple device off which to play a huge range of horror or survival scenarios (see World War Z).

I too have a very odd fascination with zombies, although very specifically the post-apocalyptic zombie story. I think they embody archetypical and universal fears of death and mindless-ness, as well as initiating moral and ethical introspection for a post-apocalyptic world (depending on the specific creator I.E Romero V.S other artists). I think most of all I appreciate how the genre can be used as social commentary, and gives us a medium to explore "what would you do".

Alexis wrote: "I too have a very odd fascination with zombies, although very specifically the post-apocalyptic zombie story. I think they embody archetypical and universal fears of death and mindless-ness, as wel..."

That's very true. Right from the beginning of the modern zombies, Romero used them as a social commentary device - racism, consumerism, medical experimental ethics etc. I wonder what it is that makes zombies, in particular, such a good social commentary tool - perhaps the fact that they're a clear human analogue?

Some of the later Romero movies started to play on our pity with the zombies, which seems to me a direct effect of their having recently been humans.
I think they're such a flexible and effective tool for commentary because they are like a morality/consciousness control group. Since they are simply appetite and inertia, the humans opposing them are the only ones making a choice.

Yes, I think that is an excellent way of generally viewing their appeal. I suppose one could argue their embodiment of basic human drives (or the Freudian "id"). With Romero it is mindless consumption, with a film like 28 Days later there is a deeper intellectual commentary on basic instinctual drives such as violence and sex. Because the modern zombie is completely driven by pure instinct, on some level we can all identify with those unconscious drives.

On the flip side, on a personal level, the above needs to be paired with an apocalyptic storyline...I wonder if this contributes to the escapist aspect of fiction?

I agree Alexis. In my original post, the "Zombies Are Everywhere" theme was really about the apocalyptic scenario many zombie stories lead towards. I'm sure it's a personal taste thing, but I love those extreme scenes where the zombie horde stretches to the horizon - or even better the completely empty metropolis.

Through the zombocalypse, there's also the possibility of a "last man on earth" scenario. The scenes in "The World, The Flesh & The Devil" spring to mind for me - New York City, completely empty. Harry Belafonte's footsteps echoing off the buildings. It's amazing they were able to get these shots, even in 1959:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE_gku...

Wow, not familiar with the film, but a very haunting scene; reminds me of 28 Days later. Thanks for sharing!

I think all in all, the whole idea of a "zombocalypse" (haha, never heard that before!) fascinates me because on some level it seems feasible. In Quarantine, it was a rabies virus, 28 Days later was lab experimentation, Zombieland was tainted meat, etc. These are all very possible scenarios. In Eric Schlosser's "Fast Food Nation" there is a passage about how little we know about mad cow disease, and for all we know it can take 10 years to manifest in humans.

Other film and literature "monsters" such as vampires just seem supernatural and other worldy, whereas zombies don't hold that same supernatural distance for me.

I agree, the scenes with miles upon miles of zombies always get my heart pumping, and I so much enjoy the ride of how the character(s) get through that.

I think the greatest fear of zombies is the fear of becoming one. The helplessness of knowing that you are infected, and will soon lose control of yourself; and, in losing control, knowing that you will try to hurt the ones you love, and give them the burden of having to kill you.

I personalty don't really know why Zombies are so appealing to me. It maybe the fact that they are ruthless, un-careing, mercyless creatures that have no feeling towards others and all they want to do is just eat you alive. It maybe the fact that I have thought about a Zombie apocalypse thousands of times and I picture myself kicking their ass with my mad gun and knife skills that I have perfected with practice on the Zombies and where I would go and who I would take with me, use all that I have learned from movie's and shows. Or it maybe just the fact that I love the gore that comes with them. I have no idea why I like them so much it could be just the fact that I'm messed up in the head and I love to watch people get their legs and arms ripped off by Zombies...God what's wrong with me? O_o

What a great way to get them engaged Alyson! I imagine that this will stick in their minds for a while :) There are so many ideas and metaphors that can be taught through these themes.

It's great to be in like-minded company here...!

I agree with everything that's been said since Ruby's initial post. Zombies are incredibly adaptable, and I think that's one of the main reasons I'm fascinated by them. They're a blank canvas - an alternative version of 'us' - and they can be used an infinite range of scenarios.

They are relentless, driven, unstoppable... in many ways they are the Terminators of horror. They won't give up until they've got you.

My first introduction to zombies was the movie "Night of the Comet", I think I was probably about 9 when I watched it. hahaha, I would keep my eyes open for "safe" places specified in the movie for a good few months(the ones who survived the comet were in steel structures). Now, however, I would be annoyed by the zombies in that movie as they retained some intelligence and began using weapons.

All in all an awful movie, but something must have resonated with me.

Ahh... good old Night of the Comet. An online friend of mine maintains an incredible NOTC fan site:

http://www.nightofthecomet.info/

Well worth a look.

My first exposure to zombies was Romero's original Night of the Living Dead. I grew up in the UK in the 1980's, when crazy censorship laws meant it was impossible to get hold of any horror movies here (they were banned and labelled as 'video nasties'). A friend of mine's dad ran a comic store, and he brought back a laser disc player (remember those?!) and a stack of movies from a shopping trip in the US. We sat and watched Night one dark afternoon in the middle of winter, while a huge thunderstorm battered the house. Priceless!

I actually don't know that one, Alexis. I'll add it to my list though, for better or worse! Josh - that's another really good point that i hadn't relly thought about when I wrote that post. The idea of becoming one yourself.... another great platform for drama. I guess I'd not really considered it, because I've always thought that, come the zombocalypse, I'd be happy to be turned once I got tired of fighting!

haha, that sounds like the perfect atmosphere for one's first zombie movie David! I'll have to have a peek at that site and reminisce.

I suppose I should specify: my first zombie contact was Night of the comet, but my true fascination first began with a university lecture for a film class for Night of the Living Dead. I was in awe at how a film I had previously blown off was, in fact, quite brilliant.

I too, haven't really considered the fear of becoming one, although I imagine the ultimate goal would be to avoid this. I think for me it would be the fear of my family turning, especially my 4 year old son. Could I bring myself to do what is necessary?

Alexis wrote: "I think for me it would be the fear of my family turning, especially my 4 year old son. Could I bring myself to do what is necessary? ...."

You be surprised what you can do in a time of death and chaos...If your fighting for your life you will do anything it takes to stay alive....Nothing is stronger then the will to live....

This is true! But if we are talking about fears associated with this particular apocalypse, that would be my top one.

I thought this was an interesting article. Not specifically about zombies, but I think it encompasses what we have been discussing here.

http://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspo...

Sam wrote: "You be surprised what you can do in a tim..."

A while back, a group of us on Twitter started #zday. The idea is that at the appointed time, we start live tweeting an imaginary zombocalypse. We tagged all the tweets #zday, and one website collated all the tweets as they were happening. What unfolded was a worldwide zombie plague story.

What makes me bring this up is the "wondering if I could do what's necessary" idea. The story I created for myself had me stabbing my partner in the eye with a barbecue fork. I'm pretty sure he was one of the earliest zombie casualties too. Perhaps I was a little TOO eager! He must've been irritating me that night....

Ruby that sounds awesome! There have been a number of anthologies I've read that utilized the Twitter medium for story telling.

I think that part of the appeal of traditional zombies is their certainty. We live in a very uncertain world and our relationships with people are complex and uncertain.

Zombies only want one thing. You don't have to wonder will they stab you in the back for your job or judge you for a social faux pas. A zombie won't break up with you or sleep with your best friend. For better or worse, you know exactly where you stand with a zombie.

And because they used to be us, we can project whatever we want onto them as social commentary. I think that's part of their current popularity.

Well put article on the topic!

http://vsevolodphillips.blogspot.com/...

I think that the biggest appeal on the Z-Day is that all the social rules and conventions are lost and we go back to a primal survival scenario. I live in a country where is forbidden to have guns at home, so that's also a pro! and the idea of being a survivor yourself. Everyone thinks: what? Yeah, of course I'll survive, nobody thinks: I'll be bitten on day 1 and I'll moan for eternity, the idea is to be stronger than the others.

So that's what I find so amazing about zombies and what makes me wish for the Zombiegeddon!

A few years ago I got a job driving a shuttle bus around an enormous industrial site. For some reason some of these guys finished their shift at 3:00 in the morning, and one of my jobs was to bring them back to camp.

So there I was, driving down a deserted road in the middle of the night, surrounded by darkness and machinery, when I saw the silhouette of a figure in the far distance. It walked very slowly, and as if something was wrong with its leg. One arm hung slower than the other. In short, it shambled.

My first thought wasn't "hey, that guy kind of looks like a zombie," it was "oh dear God it's real it's all real it's a fucking zombie!". Then the figure turned left, and I realized it was actually two people, walking one behind the other, struggling with a heavy object between them. Just doing their job.

Since then, zombies have been real for me. A part of me KNOWS for certain that they're coming one day. It put a fear in me that vampires and werewolves never did, and since I like to be scared, is my favourite subject for horror.

As to their wider appeal, I think it's a combination of escapist violence (you are allowed - no, required- to destroy them with extreme brutality) and the fact that there is no "boss" zombie. There's no easy out, no magical item or book that you can kill pages looking for. It's survival and horror, and when done right, is tense, claustrophobic and creepy. I have to add, though, that I look at zombies differently now that I have a daughter. I used to watch zombie movies and think "oh yeah, I can badass my way through that." Now I think "how the hell would I get my family through that?"

I personally love all TEOTWAWKI and apocalyptic scenarios. What would I do? How would I fare? How COOL would it be, to be one of those survivors and be king of the world because I can?
Not to mention a few "last man on earth" encounters with the opposite sex...

But I have also read an editors explanation of the Zombie Apocalypse as something like this:
A reason to take out all your frustrations on humanity. That neighbor you hated? Well, now you have the perfect reason to blown a hole in his skull. Those annoying cheerleaders? They'll never play popularity games against you again. The DMV, the IRS, politicians? Don't make me laugh, we never needed them anyway!

Z-day takes care of all of life's little inconveniences... And while the REAL thing would definitely be quite traumatic and frightening, the movies and books provide us with explosions, guns, sex, fear and glory, and a sense of empowerment as the rest of us survive and make the world what we want it to be.

Even the final scenes (like in the Dawn of the Dead remake), where the last survivors are screwed and there is no hope for them... it gives hope for the viewers at home to do what those people couldn't, when it is finally their turn.

I like your take on it Greg. Some of your opinions actually relate to the plot of the book I just posted on Amazon. Voyage of the Dead - Introductory First Look is the intro edition posted last month, but if you think you want to read the whole thing you should go to http://www.amazon.com/Voyage-Dead-Sov...

It's about survivors aboard a ship, watching Z-day take place, contrasted with a lone survivor ashore, and how they strike back and struggle to survive.

For some reason not yet fully understood, I am drawn to anything zombie. Their movies and books have never frightened me or given me nightmares, and in fact, many genre-related things are downright comedic and laughable (many times in a bad way). Yes, they call to me...

I am a big fan of non-fiction works surrounding WWII, especially true stories of survival against overwhelming odds. Others have asked me how I can regularly read about such horrible, true experiences. The answer is because I am rooting for them, looking for the time when they overcome what my logic would tell me they cannot.

Though many have questioned my perspective on this, I feel the best zombie movies and books are also, in the end, stories of hope. When the worst happens, when society breaks down, when loved ones turn on you (either zombie or survivor) - what will you do? Be a victim or be a survivor? Live in hope, or give up in dispair?

This is what keeps me seeking for the best story of hope overcoming the odds.