Zombies are different than our other monsters such as the Creature or Irena. They're a mass monster. Even the original configuration of the zombie, which as James noted in his presentation, was singular (a bewitched slave) that wasn't even frightening (the "master" of the zombie was).
So, why do zombies frighten and fascinate us? How does the new configuration of the zombie as a mass monster enter into it? Is there anything that connects with the later twentieth/early twenty-first century? Are they really us, as they say in Dawn?
So, why do zombies frighten and fascinate us? How does the new configuration of the zombie as a mass monster enter into it? Is there anything that connects with the later twentieth/early twenty-first century? Are they really us, as they say in Dawn?
As you pointed out that the movie mentioned, I think zombies frighten us because it can be like looking in a mirror. When we see these greedy, materialistic, mindless drones, we are frightened that it could be us. Do we actually act that way? Society as a whole certainly seems to act that way at times. Beanie Babies? Ferbie? The Wii? Those were some scary trends that had us acting like scary monsters!
ReplyDeleteA lot of people note that we think it is 'ok' to shoot zombies. But another reason I think we are so attracted to them is because they are a monster we can understand and therefore potentially survive. If humans work together and use their brains, some kind of solution should be found. America's education system and intelligence gets criticized for not being on par with the rest of the world, I wonder if zombie stories try to tell us to not take education for granted.
ReplyDeleteThe films also help us feel better about our current lives. Seeing a destroyed and rotten zombie world can remind us that things are pretty good.
The Zombies in the mall reminded me of Black Friday shoppers, just this mass of people pushing and rushing in through the doors as they are opened and as the employee you just want to take cover from the madness that is surrounding and hoping you survive the day.
ReplyDeleteIt's also interesting to see how easily zombies can also work in comedic horror films as well such as Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland and it was also used as a plot device in the television show Workaholics where one character mistakes drug addicts waiting in line outside a place to get clean needles for the line outside a video game store for a new zombie video game.
I think the thing that frightens and fascinates us most about zombies, is the potential for it to be anyone. In Cat People Irene was a foreigner, in Frankenstein the creature was obviously different because he was created by Frankenstein, and in most of the noir movies the femme fatale was a shady creature from the beginning. If you stayed away from foreigners, creatures, and shady people, you were pretty much safe. However, in Dawn of the Dead, the monster (zombies) could be anyone. The movie portrayed zombies as male and female, as black and white, as young and old. You could not escape the mass amount of zombies.
ReplyDeleteAlong these same lines, zombies also frighten and fascinate us by their ability to be anyone. We witnessed both Stephen and Roger, heroes in the beginning of the movie, turned into the enemy by the end of the movie. A zombie could be any ethnicity, gender, or friend, and that is why the frighten and yet fascinate us.
They are us and we are them...as said in the remake of "Night of the Living Dead". As we always see zombies in movies they mimic the the things we as humans overdo eat/consume. We do everything the same as them so I suppose they are a (not)far fetched adaptation of us.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think what fascinates and frightens us most about zombies is that they come from us. They are the dead come back to life. It invokes some fears like being buried alive, death, stupidity, and cannabalism. It's not like humans are frankenstein's creating zombies, but I think the same type of fear is there. That was once human-me. It's haunting and creepy.
ReplyDeleteYet we like to shoot them, because they are the worst parts of us.
Zombie films give audiences an equal amount of thrills and escapism. It's evident that our society is obsessed with zombie culture right now, Walking Dead earned huge ratings, World War Z is coming to theatres, and many people are Preparing for a so-called "zombie apocalypse" whether it be for for novelties sake or otherwise. In a zombie film we get to escape through the survivors on film and romanticize over creating a new society and having the ability to do, and in Dawn’s case, take whatever we want. This odd utopia will most likely fall apart by the end of the film providing viewers with the thrilling portion of the zombie aesthetic that is equally pleasing to viewers needing a good escape from reality.
ReplyDeleteI read once that the reason people fear zombies more than other creatures is because they are a familiar face (like others have mentioned) that will stop at nothing. They have nothing to fear, because they are already dead. They don’t have to worry about a gun, sickness, other adversaries, weather, transportation, ANYTHING. They are mindless and, therefore, they have nothing that can be used against them that could truly hurt them. Psychologically, I think that makes them the scariest monsters of them all. At the end of the film, or story, or whatever narrative, half of the satisfaction of the good guy winning revolves around the monster (whatever flavor of monster is presented, whether it be a Veda Pierce monster or a swamp thing) being bested. In the case of zombies, there is no satisfaction in beating this foe because in the end, they do not care. They are already dead, so “killing” them one final time is not the rewarding ceremony like killing off a giant spider or a vampire (both which have specific intentions on killing YOU). Also, almost every zombie film I have ever seen (and I have seen A LOT) all present zombies en masse, in a pandemic fashion. There is no true happy ending (ever!) because the fight is one that is never finished. This is because there is always the terror of one more lurking around the corner. One more mindless drone that can’t dehydrate or become exhausted, but can and will seek anyone out with an abandon that other monsters just cannot attempt. . . because they have the limitations of the living (or at least the limitations of being a being capable of thought).
ReplyDeleteOne especially frustrating zombie movie that always scares me the most (and breaks up any zombie argument ever discussed) is the film The Return of the Living Dead. In this movie, the zombies cannot be stopped EVER, not even a bullet to the brain or decapitation can stop them. If you chop off their arm, the arm will move of its own volition. Same with any other body part. In this film, all the “rules” of the typical zombie film are completely ignored, so there is only one solution to their zombie problem (which I will not mention for those who have not seen it). I guess I find this film—or more the concept of the zombies in this film—the most frightening. It is for the same reason I find them so scary overall, because they cannot be stopped. They simply grow in numbers and kill without prejudice. Even Jason and Freddy picked their victims, but zombies are an equal-opportunity threat.
Zombies instilled fear from simply being relatable. They make you question our own existence and fear death simultaneously. Their once living personalities are still presented in their zombie form. Zombies carry this virus which is dangerous for at any moment human life can easily be inflicted by it. The fear of losing an entire human race to a new born - undead race is what really got to me. Zombies ultimately create a war between people, one with a predetermined deadly outcome.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most on the fearing Zombies because they are like us or the worst part of humanity. But, I think it's more than that. Like Jenn said about dealing with our existence and fear of death. Everyone thinks about the afterlife and where do we really go. It's frightening to think we could loose our self control and become mindless servants /Zombies. Does it make us question more about who we really are and where we go or are from.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say that I like or am into Zombies within films nor entertainment but I do find them interesting. Obviously, normal humans don't walk around like Zombies looking to kill and cause harm. However, I do think that some of the characteristics have we humans have as well. I think that we are fascinated by what popular culture tells us is interesting or intriguing. Zombies possess something inside their head that we humans do as well. In some ways we are Zombies.
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