THE TIME MACHINE

What makes the topic of Zombies so popular nowadays?

By Ernesta Baniulyte

INTRODUCTION
Zombie is a person neither dead nor alive the undead. In folklore zombies are walking corpses. They have died, but had been awakened through supernatural means [Hamilton, 2007]. Zombies is one of the most popular topics used in film and game industry nowadays. Zombies are dead, smelly creatures that worship a human flesh, and have an instinct to kill. It seems there is nothing fascinating and attractive about zombies, however movies such as 28 days Later (2003) directed by Danny Boyle, or the American version of the movie 28 weeks later (2007), were absolute success in the film industry. The Walking Dead is in the top 10 most watchable tv series in the world at the moment, the games such as Resident Evil or Paranoia are played by huge number of people. So what is the reason people are so attracted to these disgusting creatures and what makes these movies or games so popular? This investigation will analyse this question. We will use several supporting sources, which will help to understand and answer the investigation question. The sources are movies and games, mentioned before, as well books as Zombies. World of Horror by Sue L. Hamilton, Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders by American psychiatric association, Zombies: Monster Chronicles by Stephen Krensky and Zombies by Marie Schuh.

KEY IDEAS
Kinemortophobia or The fear of living dead

Becoming a hero and romance in the zombie stories

That cute girl or guy youve always wanted a chance to kiss is now a possibility, because everyone else is a zombie and suddenly that makes you a whole lot more attractive. Plus you might get an opportunity to rescue them from being eaten, makin g you a real hero. Then youre certain to get a kiss. [Birlew, 2010]

The wish of killing and release of ID

The ugly truth no one wants to admit. The fascination is not because of the zombies themselves, they are merely the catalyst; the real fascination is with surviving a zombie apocalypse. Being a survivor, playing the odds, making your own rules. [Birlew, 2010]

The fear of apocalypses

For many people, a zombie apocalypse is recognized as a metaphor for the social and economic breakdown of society. Zombie popularity seems to increase during times of economic or social strife. But for some people, the concept of zombies is litera lly terrifying. [American Psychiatric Association,1994] Everyone is obsessed with the apocalypse, everyones talking about financial collapses and wars and has a fear that were all about to die. The zombie craze is taking off now just like after WWI and WWII, all those films that were so nihilistic; there was no hope, people were so zombified from the wars. Weve had huge movements in horror because of our culture. Books like The Walking Dead and World War Z are a reflection of how people are feeling right now. [Morton, unknown]

CULTURAL CONTEXT
African and Haitian voodoo legends
Dead people turned into mindless slaves Drugs/narcotics

Arabian legends of ghouls

Shape shifting demons One Thousand and one night

Vampirism

KEY INDIVIDUALS

Figure2: Cesare The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

Figure 3: Frankenstein Frankenstein (1931)

Figure 4: Activist (Alex Palmer) 28 days later(2002)

Firgure 5: Robert Kirkman, the author of the book Walking dead

Figure 6: George A. Romero The director of Night of the living Dead (1968)

HISTORICAL EXAMPLES

Figure 7: The night of the living dead (1968)

Figure 8: Frankenstein (1931)

Figure 9: The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari (1920)

CONTEMPORARY EXAMPLE

Figure 10: 28 days later (2003)

Figure 11: I am Legend (2007)

Figure 12: The Walking Dead (2010- present)

CONCLUSION
The thought of a zombie, scares people The idea of surviving zombies apocalypse, to be a hero. The only apocalypse that seems humanity can survive:
People control it Mayan prophecy

An opportunity to kill and experience freedom

Allowance to do what is forbidden

BIBLIOGRAPHY
American Psychiatric Association (1994), . Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th addition, Washington, DC: Author ; Birlew, Dan (2010), [online] http://www.danbirlew.com/why-are-zombies-so-popular/ [accessed 26/03/2012] Hamilton, Sue L. (2007) Zombies. World of Horror, ABDO ; Krensky, Stephen (2007), Zombies: Monster Chronicles, Lerner Publications, USA Morton, Shayne (unknown) [online] http://www.atlantamagazine.com/features/story.aspx?ID=1531520 [accessed 26/03/2012] Schuh, Marie (2006) Zombies, Capstone press, USA

Figure 1 eso-garden.com (2007) http://www.esogarden.com/index.php?/weblog/sacred_arts_of_haitian_vodou/ [accessed 27/03/2012] Figure 2 eric.b.olsen.tripod.com (unknown) [online] http://eric.b.olsen.tripod.com/caligari.html [accessed 27/03/2012] Figure 3, screencrave.com (unknown) [online] http://screencrave.com/2010-12-02/sony-developingcontemporary-frankenstein-remake/ [accessed 27/03/2012] Figure 4, brickthrewglass.com (unknown) [online] http://www.brickthrewglass.com/index.php/Archives/ [accessed 27/03/2012] Figure 5, xfinity.com (2012), [online] http://xfinity.comcast.net/blogs/tv/2012/02/10/walking-dead-creatorrobert-kirkman-being-sued-by-former-collaborator/ [accessed 27/03/2012] Figure 6, andyerupts.com (2012) [online] http://www.andyerupts.com/2012/02/this-day-in-horror-february4th-happy-birthday-george-a-romero/[accessed 27/03/2012] Figure 7, soundsonsight.com (2011) [online] http://www.soundonsight.org/the-grindhouse-that-wouldntdie/night-of-the-living-dead-2/[accessed 27/03/2012] Figure 8, tvtropes.org (unknown) [online] http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Frankenstein[accessed 27/03/2012] Figure 9, themoviebros.com (20111) [online] http://themoviebros.com/2011/01/25/the-cabinet-of-dr-caligari1919/[accessed 27/03/2012] Figure 10 loftcinema.com (unknown) [online] http://www.loftcinema.com/node/702[accessed 27/03/2012] Figure 11 filmai.us (unknown) [online] http://www.filmai.us/2010/08/08/as-esu-legenda-i-am-legend2007.html[accessed 27/03/2012] Figure 12 colllider.com (2011) [online] http://collider.com/the-walking-dead-season-one-blu-raydvd/68333/[accessed 27/03/2012]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS