locating_zombies_in_pop_culture

Abstract

• Overview of zombie studies and sociological inquiry into zombie phenomena.

• Argues that zombie-related cultural artifacts reflect cultural and material circumstances.

• Highlights gaps in sociological exploration despite the significance of zombie culture.

• Identifies three avenues for sociological inquiry: symptomatic content analysis, production analysis, and audience reception.

• Calls for a multifaceted sociological analysis of "zombie culture."

Introduction

• Focus on zombie films as a key area in the emerging field of "zombie studies."

• Discusses the intersections of sociology and zombie culture, particularly in North America.

• Zombies symbolize fears tied to the human condition like contagion, loss of autonomy, and death.

• Modern narratives often depict apocalyptic scenarios where survivor conflicts lead to societal collapse.

• Resurgence in zombie narratives in response to social anxieties post-9/11 and natural disasters.

Significance of Zombie Culture

• Zombie culture now contributes approximately $5 billion annually to the economy (Ogg 2011).

• Zombies feature across various media: films, games, comics, novels, and merchandise.

• Zombies serve as metaphors for contemporary social and economic issues, like failed banks and neoliberalism.

• Equally resonate through various cultural forms, reflecting social and ideological contexts.

A Brief History of the Zombie

• American zombies evolved from colonial misinterpretations of Haitian spiritual beliefs.

• Early portrayals exploited racial and cultural misconceptions without instance of complex literary tradition.

• Key films: White Zombie (1932), influenced by sensationalist narratives from the U.S. occupation of Haiti.

• The 1968 film Night of the Living Dead redefined zombies into culturally resonant figures representing societal fears, especially following the consensus from Romero’s trilogy.

Problems of Definition

• Lack of a united definition complicates zombie studies due to the broad nature of the creature across cultural narratives.

• Dendle identifies overlap with other movie monsters complicating an all-encompassing zombie definition.

• Common themes include their adaptation to contemporary societal anxieties, including violence and disaster narratives.

Sociological Analyses of Zombie Culture

• Avenues of Inquiry:

  1. Cultural Productions Reflecting Society:

     • Cultural artifacts reveal societal ideals and underlying structural patterns.

  2. Production Milieu:

     • Examination of how law, technology, and market conditions shape cultural content.

  3. Audience Interactions:

     • Audiences actively interpret cultural meanings, constructing boundaries around consumptions.

Zombies as Symptoms of Social Anxiety

• Initial zombie studies utilize ritualistic approaches that connect them to societal values and contradictions.

• Critique of how popular narratives reveal underlying social, political, and economic anxieties (Dendle 2007, Bishop 2009).

• Historical contextualization shows spikes in zombie narratives corresponding to periods of social conflict or tension (Newitz 2009).

Modern Contextualization of Zombies

• Post-9/11, zombies reflect fears of civil collapse and societal disarray, with differing ideological interpretations.

• Night of the Living Dead addresses race relations and critiques socio-political structures, while Dawn of the Dead scrutinizes consumer culture and ideology.

Insights for Future Research

• Sociological methods could enhance understanding of audience interactions and interpretations of zombie narratives.

• Cross-national analysis of zombie culture may reveal societal differences in representation and consumption.

• Examination of social events like zombie walks can provide insights into collective cultural expressions.

Conclusion

• The study of zombie culture can link sociological inquiry to broader social issues considering race, class, and gender dynamics.

• Acknowledges the need for a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the socio-cultural implications of zombies.

• Encourages further research into production dynamics and audience interactions to enhance comprehension of cultural narratives.