I'm From The Government And I'm Here To Help!

So what have I learned in my pursuit of knowledge in the field of Zombies? Nothing particularly new, but I did confirm a lot of my suspicions. The seeming explosion of zombie culture (counterculture?) is due in large part that it is an everyman’s monster. It can appear at anytime, anywhere, without warning. The zombie does not need a complicated ritual in order to summon it, nor does it only exist in certain regions of the globe. (Unless we are talking about Haitian zombies, then, well, they only exist in Haiti.) The zombie is ultra-accessible to everyone and every culture. The zombie is not elitist, like Pinhead or that pretentious Dracula who lives in his fancy castle.

SWAG
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Zombies are a blue collar monster, and always ready to work. (Or consume human brains, you get the idea…)

               

Venti Latte.... Half-Caff.....

The sources for my research did not particularly clash much, and were for the most part reinforcing of one another. The one source that somewhat clashed for me was the research done by Professor Sarah Lauro. In the article I read, (now cited here: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/zombies-hey-normal-college-professor-article-1.1284892) She explains that zombies peak in their popularity when the populous feels powerless or unsure of the future. For me personally, this has never sparked my interest in zombies. Although throughout most of my life, there has been a large degree of uncertainty about my future and an over-looming sense of being powerless to stop it, I have since removed that feeling in my adult life, and my love of zombies has only grown. I attribute most of my interest to my fascination with all things macabre.  It is a preoccupation with the great unknown and an attempt (however feeble) to understand it, but moreover, be comfortable with it when my time comes.

www.chrismadden.co.uk

     

 I will still not truly understand the sudden fervor around zombies in the last few years. I suppose why they have become more popular than the Universal Studios monsters of yesteryear in due in part to our new found abilities to communicate. Had there been an internet in the days of Boris Karloff and Bella Lugosi, I’m sure there would be meme’s about Lolzwerewolves.

And truly they are still popular, with a longer proven track record than the standard zombie. Kids have dressed as these classic characters from fiction for Halloween for nearly half a century, maybe longer. Will kiddies out Trick-or-Treating in 2072 still be dressing as the reanimated dead? Only time will tell.

Ok. The green furry knight is a little out of place.
safety.lovetoknow.com

                

By far, I think the idea of a zombie apocalypse has had a more positive effect that our obsessions with creatures and boogeymen of the past have. They have presented the idea of being independent and self-reliant. As any person who has ever watched a zombie movie, or read a zombie graphic novel is aware, that it is ultimately up to ones self to depend on themselves, because you never know when someone in your party or a loved one will be bitten and turn on you.

This idea has sprouted a “Prepper” type lifestyle not seen since the beginning of the Cold War.

"Honey, could you turn on the news please?"
www.art.com 

People are taking the time to stockpile supplies in the event of an emergency, (zombie related or not.) and learn important first-aid skills, radio communication and marksmanship. The last thing you need in an uprising of the undead is someone that’s a lousy shot.

This brings me to my final source of research for the subject of Zed’s. They are the Center for Disease Control.

walkingdead.wikia.com

        (http://www.cdc.gov/phpr/zombies.htm) 

Often intertwined with zombie fiction, both positively and negatively, the CDC taken an active stance towards the recent movement. While on their page, they admit that it started as a joke around the office, they have used this trend in pop culture unlike any government agency has before, as a means of educating the public, even proceeding the Obama administration's response to a public petition demanding a Death Star (https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/response/isnt-petition-response-youre-looking) 

I commend the CDC in its actions as I myself  (being a former Boy Scout and all) have always believed in being prepared and having a plan in place for any emergency event that might present itself.

I keep this right next to the front door
anguishedrepose.com

In total, I will keep myself up to date with this trend as it’s just too much fun not to. As a human being, horror fan, and all around geek, my love of zombies will never fade. That is until I have to start defending my home and family from them as they destroy the fabric of civilization as we have come to know it. Then, and only then, I may change my mind.

My daughter attempting to eat her brother.