Studying zombie films

Studying Studying Zombie Zombie FilmsFilms

GenreGenre

A genre is a recognisable A genre is a recognisable typetype of film: of film: romance, comedy, horror, science-fiction, romance, comedy, horror, science-fiction, action/adventure…action/adventure…

Sub- genres Sub- genres are ‘off-shoots’ of a larger are ‘off-shoots’ of a larger category (Horror: Zombie, Vampire, Slasher)category (Horror: Zombie, Vampire, Slasher)

Sometimes a film borrows from more than one Sometimes a film borrows from more than one genre (eg ‘RomZomCom’, these films are genre (eg ‘RomZomCom’, these films are

called called HybridsHybrids

Genre Defining Zombie Movies Genre Defining Zombie Movies ::

White Zombie White Zombie 19321932 I Walked with a ZombieI Walked with a Zombie 19431943 Night of the Living DeadNight of the Living Dead 19681968 Crazies Crazies 19731973 Dawn of the DeadDawn of the Dead 19781978 Brain DeadBrain Dead 19901990 28 Days later28 Days later 20022002 Omega Man/I am LegendOmega Man/I am Legend 1971/20071971/2007 Shaun of the DeadShaun of the Dead 20042004 ZombielandZombieland 20092009

The Genre Cycle (Schatz)The Genre Cycle (Schatz)

The Experimental/Primitive The Experimental/Primitive StageStageA form passes through an experimental stage, A form passes through an experimental stage, during which its conventions are isolated and during which its conventions are isolated and establishedestablished


The Classical StageThe Classical StageIn the classic stage the conventions reach their In the classic stage the conventions reach their "equilibrium" and are mutually understood by "equilibrium" and are mutually understood by artist and audience.artist and audience.


The Revisionist StageThe Revisionist StageNew formal and stylistic details are used to New formal and stylistic details are used to embellish the form and in which some of the embellish the form and in which some of the ‘givens’ of the classical stage are questioned or ‘givens’ of the classical stage are questioned or revised.revised.


The Parodic/Self Reflexive The Parodic/Self Reflexive StageStageA ‘baroque’, 'self-reflexive’ stage, when the form A ‘baroque’, 'self-reflexive’ stage, when the form and its embellishments become the "substance" and its embellishments become the "substance" or "content" of the work.or "content" of the work.

The Repertoire of ElementsThe Repertoire of Elements “…“…the producers of any single film will draw on a repertoire the producers of any single film will draw on a repertoire

of generic elements.of generic elements.

Two films drawing on the same repertoire may have plenty of Two films drawing on the same repertoire may have plenty of elements in common but still be seen differently by elements in common but still be seen differently by audiences. This is because no single film can use all of the audiences. This is because no single film can use all of the repertoire at the same time.repertoire at the same time.””

Roy StaffordRoy Stafford

ROE: Generic ElementsROE: Generic Elements Iconography or ‘significant objects’ Iconography or ‘significant objects’ Setting/locationSetting/locationNarrativeNarrativeCharactersCharactersThemesThemesStyleStyleAudience responseAudience responseTarget audienceTarget audience

Romero Zombie Romero Zombie Conventions Conventions

AAmbiguous Creationmbiguous Creationwe do not know what they are or are why they are herewe do not know what they are or are why they are here. .

AutonomousAutonomousthey are not under any one’s control and function under no orders. they are not under any one’s control and function under no orders.

Reproductive Reproductive their bite creates more zombies their bite creates more zombies

Futile Cannibalism Futile Cannibalism Fragile ReanimationFragile Reanimation

they are undead but can still be killed. they are undead but can still be killed.

Subsequent Threat Subsequent Threat power struggles between surviving humans are more dangerous than the zombies power struggles between surviving humans are more dangerous than the zombies

themselves. themselves.

Rules of Zombieland (Some)Rules of Zombieland (Some)

CardioCardio The Double TapThe Double Tap Beware of BathroomsBeware of Bathrooms Wear Seat BeltsWear Seat Belts No AttachmentsNo Attachments Don’t be a heroDon’t be a hero It’s a marathon, not a sprintIt’s a marathon, not a sprint When in doubt Know your way out When in doubt Know your way out Check the back seatCheck the back seat Enjoy the little things Enjoy the little things

What do Zombies What do Zombies ‘represent’ ?‘represent’ ?

Levi StraussLevi Strauss ‘Binary Opposition’‘Binary Opposition’

Derrida:Derrida: ‘Undecidability’‘Undecidability’

Gothic:Gothic: Loss of ‘Soul’Loss of ‘Soul’

Freudian:Freudian: Thanatos Thanatos

What’s scary about Zombies What’s scary about Zombies ??

Death: The Primal FearDeath: The Primal FearDying: Pain & Suffering, known as Dying: Pain & Suffering, known as

‘Body Horror’‘Body Horror’Dying Dying beforebefore Death: Madness, Death: Madness,

Disability, Senility, Illness and ‘loss of Disability, Senility, Illness and ‘loss of Self’ Self’

Death of Meaning & Social OrderDeath of Meaning & Social Order

What do Zombies What do Zombies represent?represent?

Myth to Resolve ‘Binary Opposition’Myth to Resolve ‘Binary Opposition’

Levi Strauss: Levi Strauss: Human Cultures create Human Cultures create ‘Myths’ to reconcile the irreconcilable‘Myths’ to reconcile the irreconcilable

anomalies created by (primitive) anomalies created by (primitive) binary thinking.binary thinking.

Good versus EvilGood versus Evil

Life versus DeathLife versus Death

Binary OppositionBinary Opposition

Humans create ‘Death’ and ‘Life’Humans create ‘Death’ and ‘Life’

As opposites. They create Myth of ‘Life As opposites. They create Myth of ‘Life After Death’ and ‘Life Force’ /Soul After Death’ and ‘Life Force’ /Soul (Vitalist Fallacy) to cope with the (Vitalist Fallacy) to cope with the opposition.opposition.

‘‘Ghosts’ and ‘Zombies’ created by the MythGhosts’ and ‘Zombies’ created by the Myth

Ghost:Ghost: Soul without BodySoul without Body

Zombie:Zombie: Body without SoulBody without Soul

Derrida: UndecidabilityDerrida: Undecidability

Derrida said that Zombies are a Derrida said that Zombies are a

modern post-religious Myth because modern post-religious Myth because they blur the distinction between the they blur the distinction between the living and the dead rather than living and the dead rather than making it clear- which is disturbing.making it clear- which is disturbing.

Derrida: UndecidabilityDerrida: Undecidability

Zombies are cinematic inscriptions of Zombies are cinematic inscriptions of the failure of the “life/death” the failure of the “life/death” opposition…It poisons systems of order, opposition…It poisons systems of order, and like all undecidables, ought to be and like all undecidables, ought to be returned to order. In zombie movies, this returned to order. In zombie movies, this return to order is difficult. For a classic return to order is difficult. For a classic satisfying ending, the troubled element satisfying ending, the troubled element has to be removed, perhaps by killing it. has to be removed, perhaps by killing it. But zombies are already dead (while But zombies are already dead (while alive) you can’t kill a zombie…… alive) you can’t kill a zombie…… (Derrida)(Derrida)

The Gothic ‘Horror’ NovelThe Gothic ‘Horror’ Novel

The ‘Gothic’ movement in the 18The ‘Gothic’ movement in the 18thth, 19, 19thth & early 20& early 20thth Centuries used the ‘Undead’ Centuries used the ‘Undead’ , often as a , often as a metaphor for the ‘loss of metaphor for the ‘loss of soul’ they saw caused by the ‘forces of soul’ they saw caused by the ‘forces of modernity’: Industrialization, Science & modernity’: Industrialization, Science & Rationalism.Rationalism.

The ‘Supernatural’ and ‘Uncanny’ was The ‘Supernatural’ and ‘Uncanny’ was seen as ‘sublime’- causing awe seen as ‘sublime’- causing awe & terror& terror

Freudian PsychoanalysisFreudian Psychoanalysis

Followers of Freud believed that there Followers of Freud believed that there was a ‘Death Instinct that was a polar was a ‘Death Instinct that was a polar opposite to the ‘life instinct’ (Eros)opposite to the ‘life instinct’ (Eros)

Habitual action, Seeking oblivion, Habitual action, Seeking oblivion, Mindless routine, Loss of self Mindless routine, Loss of self awareness, Conformity & Mob awareness, Conformity & Mob mentality are all ‘Zombie-like’mentality are all ‘Zombie-like’

The Gothic ‘Horror’ NovelThe Gothic ‘Horror’ Novel

‘‘Frankenstein’ Frankenstein’ (1818) Mary Shelley(1818) Mary Shelley

The Vampyre The Vampyre (1819) Poliadori(1819) Poliadori

The Mummy’ The Mummy’ (1827) Jane Loudon(1827) Jane Loudon

‘‘DraculaDracula’ (1897) Bram Stoker’ (1897) Bram Stoker

‘‘Reanimator’ Reanimator’ (1921) HP Lovecraft(1921) HP Lovecraft

‘‘The Magic Island’ The Magic Island’ (1936) W.Seabrook(1936) W.Seabrook

‘‘I am Legend’ I am Legend’ (1954) R Matheson(1954) R Matheson

The ‘Creature Features’The ‘Creature Features’Universal Studios started the Movie Universal Studios started the Movie

Horror wave of the 1930s- ’40sHorror wave of the 1930s- ’40s

(Note 4/5 Monsters are ‘Undead’(Note 4/5 Monsters are ‘Undead’

‘‘DraculaDracula’ (1931)’ (1931)Frankenstein’ Frankenstein’ (1931)(1931) ‘‘The Mummy’ The Mummy’ (1932)(1932) ‘‘White Zombie’ (1932)White Zombie’ (1932) ‘‘The Werewolf of London’ (1935)The Werewolf of London’ (1935)

Studying zombie films

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