Rise of the Undead:
Zombies Invade Postmodernism
The zombie horror genre exemplifies postmodernism. Postmodern zombie horror emphasizes style over substance, features non-sequential narratives, and appeals to a postmodern society as it symbolizes local and global issues, questions morals and values, and challenges existing beliefs. The genre also contains 5 key elements of postmodernism.
1. Limitations of logic: The zombie genre presents a reality interrupted by chaos which limits the use of logic and suspends disbelief.
2. Shift in reality: The zombie genre features an event that leads to the zombie apocalypse. Sometimes, the event is revealed and other times it is not.
3. Violation of boundaries: The zombie genre violates boundaries by disrupting the natural order of life. 28 Days Later and The Walking Dead illustrated this violation by featuring main characters waking up to find themselves in an abandoned hospital, completely alone.
4. Use of meta-narrative: The zombie genre relies on telling stories within stories. Shaun of the Dead relies on the meta-narrative to tell the story of survivors amid the bigger story of ethical dilemmas and societal collapse.
5. Presence of fear: The zombie genre plays on paranoia and fear. George A. Romero is credited for creating the genre in 1968. Audiences were both terrified and delighted by zombies in the black and white film Night of the Living Dead.
Television, video games, graphic novels, and even public service announcements have capitalized on the pop culture zombie phenomenon. The zombie genre ultimately becomes a study of human nature which is why it remains such a fascinating topic in a postmodern society.
1. Limitations of logic: The zombie genre presents a reality interrupted by chaos which limits the use of logic and suspends disbelief.
2. Shift in reality: The zombie genre features an event that leads to the zombie apocalypse. Sometimes, the event is revealed and other times it is not.
3. Violation of boundaries: The zombie genre violates boundaries by disrupting the natural order of life. 28 Days Later and The Walking Dead illustrated this violation by featuring main characters waking up to find themselves in an abandoned hospital, completely alone.
4. Use of meta-narrative: The zombie genre relies on telling stories within stories. Shaun of the Dead relies on the meta-narrative to tell the story of survivors amid the bigger story of ethical dilemmas and societal collapse.
5. Presence of fear: The zombie genre plays on paranoia and fear. George A. Romero is credited for creating the genre in 1968. Audiences were both terrified and delighted by zombies in the black and white film Night of the Living Dead.
Television, video games, graphic novels, and even public service announcements have capitalized on the pop culture zombie phenomenon. The zombie genre ultimately becomes a study of human nature which is why it remains such a fascinating topic in a postmodern society.