Let’s talk zombies. They’re kind of everywhere these days, and while they’re certainly not a new monster, they’re definitely trending. Honestly, they’re not my favorite, though I do love games like Humans Vs. Zombies (a thinly veiled excuse to play nerf tag on a truly epic scale). That said, I do find their rise to popularity fascinating.
I’ve heard several academic explanations for the zombie outbreak. One I’ve stumbled across several times which you may already be familiar with, says that zombies are a manifestation of fears about the economy. Interesting; I’ll bite. Then, the theory goes on to say, the zombies represent how dead we feel inside. Eh, close, but I’m not sold. I think the author had a good idea with the economy, but I’m not swallowing the feels, at least not in that form.
The key is the apocalypse. They call it the zombie apocalypse for a reason, you know. It’s the end of the world. Zombies are the most popular with young people. HVS is played on college campuses, teens buy zombie video games, and Hollywood even made a spoofy romance with zombies to reel in the stray Twihards. Let’s consider the world this age bracket knows: the World Trade Center attack – end of confidence in national security; a plethora of natural disasters around the world – end of faith in kind ol’ Mother Nature; stock market crash/European credit crisis – end of trust in economic systems. That’s a lot of endings. World shattering events are par for the course these days. It’s no longer a question of if the world ends for these people but when.
It’s important to point out other fads. One of the biggest is dystopian dramas. The first to spring to mind is The Hunger Games. In these stories, the world as we know it ends, and society doesn’t change for the better. Every generation sets out to change the world. This generation is ready to change with the world. And, judging from recent history, the only history they’re familiar with, they don’t expect the new world to be a warm and fuzzy place.
Tied into this is the world on social media. On one hand, it’s a great way to make new friends. On the other, the news is full of stories about cyber bullies, and anyone who has significant experience on Facebook, Tumblr, chat rooms or forums knows that trolls aren’t the only ones out to prove a point. Fans are galvanize by issues in their respective fandoms to form groups to defend their favorite ships, stories, and characters (or just AGAINST another fandom). Debates can be vicious. Just about everyone has experienced a nasty debate-turned-brawl online. Many teens and young adults are physically isolated from their friends, and discussions often turn into virtual battlefields.
So, here’s my take on the symbolism of zombies: The world can change at the drop of a hat, and experience says it won’t be for the better. Team up to survive, but understand that your friends can become your enemies, and your neighbors might be out for your brains.
What are your thoughts?
Curio Reverie 