How our zombie obsession explains our fear of globalization
This article focuses on the idea that every generation finds their inhuman monster to portray our fears and larger issues in society. The author discusses how different monsters have represented fears in the America such as villains like Fu Manchu representing the fear of Chinese immigrants in the 1870s to space invasions and radiated monsters in the 1950s and 1960s representing our fear of nuclear war. Gillings in his article says that zombies are our newest monster to fear and that it is indicative of our overall fear of globalization. While he concedes that globalization does provide advances for technology and society as a whole, he believes that because the world is so interconnected that fears from all over the world can be spread quickly throughout the world. Gillings uses the example of the Charlie Hebdo attack because of its rapid spreading and fear of where the next attack would take place.
While I do not complete agree with the point the author is making I do think that it is a compelling comparison to draw. In most popular zombie movies the reason the virus spreads to the entire world is because the world is so connected. This is also true with economic issues, terrorist threats, and other problems that arise from globalization much like zombies.
This concept is very interesting, and I think the motif is explored in more than just zombie themed art. Off the top of my head I can think of several non-zombie oriented movies that deal with diseases spreading quickly around the world. A major plot device of "The Planet of the Apes" is that a disease, spread through LAX air traffic, kills most humans and empowers the apes. Globalization is, in these mediums, trying to change nature, and people generally have apprehension or fear about manipulating nature.
ReplyDeleteMichael,
ReplyDeleteReally interesting article. Something I may look to use in the future...
Why do you, "not completely agree with the point the author is making"? Not saying that you have to but I would like to see it.
This article was very thought provoking for me. What I took from it is that terror can be much like a virus, both in its destructive nature and how fast it spreads. I wonder why the author, perhaps purposefully, never addresses the fact that in many of these zombie or apocalyptic movies a cure is never found. Instead, there is just a desire to kill all the zombies or find a safe haven. This is much like the current desire to kill terrorists instead of trying to figure out and alleviate the conditions that breed the terrorists. Is he implying that the negative aspects of globalization really can not be solved?
ReplyDeleteThis was such an interesting article, it provides a completely different approach to fears of globalization. The recent surge in zombie apocalypse popularity may very well be linked to fears of globalization or perhaps in may just be a fad like everything else. The author does however pose a compelling argument, if a virus outbreak were to happen, it would spread throughout the world quite easily. Such as in less drastic but recent events with the ebola virus.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with Grace's point on terror. The idea of zombies does illustrate that in some there is global terror for the interconnectedness of society. Also, with the zombie idea it is interesting that it puts everyone in a global society. The idea of an apocalypse takes out the whole world.
ReplyDeleteThis article was an awesome pick, and I think the visual parallels it creates between terrorism, globalization, and zombies were really unique. The idea of an outbreak of a disease which mutates humans into zombies as a metaphor for the idea of terror manipulating and challenging the alliances and behavior of citizens is definitely one which requires consideration. Is our increasing "citizens of one world" mindset that has evolved with the rise of globalization one which will facilitate terror and heighten disaster in the face of new terror threats?
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