Zombie Genre
The representation of zombies? Mass consumption!!
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The zombies in films are meant to represent mass consumption, directly relating to humans and their mass consumption of the earths natural resources and how the human race has become mindless without an identity. This is seen as zombies all do the same thing, consume and consume and causing destruction to the earth. This is a representation, the humans/ survivors representing the earths natural resources and zombies humans, representing mass consumption.
To further on that point mass consumption has become so much it is all the human race is thought to be concerned about, or even live for. This is seen through teenagers as they are unable to think for themselves due to the fact they are so wrapped up in technology they have become mindless and all act the same (on some sort of gadget like a mobile phone, android or tablet) representing the lack in identity and incapability to be an individual with ability to think for themselves. This leads to the fact that they want everything (mass consumption) and don't have their own sense of individuality, appearing and behaving in the same way as everyone else.
To further on that point mass consumption has become so much it is all the human race is thought to be concerned about, or even live for. This is seen through teenagers as they are unable to think for themselves due to the fact they are so wrapped up in technology they have become mindless and all act the same (on some sort of gadget like a mobile phone, android or tablet) representing the lack in identity and incapability to be an individual with ability to think for themselves. This leads to the fact that they want everything (mass consumption) and don't have their own sense of individuality, appearing and behaving in the same way as everyone else.
Whilst zombies are entertaining, they have a more political aspect to them. This is because a lot of story lines for zombies are due to mankind having created a zombie virus resulting in a zombie epidemic. This is meant to represent the fact that man kind is killing itself and is going to kill itself due to the fact that they are always pushing boundaries.
This is representing the fact that humanity wants to know everything and obtain everything (mass consumption link) whether it be tangible or pure knowledge which is how it is said the human race will bring about their own downfall as there are some things that are said to be left alone. This can be backed up by the fact that in zombie story lines the cause of the outbreak is because the human race is pushing on boundaries such as finding the cure to cancer, creating more efficient means of protection for soldiers, etc. These things are seen as being done for the greater good, however due to wanting to know everything and obtaining everything (mass consumption link) they are doing more harm than good. Also because of things like nuclear wars it is said humanity is killing themselves and this is why a lot of zombie story lines in the 21st century are built around contamination and infection. |
This is a representation of mass consumption through killing off life by literally consuming it and leaving nothing left of it and still wanting more.
Not the actual sound track!! |
This is an example of how when a human turns into a zombie it loses its identity, which represents the human races lack in individual identity.
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Evolution of Zombies Due to Beliefs and Theory
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A theory on why zombies rise from the dead is due to religious beliefs. It is believed that zombies are minions of the devil and that a zombie apocalypse is meant to represent judgment day. This has been incorporated into many zombie films, such as dawn of the dead (2004), with the quote "when there is no more room in hell the dead will walk the earth" which indicates that there are too many sinners in the world today and that they have brought about their own punishment due to how much they are sinning. This can be backed up with a passage from the bible quote, Zechariah 14:12
"And the LORD will send a plague on all the nations that fought against Jerusalem. Their people will become like walking corpses, their flesh rotting away. Their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths."
"And the LORD will send a plague on all the nations that fought against Jerusalem. Their people will become like walking corpses, their flesh rotting away. Their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths."
Also in addition to this, in a lot of zombie films there is often a pivotal church scene or reference to a church which indicates that a theory on zombies is that they are being portrayed as the devils minions punishing the human race for their apparent "sins".
This can be proven as there are zombie films in which the zombie apocalypse begins die to a priest sacrificing themselves or committing suicide (in reference to the film observed the priest hung themselves) which apparently opened the gate to hell allowing the so called demon spawn known as zombies to walk the earth. The term walk the earth is also used often, implying that whatever or whoever is walking the earth is either not of the world of the living (a term given to the undead, such as spirits, ghouls, zombies, etc.) or that they are not from the earth (a term that is usually in reference with aliens). |
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This is an example of how religion is incorporated into zombie films, and in particular 21st infection zombies.
The clip is from the film 28 days later and shows the survivor entering the church which is a representation of how religion is incorporated into horror films and shows that in a time where the dead walk the earth some believe they need to turn to God for answers. |
Not the actual sound track
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These are still images from a zombie TV series The Walking Dead which show the religious aspect to zombie films and TV shows.
The Evolution of Infection
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Zombie virus infection has been so heavily developed that it doesn't just require a bite to transmit infection. The forms of infection have been developed so that even through a scratch infection can be spread and this has made zombies more threatening than before. This is because the risk of contact with a zombie has become dangerous in terms of contamination.
Also the evolution of infection has meant it doesn't just require a zombie to transmit infection directly through contact as any type of fluid can result in infection, from saliva to blood contamination. Also to add to that zombie infections have now become airborne meaning that in theory everyone is infected and it allows the writers of the story line to explore the different ways of building tension within the story line because now the main threat has not only become contact with zombies but the next barrier is to not die as they would turn into a zombie and this can mean if they are with other survivors they will put them in extreme danger.
Also the evolution of infection has meant it doesn't just require a zombie to transmit infection directly through contact as any type of fluid can result in infection, from saliva to blood contamination. Also to add to that zombie infections have now become airborne meaning that in theory everyone is infected and it allows the writers of the story line to explore the different ways of building tension within the story line because now the main threat has not only become contact with zombies but the next barrier is to not die as they would turn into a zombie and this can mean if they are with other survivors they will put them in extreme danger.
Mood boards
This is a mood board constructed to demonstrate the different kinds of developed conventions which result in DNA contamination, leading to the outbreak of zombies. This can be linked to the evaluation question 1 as we developed the conventions of DNA contamination by spreading the infection through simple touch of the green substance, which challenges the typical biting convention.
Evidential Proof of Developed Convention
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These are videos embedded to demonstrate the different forms of infection that have been developed from existing conventions.
Evolution of Zombies
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The evolution of zombies has resulted in a much more animalistic, threatening and stronger breed of zombies, and this is done to constantly develop conventions, setting the bar and taking the audience out of there comfort zone.
The crawler is a type of zombie that follows conventions to its fullest extent as it shows that it can only die if decapitated or if it has its brain destroyed. This shows the evolution of zombies as in previous years severing a zombie would kill the zombie, however they now have evolved so now they just drag themselves with their hands making them a crawler.
A shambler is otherwise known as a risen dead zombie, and is a primitive version of the modern day zombie which can in ways represent the human race and how much more advanced we have become. They are very stiff and this can be linked back to their death, as when they are dead and buried it would only be logical they suffer from rigor mortis which would explain the slowness, stiffness and low mobility.
A walker is a modern type of zombie that doesn't run and this usually results in them hunting for survivors in big numbers which is where they become dangerous, and this is because a lot a of the times they carry the traits of a sprinting zombie in terms of transmitting infection (for example they could transmit infection through fluid exchange and even scratch). This type of zombie is scene as less evolved but probably the most dangerous due to the amount of them and the 21st century zombie traits they carry. However this is argued because of the fact they suffer the traits of the primitive type of zombies which are stiff and less mobile, even though they are more mobile than shamblers they can not move quickly and are only slightly animalistic.
A runner is a 21st century infection zombie which is believed to be the most tension building type of zombie because it is not so much barbaric like a shambler and walker but they are also rabid The reason they would not suffer from rigor mortis is because their DNA is being genetically enhanced they do die but the cells are not necessarily dead, but rather mutated. These particular zombies are more animalistic and this can be linked to the sprinting, as when animals hunt and they spot their prey they begin sprinting in attack. On top of that they also run with their mouths like animals. This therefore shows how the zombies have become animalistic and to add to that point, an animals primary needs are to consume to survive, and this is what a zombie does.
The crawler is a type of zombie that follows conventions to its fullest extent as it shows that it can only die if decapitated or if it has its brain destroyed. This shows the evolution of zombies as in previous years severing a zombie would kill the zombie, however they now have evolved so now they just drag themselves with their hands making them a crawler.
A shambler is otherwise known as a risen dead zombie, and is a primitive version of the modern day zombie which can in ways represent the human race and how much more advanced we have become. They are very stiff and this can be linked back to their death, as when they are dead and buried it would only be logical they suffer from rigor mortis which would explain the slowness, stiffness and low mobility.
A walker is a modern type of zombie that doesn't run and this usually results in them hunting for survivors in big numbers which is where they become dangerous, and this is because a lot a of the times they carry the traits of a sprinting zombie in terms of transmitting infection (for example they could transmit infection through fluid exchange and even scratch). This type of zombie is scene as less evolved but probably the most dangerous due to the amount of them and the 21st century zombie traits they carry. However this is argued because of the fact they suffer the traits of the primitive type of zombies which are stiff and less mobile, even though they are more mobile than shamblers they can not move quickly and are only slightly animalistic.
A runner is a 21st century infection zombie which is believed to be the most tension building type of zombie because it is not so much barbaric like a shambler and walker but they are also rabid The reason they would not suffer from rigor mortis is because their DNA is being genetically enhanced they do die but the cells are not necessarily dead, but rather mutated. These particular zombies are more animalistic and this can be linked to the sprinting, as when animals hunt and they spot their prey they begin sprinting in attack. On top of that they also run with their mouths like animals. This therefore shows how the zombies have become animalistic and to add to that point, an animals primary needs are to consume to survive, and this is what a zombie does.
Zombie Time line (Please Click Images to Enlarge)
This is a time line to show how zombies have evolved over the various years and what conventions have been developed.