The reason that the Romero style zombie became the predominant pop cultural symbol in the years after 9/11 is that the zombie represents the failure of the state to protect us. One day you are going to work, minding your own business, the next thing you know people are running down fifth avenue screaming and all the shops are closed and why did no one stop it is this not what we pay policemen and the army for and who by God will protect me now?
The greatest zombie movie of the post 9/11 era was 28 days later because it depicted both the fear of the state of nature but also the danger of authority which has become no better than the beast it is supposed to protect us from. When my kid asks me what this time in history was like I can do no better than show her that film and say it was like that, sweetie. It was just like that.
I think one can say the same thing about the Regan years and Neuomancer, or the Nixon years and Parallax view.
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Just wanted to say that I'm really interested in seeing where you go with this.
ReplyDeleteOh, and that I think zombies, in addition to representing what you said above, are also a symbolic extension and reflection of the state itself. Zombies destroy your autonomy, free will, and render you one of the nameless masses. They're the state at it's absolute worst.
-C. Edwards