Pop culture is obsessed with the living dead

Posted by Alan Knox on Jul 14, 2011 in blog links | 3 comments

My co-conspirator Dan at “Zombie Theology” wrote an excellent editorial that we published yesterday. The editorial was called “Why We’re Obsessed With the Living Dead.”

The article looks at our culture’s obsessions with the undead, especially zombies. But, of course, society’s obsession with the undead doesn’t stop at zombies – just look at the popularity of the Twilight books and movies and TV shows like True Blood. But, why? What causes this obsession.

Dan suggests that zombies demonstrate what we fear most and what we respect most:

Zombies demonstrate the best and worst in humanity. There are two traits that almost entirely define the undead: large groups and undeterred motivation…

We fear the masses, we fear being the lone stand out among the larger group. We are more comfortable conforming than fighting. Zombies tap into this deep fear within us…

Zombies demonstrate something we all wish we had: undeterred motivation. They have a single goal and a single passion to pursue that goal. In a weird way, this drive, this passion, this single-minded focus on a goal is something we wish we had…

Whether you like zombies and other horror genres and creatures or not, this editorial offers alot to think about.

What do you think? Is our culture obsessed with the undead because they represent the best and worst of humanity? Can believers use this obsession to help people grow as a disciple of Christ?