Zombies

Zombie in Voodoo

According to the tenets of Vodou, a dead person can be revived by a bokor, or sorcerer. Zombies remain

under the control of the bokor since they have no will of their own. "Zombi" is also another name of the

Vodou snake lwa Damballah Wedo, of Niger-Congo origin; it is akin to the Kikongoword nzambi, which

means "god". There also exists within the West African Vodun tradition the zombi astral, which is a part of

the human soul that is captured by a bokor and used to enhance the bokor's power. The zombi astral is

typically kept inside a bottle which the bokor can sell to clients for luck, healing or business success. It is

believed that after a time God will take the soul back and so the zombi is a temporary spiritual entity.[2]

In 1937, while researching folklore in Haiti, Zora Neale Hurston encountered the case of a woman who

appeared in a village, and a family claimed she was Felicia Felix-Mentor, a relative who had died and

been buried in 1907 at the age of 29. Hurston pursued rumors that the affected persons were given

powerful psychoactive drug, but she was unable to locate individuals willing to offer much information.

She wrote:

“What is more, if science ever gets to the bottom of Voodoo in Haiti and Africa, it will be found that some important medicalsecrets, still unknown to medical science, give it its power, rather than gestures of ceremony.[3] ”

Several decades later, Wade Davis, a Harvard ethnobotanist, presented a pharmacological case for

zombies in two books, The Serpent and the Rainbow (1985) and Passage of Darkness: The Ethnobiology

of the Haitian Zombie (1988). Davis traveled to Haiti in 1982 and, as a result of his investigations, claimed

that a living person can be turned into a zombie by two special powders being entered into the blood

stream (usually via a wound). The first, coup de poudre (French: 'powder strike'),

includes tetrodotoxin (TTX), the poison found in the pufferfish. The second powder consists

of dissociative drugs such as datura. Together, these powders were said to induce a death-like state in

which the victim's will would be entirely subjected to that of the bokor. Davis also popularized the story

of Clairvius Narcisse, who was claimed to have succumbed to this practice.

Davis's claim has been criticized for a number of scientific inaccuracies, including the unlikely suggestion

that Haitian witch doctors can keep “zombies” in a state of pharmacologically induced trance for many

years.[4] Symptoms of TTX poisoning range from numbness and nausea to paralysis, unconsciousness,

and death, but do not include a stiffened gait or a death-like trance. According to neurologist Terence

Hines, the scientific community dismisses tetrodotoxin as the cause of this state, and Davis's assessment

of the nature of the reports of Haitian zombies is overly credulous.[5]

Scottish psychiatrist R. D. Laing further highlighted the link between social and cultural expectations and

compulsion, in the context ofschizophrenia and other mental illness, suggesting that schizogenesis may

account for some of the psychological aspects of zombification.[6]

BokorFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the hill station in Cambodia, see Dâmrei Mountains.

Bokors in the religion of vodou are sorcerers or houngan (priests) for hire who are said to 'serve the loa with

both hands', meaning that they can practice both dark magic and benevolent magic. Their black magic includes

the creation of zombies [1]  and the creation of 'ouangas', talismans that house spirits.[2]

The name Bokor can also refer to the leader of the Makaya division of Vodou (which originated in the Congo

region) and Bokor also refers to the highest initiation rank in Dominican Vodou.[citation needed]

[edit]Description

Bokors are featured in many Haitian tales and are often associated with the creation of 'zombis' by the use of a

deadening brew or potionusually containing poison extracted from puffer fish. This potion makes the drinker

appear to be dead and thus he is often buried; later, the bokor will return for the "corpse" and force it to do his

bidding, such as manual labor. The "corpse" is often given deliriant drugs, mainlydatura,[citation needed] which puts

them in a detached, somewhat dreamlike state. Its state is likened to being mind controlled. The person is fully

alive but in a state where they cannot control what they say or do; at this point, when the person has been

"reanimated" from the grave, or at least is moving about working for the bokor, they can be termed "zombies."

However, some zombi legends dispense with this more rational explanation, and have the bokor raise zombies

from dead bodies whose souls have departed.[2]

Also, bokors are said to work with zombi/zombie astrals - souls or spirits which are captured in a fetish and

made to enhance the Bokor's power.[2] Bokors normally work with Loas Baron

Samedi, Kalfou, Legba and Simbi (snake loa) plus in some cases they are said to work withGrand Bois, the loa

of the forest.

Bokors are similar to the "root workers" of voodoo and New Orleans voodoo. Some may be priests of a vodou

house. Bokor are usually chosen from birth, those whom are believed to bear a great ashe (power). A Bokor

can be, by Judeo-Christian terms, good or evil, though some sources consider him an evil version of

a houngan.[1]

Popular Culture

Zombies are regularly encountered in horror and fantasy themed fiction and entertainment. They are

typically depicted as mindless, shambling, decaying corpses with a hunger for human flesh, and in some

cases, human brains in particular. As of 2009, zombies are challenging vampires for their popularity.[9]

Evolution of the zombie archetype

The flesh-hungry undead, often in the form of ghouls and vampires, have been a fixture of world

mythology. Dating to more than 1,000 BCE Tablet Six of the Epic of Gilgamesh describes zombie-like

creatures under the control of the goddess Ishtar, who threatens to raise the dead and have them devour

the people unless her father gives her the Bull of Heaven.[10] One Thousand and One Nights is an early

piece of literature to reference ghouls. A prime example is the story "The History of Gherib and His

Brother Agib" (from Nights vol. 6), in which Gherib, an outcast prince, fights off a family of ravenous

ghouls, enslaves them, and converts them to Islam.[11]

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, while not a zombie novel proper, prefigures many 20th century ideas about

zombies in that the resurrection of the dead is portrayed as a scientific process rather than a mystical

one, and that the resurrected dead are degraded and more violent than their living selves. Frankenstein,

published in 1818, has its roots in European folklore,[12] whose tales of vengeful dead also informed the

evolution of the modern conception of vampires as well as zombies. Later notable 19th century stories

about the avenging undead includedAmbrose Bierce's "The Death of Halpin Frayser", and various Gothic

Romanticism tales by Edgar Allan Poe. Though their works couldn't be properly considered zombie

fiction, the supernatural tales of Bierce and Poe would prove influential on later undead-themed writers

such as H. P. Lovecraft, by Lovecraft's own admission.[13]

One book to expose more recent western culture to the concept of the zombie was The Magic Island by

W.B. Seabrook in 1929. Island is the sensationalized account of a narrator in Haiti who

encounters voodoo cults and their resurrected thralls. Time claimed that the book "introduced 'zombi' into

U.S. speech".[14]

In the 1920s and early 1930s, the American horror author H. P. Lovecraft wrote several novelettes that

explored the zombie or undead theme from different angles. "Cool Air", "In the Vault" (which includes

perhaps the first recorded character bitten by a zombie), "The Thing on the Doorstep", "The Outsider" and

"Pickman's Model" are all undead or zombie-related, but the most definitive zombie story in Lovecraft's

oeuvre was 1921's Herbert West--Reanimator, which "helped define zombies in popular culture".

[15] This Frankenstein-inspired series featuredHerbert West, a mad scientist who attempts to revive human

corpses with mixed results. Notably, the resurrected dead are uncontrollable, mostly mute, primitive and

extremely violent; though they are not referred to as zombies, their portrayal was prescient, anticipating

the modern conception of zombies by several decades.

Tor Johnson as a zombie with his victim in the 1959 cult movie Plan 9 from Outer Space

In 1932, Victor Halperin directed White Zombie, a horror film starring Bela Lugosi. This film, capitalizing

on the same voodoo zombie themes as Seabrook's book of three years prior, is often regarded as the first

legitimate zombie film ever made.[16] Here zombies are depicted as mindless, unthinking henchmen under

the spell of an evil magician. Zombies, often still using this voodoo-inspired rationale, were initially

uncommon in cinema, but their appearances continued sporadically through the 1930s to the 1960s,

[17] with notable films including I Walked With a Zombie (1943) and the infamous Plan 9 From Outer

Space (1959).

The 1936 film Things to Come, based on the novel by H.G. Wells, anticipates later zombie films with an

apocalyptic scenario surrounding "the wandering sickness", a highly contagious viral plague that causes

the infected to wander slowly and insensibly, very much like zombies, infecting others on contact.

[18] Though this film's direct influence on later films isn't known, Things to Comeis still compared favorably

by some critics[19] to modern zombie movies.

Avenging zombies would feature prominently in the early 1950s EC Comics such as Tales from the Crypt,

which George A. Romero would later claim as an influence.[20] The comics, including Tales, Vault of

Horror and Weird Science, featured avenging undead in the Gothic tradition quite regularly, including

adaptations of Lovecraft's stories which included "In the Vault", "Cool Air" and Herbert West—

Reanimator.[21]

The 1954 publication of I Am Legend, by author Richard Matheson, would further influence the zombie

genre. It is the story of a future Los Angeles, overrun with undead bloodsucking beings. Notable as

influential on the zombie genre is the portrayal of a worldwide apocalypse due to the infestation, in

addition to the initial conception of vampirism as a disease (a scenario comparable to recent zombie

media such asResident Evil). The novel was a success, and would be adapted to film as The Last Man on

Earth in 1964, as The Omega Man in 1971, and again in 2007 as I Am Legend.

Although classified as a vampire story and referred to as "the first modern vampire novel",[22] Legend had

definitive impact on the zombie genre by way of George A. Romero. Romero was heavily influenced by

the novel and its 1964 adaptation when writing the film Night of the Living Dead,[23] by his own admission.

[20] Critics have also noted extensive similarities between Night and Last Man on Earth,[24] indicating further

influence.

Night of the Living Dead, a taboo-breaking and genre-defining classic, would prove to be more influential

on the concept of zombies than any literary or cinematic work before it.[25]

Regarding speed, zombies in recent popular culture have considerably increased their locomotion, as

exampled in recent movies like 28 Days Later (and its sequel, 28 Weeks Later), the Dawn of the

Dead remake, House of the Dead[26], Zombieland and the video game Left 4 Dead. In contrast, zombies

have historically been portrayed as slow.

The recent Greek film Dog Tooth offers a very subtle and dark psychological explanation of zombies as

the result of overly protective parents.

Zombie apocalypse

Main article: Zombie apocalypse

The zombie apocalypse is a particular scenario of apocalyptic fiction that customarily has a science

fiction/horror rationale. In a zombie apocalypse, a widespread (usually global) rise of zombies hostile to

human life engages in a general assault on civilization. Victims of zombies may become zombies

themselves. This causes the outbreak to become an exponentially growing crisis: the spreading "zombie

plague" swamps normal military and law enforcement organizations, leading to the panicked collapse of

civilian society until only isolated pockets of survivors remain, scavenging for food and supplies in a world

reduced to a pre-industrial hostile wilderness.

The literary subtext of a zombie apocalypse is usually that civilization is inherently fragile in the face of

truly unprecedented threats and that most individuals cannot be relied upon to support the greater good if

the personal cost becomes too high.[52] The narrative of a zombie apocalypse carries strong connections

to the turbulent social landscape of the United States in the 1960s when the originator of this genre, the

film Night of the Living Dead, was first created.[56][57] Many also feel that zombies allow people to deal with

their own anxiety about the end of the world.[58] In fact the breakdown of society as a result of zombie

infestation has been portrayed in countless zombie-related media since Night of the Living Dead.[32] Kim

Paffrenroth notes that "more than any other monster, zombies are fully and literally apocalyptic ... they

signal the end of the world as we have known it."[32]

Due to a large number of thematic films and video games, the idea of a zombie apocalypse has entered

the mainstream and there have been efforts by many fans to prepare for the hypothetical future zombie

apocalypse. Efforts include creating weapons [59] and selling posters to inform people on how to survive a

zombie outbreak.[60]

Philosophical zombie

Main article: Philosophical zombie

A philosophical zombie is a concept used in the philosophy of mind, a field of research which examines

the association between conscious thought and the physical world. A philosophical zombie is a

hypothetical person who lacks full consciousness but has the biology or behavior of a normal human

being; it is used as a null hypothesis in debates regarding the identity of the mind and the brain. The term

was coined by philosopher David Chalmers.[61]

ORIGIN OF THE ZOMBIE

There are so many myths about the undead. Just what is a zombie? And what's the origin of the word?

Although there are many different definitions for the word "zombie," from a West African Snake God to a West Indian

victim of voodoo, what we are really talking about here is a reanimated, human corpse that seeks to devour the flesh

of living human beings.

Can zombie outbreaks be discerned in the archaeological record?

Hard zombie evidence is always difficult to uncover. The bones of the living dead are not physically different from

those of the conventionally deceased. An archaeologist looking for evidence of zombies should look for corpses that

have been either decapitated or brained. As we all know, these two methods are the only two ways of stopping the

living dead. Of course, a crushed skull does not necessarily prove the presence of the undead. If possible, scholars

should research the methods of warfare used by the people in question. If decapitation and braining were not part of

their "M.O.," then cranial trauma might be a red flag.

   The remains of a zombie's victim may also tell us as much, if not more, than the remains of an actual zombie. Look

for bones that have been marked by human teeth but lack the scrapes of a butchering implement. This may be

evidence of the living dead, since traditional human cannibals have a tendency to 'prepare' their meals with scrapers

and other tools.

What about zombieism among our hominid ancestors? Is it possible that Homo erectus, or

even Australopithicenes, were also confronted by the spectre of the undead? If so, could zombies be

responsible for the extinction of some hominid species?

The theory of "Undead Evolutionary Influence" has many supporters in the paleoanthropological community. Louis

Leakey even mentioned it in his ground-breaking paper "Lucy Fights a Ghoul." However, in order to test this theory,

one would have to clone our pre-human ancestors, then infect them with the zombie virus. That would be, needless

to say, both financially and politically expensive, and the technical difficulties are formidable.    Recently, a South

Korean researcher claimed to have cloned, then infected, an Australopithecus, in effect creating an undead hominid.

However the experiment was quickly revealed to be a hoax.

The figure in the so-called "Shaft of the Dead Man" in France's Lascaux cave is one of the most puzzling figures in Paleolithic art. It's likely the "man" is actually a zombie. Though this interpretation does not explain the equally puzzling "duck on the stick."

What explains the long gap in the record between the Katanda event 60,000 years ago in sub-Saharan Africa

and the next documented occurence of zombieism at 3000 B.C. in Predynastic Egypt?

Although the answer is still a mystery, more and more experts theorize that the gap in zombie attacks during this long

period may, in fact, be more of a gap in our ability to decipher the archaeological record. One recent expedition to

Iraq believes that they have uncovered a cuneiform tablet inscribed with the Sumerian word for "zombie." Though

others have translated it as "turnip."

What impact did the rise of city-states in Mesopotamia and the other so-called cradles of civilization, like the

Indus Valley and the Yangzte River basin, have on zombies?

The rise of civilization was both a blessing and a curse. Although it gave potential victims the ability to organize and

combat the undead menace, it also presented that menace with a larger pool of potential victims.

Books like Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel completely ignore the impact zombies have had on the

course of human development. Does anyone out there have a global view of how profoundly the undead

have influenced history?

The new book 1490 [by former Russian submarine commander Kadavar Devouravich-ed] postulates that the living

dead got to the New World before Columbus, and were responsible for the annihilation of several indigenous

American societies. According to its author, infected sailors from Europe were "thrown overboard by their crew, only

to be washed ashore along the coast of The New World." The book is still highly controversial.

Were any ancient cultures particularly successful in containing zombie outbreaks?

The Roman Empire was very efficient at dealing with the living dead. The fact that they referred to their zombie

containment tactics simply as "XXXVII" shows how practical their legions were when dealing with a zombie outbreak.

Literary evidence for ancient zombieism can be unrealiable. I'm thinking here particularly of Hanno of

Carthage's ca. 500 B.C. reports of zombies on the African coast, which are highly suspect, to put it mildly.

What can archaeology bring to the table in terms of the study of ancient zombies to augment or even correct

textual scholarship?

Unfortunately most authors, then and now, are mainly just concerned with selling books. Hanno's accounts might

have been "sexed up" by either himself, his editor, or even subsequent translators. Modern archaeology, largely

unconcerned with profit margins, gives us an unbiased view of the history of zombies.

When excavating a possible zombie archaeological site, what special precautions can be taken to protect the

people digging at the site?

Be extremely careful when excavating sealed tombs. The lack of oxygen might have retarded the living dead's

already slow rate of decomposition. Arctic or subarctic environments are considered the "hottest" danger zones

because a reanimated ghoul may thaw even after centuries of frozen imprisonment; another reason to be concerned

about global warming.

Does the archaeological record hold any zombie-related lessons for us today? What can our ancestors teach

us about meeting and, ultimately, defeating the undead menace?

The greatest lesson our ancestors have to teach us is to remain both vigilant and unafraid. We must endeavor to

emulate the ancient Romans; calm, efficient, treating zombies as just one more item on a rather mundane checklist.

Panic is the undead's greatest ally, doing far more damage, in, some cases, than the creatures themselves. The goal

is to be prepared, not scared, to use our heads, and cut off theirs.

From zombies.monstrous.com

Definition of zombiesZombies have been confused with many other monstrous creatures. Monstrous will try to make a clear distinction

between the different entities that proceed from death.

To study the zombie as a creature, it is important to understand exactly what a zombie is. First, we need to

differentiate between two common terms used for zombies, Undead and Zombie. 

Undead is a collective name for fictional, mythological, or legendary beings that are deceased yet behave as if alive.

Undead may be incorporeal, such as ghosts, or corporeal, such as vampires and zombies. Undead are featured in

the legends of most cultures and in many works of fantasy and horror fiction. Azombie is a dead person that is

brought back to life through a curse (voodoo, necromancy) or a mutation and has recovered some vital functions like

movement. 

They are speechless, near-mindless, possessing little reasoning power, though many can perform automatic

movement and "remembered behaviors" from their mortal existence.

Zombies are omnipresent in the folklore of Haiti, where they are created by voodoo, an African type of black

witchcraft. More recently, zombies films have exposed new theories according to which man-made virus or genetic

experiments are held responsible for the creation of zombies. Such films put a strong emphasis on flesh and blood:

rotting bodies and their attendant maggots, as well as the still-warm gore resulting from savage, often cannibalistic

attacks upon the living.

Zombie Etymology

There are several possible etymologies of the word zombie. One of the possible origins is jumbie, which comes from

the Carribean term for ghost.

Another possible origin is the word nzambi  which in Kongo means ‘spirit of a dead person’.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word zombie originates from the word zonbi, used in the Louisiana

Creole or the Haitian Creole. According to the Creole culture, a zonbi represents a person who died and was then

brought to life without speech or free will. 

The followers of Vodou believe that a dead person can be revived by a sorcerer.  After being revived, the zombies

remain under the control of the sorcerer because they have no will of their own.

Zombi is also another name for a Voodoo snake god.

Why Don't Zombies Attack Each Other?Zombies are firstly motivated by their hunger for flesh of living humans. They don’t like the rotten flesh of their

siblings. Zombies can both smell the unpleasant flesh of other zombies, but also smell the fresh flesh of living

humans.

 

How do you kill a zombie?To kill a zombie for sure you have to destroy his brain. Afterwards, it is also recommended that you burn the corpse

to completely destroy any chance of infection.

 

Do zombies have super strength?No, a zombie is not stronger than before dying from the virus. However, his hunger for flesh and a total lack of

inhibitors/fear give him the unfair advantage of a firm grip, not much different than the pit bull. In the case of undeads,

since the body is slowly decaying, their strength will slowly decline and wane after a few weeks. The fast “enraged”

zombies will remain healthy probably longer but it depends on the type of virus.

 

Why do zombies moan and not talk?They simply don't have the brain capacity for such a thing. Zombies function on only the most basic level of thinking,

basic instincts and reactions.

 

Can I outrun a zombie?It depends entirely on which type of zombie you find yourself up against. If they are of the 'plodding' variety

(see Dawn of the Dead) then yes, the average human can indeed outrun a zombie. If you find yourself up against fast

‘enraged’ zombies, like the ones in 28 Days Later, you will need to be in good shape.

Remember that, after all, Zombies don't feel pain and as a result can push their bodies well beyond the normal

human pain threshold. You'll eventually get cramps and need to stop.

 

What is Z-Day ?Z-Day refers to a war between humans and zombies following a Zombie out break and was coined by Author Max

Brooks. The term is derived from the D-Day which was used by the British as a codename for Operation Overload

also known as the Normandy Landings which happened during World War 2.

 

How can I tell if someone is a zombie?The defining features of a Zombie are as follows:

Extreme Restlessness

Pale Complexion

Uncommunicative, inability to form a sentence, may groan

Poor Bodily Hygiene, bad breath, may be covered in blood, flatulence is frequent

May appear drunk, cannot drive

Seem to have an insatiable urge to grab you

 

Do zombies live forever?No they do not. Eventually (after many months/years), a decaying zombie will breakdown to the point where it cannot

function.

 

Can zombies talk to each other?Some people believe that the moaning zombies make in some way lets them communicate with each other. It is the

same question as "Can cows talk to each other? "

 

In what ways can I become infected?Viruses spread in many ways; they can be transmitted and carried by vectors such as blood-sucking insects.

Influenza viruses are spread by coughing and sneezing. The norovirus and rotaviruses, common causes of viral

gastroenteritis, are transmitted by the faecal-oral route and are passed from person to person by contact, entering the

body in food or water. HIV is one of several viruses transmitted through sexual contact or by exposure to infected

blood. In case of a pandemic, wear a mask and avoid any contact.

 

Where do I go in the event of an actual zombies apocalypse ?In the event of an actual zombie apocalypse, citizens are advised to stay indoors. However, if the place is not safe

and sooner or later because of the lack of supplies, you will need to go outdoors for find food, water, medical supplies

or weapons. We advise to head for military bases which should have measures in place to ward off an attack and

plentiful medical supplies as well as weapons, food and water. Many underground bunkers exist for the purpose of

nuclear attacks. Police stations and commercial malls are alternate destinations where you may find supplies and

survivors if any exist.

ZOMBIE SOCIOLOGY

Solitary zombies are very rare. Zombies tend to gather in groups called packs or hordes. Within days of the onset of a

plague, packs made up of dozens of zombies will have formed.

Zombie researchers believe that the pack fulfils some primal need for community and connection. However, it is

actually disadvantageous for zombies to pack together as it makes them more conspicuous, as well as making it

more difficult for all to get to feed.

Within the pack, zombies will assemble themselves into approximations of family units, with children, parents and

grandparents huddling together. A group of stronger, quicker zombies will take the lead in hunting and will eat first.

The zombie leader is called ‘Big Daddy’ in Romero’s Land of the Dead.

The cooperation zombies display in hunting generally vanishes when they start feeding. Many zombies receive

serious wounds from other zombies during a feeding frenzy. Hungry zombies leave nothing but the bones, which they

break open to get to the marrow. Well fed zombies will stick to the nutritious brain and bone marrow, leaving the rest

of the viscera for the weaker members of the pack. Only in times when the food supply is plentiful will a zombie

share.

Zombies tend to gravitate around the places of their former selves. Whether they are drawn here by nostalgia or just

say ambushed in wait for human food is something that needs to be discussed. Actually, it is very rare to find

zombies in countryside areas, they prefer to stick to town centers and larger cities.

ZOMBIE WEAKNESSES

The zombie's strength level is at normal human-levels, but they are considerably slower that average humans,

possessing poor agility and coordination. Most zombies have difficulty with simple mechanical objects and obstacles

such as doorknobs, latches, stairs, and fences.

When confronted individually, zombies appear rather weak, but the creature's true threat is revealed when they are

encountered in huge numbers. These relentless legions of tireless, flesh-eating machines will assault you on every

side and corner until you fall and there comes the lunch.

ZOMBIE POWERS

Page 1 of 4

Zombies never sleep, and they are incapable of fatigue. Fatigue in the muscles is caused by a lactic acid build up.

Zombies are incapable of producing this acid. Since they are incapable of producing lactic acid in the muscle tissue

they feel no symptoms of fatigue.

Zombies are impervious to pain and require no air to breathe. The small portion of the brain which the parasite needs

requires such a small amount of oxygen that simply by being in an environment where oxygen is present will suffice.

This means, obviously, that a zombie can survive on land; however, this also means that a zombie can survive under

water as water is one part oxygen.

They are thus immune to drugs, poisons, gases, extremes of temperature and pressure, high voltage electricity,

suffocation, and drowning.  

While not invulnerable to physical injury, zombies can suffer great damage to their bodies (including dismemberment)

without being adversely affected. Dismembering the legs will render the zombie immobile, but the creature will still

continue to subsist. Likewise, decapitation will incapacitate the body, but the head will still "live".

Zombies don’t possess any superhuman strength, nor do they have a night vision, characteristic usually common to

undead monsters.

Zombies have no concept of fear. You cannot scare a zombie. The small amount of brain that they have does not

process fear. A zombie will see you and feel the need to kill you without being intimidated by the number or the

weapons

Page 2 of 4

 “walk or die” has been replaced by “die and walk”. The most terrific aspect of the zombie is that it first appears as the

casual shape of a typical civilian which mind has been sucked out and left empty. Zombies are terrific because

instead of delicately sucking your blood as the vampire, they come in disguise and brutally tear you into pieces.

The deactivation of a zombie's nervous system, caused by the curse or chemical and genetic alterations, has often

been used to explain their very low mobility and rate of metabolism. The chemicals in the human hypothalamus acts

as a stimulant for their metabolism, prolonging their not-quite-dead condition. 

Page 3 of 4

Zombies created by voodoo tend to be harmless, and are often used as slaves by the witch doctors that have created

them.

In spite of its rather feeble intelligence, the hollywood zombie is a both intellectually and physically driven only by his

all-consuming hunger for fresh human flesh. Why the dead are so hungry for living flesh is still unclear?.

As a slightly potty researcher illustrates in Day of the Dead, the dead do not need to eat, they reach for live flesh even

when they have no mouth or gullet, even when their stomachs have been removed. The impulse is part of their very

fibre, a spiritual craving. They are dead, and death wants to consume life. It is an image of insatiable nihilism that is

hard to resist.

In Romero’s trilogy and sequels, the world has discovered that these zombies are particularly fond of human brains,

requiring the chemicals in the hypothalamus for maintaining their existence.

Some cases of vampiric zombies have also been recorded.

Zombies are also known to locate easily their preys across walls and distance. Do they smell living flesh like our Ogre

of the fairy folklore?

Page 4 of 4

Another deadly aspect of the zombie is their ability to rapidly spread their undead scourge, increasing their numbers

to vast measures. The bite of a zombie will cause its victim to quickly grow sick and die (usually within 3 days), only

to rise again as a zombie.

There is no known cure for this virus. Excision and cauterization of the "bite-infected" area (e.g. - removing a hand or

arm, etc.) has proven to be completely ineffective in halting a victim's metamorphosis into the Living Dead.

The fact that the majority of the zombie movies arrived during the 80s during the height of the AIDS epidemic is

difficult to overlook. The second wave that occurs after 2003 seems to be related with the bird flue and the H1N1

pandemic.

DECAY

Another element often found in zombie films is the freakiness of familiarity the victims seem to have with the

creatures attacking them. When the main character is attacked by a zombie who was originally a friend or a loved

one and want to turn it into his next meal, there are no limits to sheer horror.

No matter how well you used to know a person, as soon as he or she dies and comes back to life, all bonds are

broken and you are now no more to him than the next meal. Brother devouring sister or daughter devouring mother

and father are commonplace in the modern zombie films.

The unity of the family is then broken by the zombie plague.  Night of the Living Dead also succeeded in shattering

taboos of family and personal relations that had, until that time, been left untouched by American culture. Upon

transformation into zombies, the characters in the film lost all moral responsibility, allowing them to indulge in such

monstrous activity as incest, cannibalism and paricide.

In the late 1960s, America was brutally confronted to the horror of the Vietnam War. With the brutal onslaught of

gruesome imagery generated by the media buzz surrounding the war, America no longer needed "monsters" to scare

them. The horror generated by mankind was scary enough. Night of the Living Dead capitalized on this by resorting

to the same nihilistic attitude toward death and destruction that was generated by the war.

The zombies appear as the archetypal monster of the modern times, combining various elements from the other

myths : they devour like werewolves and infect by biting like vampires. But their power is limited, they are slow and

weak and possess no supernatural abilities. Their only strength is their number. 

The second difference with the previous monster archetype is that this monster is “empty”, he acts much as the

Golem, a death puppet. His absence of motives echoes the absurdity of the Vietman war, and the deep scars it left to

America.

SURVIVING ZOMBIES

Page 1 of 5

Zombies have become a popular subject amongst the media, authors and the movie industry. This is great for making

people aware of the zombie threat; however, like anything else touched by these forms of mass media, there are a lot

of misconceptions and exaggerations that can lead to death in real life crisis situations.

It is not our aim to deter you from watching sweet zombie films or reading zombie books, it’s fun but do not base your

survival on them and stick to the hard facts.

Page 2 of 5

 

1. Don't panic.

2. Get away from the zombies. Most of the time, you can move faster than they can.

3. Get your survival kit or gather food, water, an emergency radio, flashlights and weapons, and retreat to a secure

location.

4. If possible, retreat to a military base, shopping mall, general retail store or other location where you'll have easy

access to food and supplies.

5. Stay away from densely populated areas, where the infestation is likely to be heaviest.

6. Barricade all entrances and stay put at all costs.

7. Don't get surrounded or backed into a corner or other enclosed space such as an elevator, a bathroom or a cellar.

8. Remember that anyone bitten or killed by a zombie will become a threat to you and your party.

9. Wait patiently for rescue and make long-term preparations for your survival.

Also, avoid common mistakes like:

Sheltering in a vehicle to which you do not have the keys.

Leaving blades, cudgels or other basic weapons out for zombies to find.

Teaching zombies how to use firearms.

Giving your only weapon to anyone who is hysterical.

Retreating to a basement or cellar without taking supplies with you.

Getting into an elevator in a building infested with zombies.

Letting personal feelings and arguments get in the way of survival.

Page 3 of 5

Mass hysteria has a way of showing its face whenever tragedy strikes. It has been said that a person is smart, but

people are idiots. This is a sad reality when it comes to catastrophic events.

The major advantage of having a large group is manpower, making the group more capable of fending off large

swarms of zombies. In this way large groups can be considered safer, though, as mentioned above, there are

drawbacks. Bigger groups will eat up food supplies much faster, making large groups less effective in a siege

situation. Secondly, larger groups will attract more zombies. Again, this will make siege situations much more difficult.

Once the word is out and zombies begin seriously popping up, small groups will begin to form. It’s a sort of  'we’re

stronger in numbers' mentality. This is very true, but it is important to survey a group before joining. You may be

better off on your own than in some groups.

On the other hand, you want to make sure that your group is up to par with what is required for survival. If you have a

bunch of uneducated, non-confrontational, zero survival mentality individuals in one group, that group’s chances of

survival are significantly reduced.

Page 4 of 5

Run Like HellIf worst comes to worst, you can always run away to fight another day. This is the Cardio rule number one in

Zombieland that clearly makes a lot of sense. How many fat people do you see at the end of the world when its

zombies doing the ending?

 Hit the road

Zombies like the city. There's more to see there and more people to eat. As soon as the epidemic declare, just pack

up and move to the countryside. Find a nice field (not a forest as zombies will be able to sneak up on you) and stay

there. Become a farmer and wait for it all to blow over.

 Beware of Bathrooms

And any closed place where you can be cornered by ambushed zombies: elevator, cellar, ….

 Driving safety rules

Check your seatbelt! If zombies get into the car while you are driving, you can still use the brake trick to eject them

through the windscreen. Also always check the back seat before entering the vehicle and keep out from the windows

if possible.

 No Attachments

This is a tough one but you can not have attachments. If you got kids or a wife you’re less likely to survive then the

gal or guy who has no attachments and nothing slowing him or her down. Or worse yet making bonehead decisions

like 'going back home’ when know that he whole place is crammed with zombies including your family and

neighbours. Be ruthless: the weak and compassionate will not survive in a zombie apocalypse.

 Travel in a Group

Going it alone gives the zombies no choices but to eat you. Going it with the old man with the limp, the little kid or the

pregnant woman give the zombies more options and you better odds you can run away faster then they can.

 Think of strategy

Remember that zombies are a primitive life form. Their brain functions are just high enough to allow them to move

and attack. They will not feel pain, nor can they be reasoned with. If surrounded by zombies, climb a tree or a wall

and take aim from there. Know Your Way Out!

 Always prepare a lot of supplies

Clothes, gas, ammo, water, food and lights,... You won’t be the sole survivor in the beginning and most places will be

quickly looted. Eventually, be ready to fight against other survivors that won’t hesitate to kill you to get your gun or

your personal reserve of marijuana.

  Limber Up

When either fighting a zombie or running from zombies it’s not a great time to be pulling a muscle or throwing your

back out. Don’t spare the stretch. It may save your life.

  Doubletap

Carrying a gun is a great idea but it should never be your primary weapon. Also make sure that the target is totally

dead. One bullet more in the head will go a long way to ensuring your survival.

Blend inMuch as Shaun did in Shaun of the Dead it’s important to blend in. When the last time you saw a zombie try to eat

another zombie? Make sure to put some rotten meat in your pocket for the smell so zombies will believe you are part

of them.

 Don't be a hero

A good way to survive zombie attacks is to give them something else to chase down and eat – your friends. If you're

in a crowd of people, stand in the middle. Just remember it's better to come up with the ideas and lead the group than

to just be a follower. It's the person at the back of the group during chase scenes that gets eaten first.

Enjoy the Little ThingsLoot a neighbourhood or two, trash a car, speed! Do the little things and enjoy them. Who knows how long you have

to live!

If You Get Bitten Keep It a SecretSo while fighting off that last wave of zombies with your bare hands, you took one for the team. Luckily for you it was

somewhere easy to conceal. It's just a scratch anyway, no point making a big deal about it. And even if you are

infected, the antidote could be around the corner, there is always hope as long as you are alive!

Hollywood ZombieZombies are attracted to light, noise, and meat. Taking this into account, there are numerous ways you can lure

zombies into desired locations. Using spotlights, car alarms, or large piles of animal flesh, one can draw undead

attention away from themselves.

Zombies are highly susceptible to fire, burning these creatures is the most effective way of destroying them.

Weapons that cause fires are recommended, like Molotov cocktails due to their ease to make, large destruction

radius, and effectiveness.

Beware though fire takes long periods of time to kill so fire is better for traps. Since a zombie does not feel no pain

and does not need to breath, a flaming zombie will attack until it is physically incapable of doing so.

Grenades are also usually effective, but not so easy to come by.

Extreme amounts of electrical current will burn a zombie's flesh, thus consuming it in flames.

Zombies can also be dispatched by causing extreme trauma to their brain. This can be accomplished by driving a

bullet, a drill, a long knife, a hammer, or some other blunt object into the creature's skull.

If the traditional zombie was easily destroyed by exploding the head but stronger chemical formula makes them more

difficult to obliterate. In Braindead, Peter Jackson pushes the concept to its extreme limit. All the bits of flesh remain

alive: the top half of a head which has been sliced off by a spade spends the rest of the movie getting kicked around

the polished and increasingly bloody floor, blinking wistfully at the goings-on; one character's torso is eaten away, but

the rest of the body, connected to the head by its spinal column, still waddles around the room; another zombie, cut in

half, spills its guts onto the floor, and those guts then proceed to take on a homicidal life of their own.  

 

Voodoo ZombieThe proper incantation and treatment of a the zombie artefacts such as the voodoo doll can harm the zombie and

even destroy it. He can also be put to final rest through the appropriate voodoo ceremony, which forces the loa from

its body. When a zombie tastes either salt or meat, he recovers his past personality and becomes aware of his state,

immediately returning to the grave.

Types of zombiesThe first approach of a zombie taxonomy that aims to classify zombie types is by studying the possible origins of

zombies.

Two kinds of zombies exists in modern popular culture: one created by voodoo resulting in a spell-bound near dead

state, and cannibal creatures created by scientific experimentation of strange chemicals on living humans (as

popularized by a series of films on the "living dead" theme).

Zombies can also be classified according to their physical and mental characteristics. There are the slow zombies

and the new breed of fast zombies found in 28 days later or Zombieland. Purists will argue that the latter are not

technically zombies but infected living humans.