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FICTION
GENRE “ZOMBIES”
Before
the year 2000, zombies weren’t a sprinkle in the genre
fiction fodder. Although, in 1986 there were two: Joe R. Lansdale’s
Dead in the West and Brian Lumley’s Ship
of Dreams that were quite successful, but most horror
genres novels and movies were about vampires.
The
first decade of this millennium has been called the “Golden
Age” for the zombie fiction genre. Presently, in books
and movies zombies are top banana when it comes to the supernatural
entities in genre fiction. During this time there were virtually
hundreds of extraordinary zombie books and movies released.
Some
think that all genre fiction are very similar. Well, that
isn’t so. Zombies are a phenomenal sensation of today’s
younger generation. The Walking Dead Internet series
proves that beyond a doubt and that these flesh eating grotesque
looking psyches just might be around for a long time.
This
craze follows the Vampire Twilight Saga by Stephanie
Meyer, the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead,
the House of Night collection by P. C. Cost, and
the Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward to name
the most popular ones.
Some
psychologist have set forth opinions proclaiming that the
vampire and zombie manias relate to the overwhelming sense
of frustration amongst today’s younger society. Why?
Because this generation blames their parents and grandparents
for not giving them a Utopian world instead of a war torn
world.
Their
opinions could also tell of an underlying fear of lawlessness
and a growing sense of powerlessness in regards to a certain
elite section of our society that is anarchic and is ruled
by terrorist groups and gangs. Is it possible these future
parents see or possible feel a decline and the demise of the
world around them? Are zombie novels and films the vehicle
to an unconscious, outward manifestation of the hidden mass
psychology of the late 20th Century?
Maybe
the zombie apocalypse-style fiction has pushed aside the fright
of the vampires, werewolves and mummies. And then again it
might be the foretelling of a Ragnarok (end
of an era). Ragnarok is a word used in a
13th Century Norse mythology Prose Edda poem
by Snorri Sturluson.
Human’s
love of horror dates back to the beginning of man, but the
real question is why?
Answer:
The hormonal reaction a person gets when exposed to a threat
or crisis can motivate an adrenaline rush and
it seems that humans are hard-wired to be drawn to this type
of feeling. On a psychological level there is an appeal to
experience our hearts to beat a bit faster, breathe deeper,
perspire and even get a few butterflies in the pit of our
stomachs.
Are
horror films a reflection of the minds Societal Fears?
A step back into Hollywood’s cycle of horror films reveals
vampires of the 1920s silent films, Frankenstein, Wolf man,
and Dracula of the 30s and 40s, Mutant Monsters of the 50s,
Psycho and the Birds in the 60s, Chain Saw Massacre in the
70s, Freddie and Jason in the 80s into the 90s, and then the
Golden Age of the Walking Dead (Zombies) beginning in the
21st Century.
One
thing is for certain the Zombie Genre is unique to the culture
of present times and will play no small part in the future
studies of film historians.
Finally,
in the words of Sir Arthur Conon Doyle. “Where there
is no imagination—there is no horror.” So, create
and write something terrifying!
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Now,
go softly into the night. mgf
Comments
always welcome
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