There has been a long history of interest in death and the
afterlife among cultures around the world as evidenced by the diversity in
mortuary rituals and mythos concerning mummies, vampires, and the undead, and
there has been a recent resurgence with the recent fixation on zombies among Western
cultures. Internet memes, clothing, music,
movies, television shows, literature, and more focusing on zombies and zombie
themes have been mass produced over the last few years, and there is even a
blog through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention dedicated to
preparing the public against a zombie attack.
For better or worse, the fervor connected to zombies does not seem to be
dying down anytime soon (no pun intended).
Today’s blog post is dedicated to the anthropological understanding of
zombies, specifically defining zombies, their origins, their creation, and
their purpose in Western (specifically American and Canadian) cultures today.
 |
| London, ON, 2011 Zombie Walk (Photo by Christine Boston) |
The term zombie, also written as zombi, is popularly used
today to refer to the “living dead,” or deceased individuals are reanimated, but this is just one of two primary
definitions of the term zombie. Zombies
can also refer to souls that no longer have an associated body to reside in,
which in Western cultural understanding is also known as a ghost. For the purposes of this blog post, however,
the former definition of a zombie (reanimated corpse) will be used.
The physical zombie gained popular attention with the work
of Canadian anthropologist Wade Davis.
Davis published two works, The
Serpent and the Rainbow and Passage
of Darkness, which detailed the discovery of Clairvius Narcisse, a Haitian
man who was believed to be dead but was found years later alive. His living after death state was immediately
associated with his being a zombie.
Davis’s subsequent investigations determined that Narcisse was drugged
with tetrodotoxin, puffer fish toxins, and held captive and enslaved as
punishment for being a bad individual in “life”.
Davis’s work initiated further research into the zombie
phenomenon both in Haiti and abroad, and through this research a better
understanding of the origins and meanings of zombies has been gained. Zombies are now associated with the Voudon
religion, which is a syncretic mix of African religions, Christianity, and
other ideologies. Zombies are largely
associated with Caribbean, particularly Haitian, cultures but also found
throughout African and some South American cultures, as well. Zombie mythos are believed to have originated
among African cultures and brought to the New World with the forced migration
of Africans during the Slave Trade. The
mythos has since morphed among both Old and New World cultures as a result. The central theme among all of these
different cultural interpretations of zombies is that the zombie is an
individual who was resurrected after death.
 |
| London, ON, 2011 Zombie Walk (Photo by Christine Boston) |
The creation of zombies is a contentious issue, particularly
given the renewed fervor of zombies and the evolution of the mythos in Western
cultures. Among African and Caribbean cultures,
it is believed that a zombie is created by a sorcerer who either curses or
poisons an individual who dies shortly thereafter. The newly deceased individual is the “resurrected”
by the sorcerer, although many believe that the sorcerer merely excavates an
individual who was buried alive. The
newly “resurrected” individual is characterized as having no memories,
personality traits, or awareness of who they are or were and is, in essence, a “soulless”
being. The zombie is then enslaved by
the sorcerer or to whomever the zombie is given or sold. The mythos surrounding zombies goes further
by stating that zombies should abstain from eating salt, or they will no longer
be a zombie and therefore return to their graves or seek vengeance against the
living.
But why does the zombie mythos exist and persist in cultures
around the world? There are many ideas
out there, but it appears that zombies present a moral tale about the human
condition and society at large. For
example, the Max Brooks book World War Z
ignited a firestorm of controversy as it explored themes concerning human
survival and altruism (or the lack thereof in many cases). Film theorists believe that George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead was a
commentary on the American political system and/or consumerism of the
1970s. And among Haitian cultures, it is
said that only “bad individuals” will become zombies as punishment for their
misdeeds during life, as evidenced by the tale of Clairvius Narcisse who was
portrayed as a ruthless man in life. So
while many different ideas about the purpose of zombie mythos exist, it appears
that the most common theme is the tale of morality, however that is culturally
defined.
 |
| Zombie Love, London, ON, 2011 Zombie Walk (Photo by Christine Boston) |
References:
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/anthropology-in-practice/2011/10/26/the-american-fascination-with-zombies/
Ackermann, H., & Gauthier, J. (1991). The Ways and Nature of the Zombi The Journal of American Folklore, 104 (414)
A & E Documentary on zombies based on The Serpent and the Rainbow by Wade Davis
Personal Communications with zombie enthusiasts
23 comments:
Interesting, my theory about the zombie popularity is the uncertain times we live in. High unemployment, rising poverty, and disconnect between people for a variety of reasons. With a zombie apocalypse, all that crap no longer matters. The #1 sole priority is to survive and kill zombies. Nothing more simple than that. As I joke with people, it won't matter how much money you get in your pocket or how many Facebook friends you have but only how many bullets you got in your gun!
On another more deeper level, we all will have to work together. No more division between rich and poor, black and white, white collar or blue collar, etc, etc, etc, we either survive or die based on our ability to work together. As social creatures, we want to be a part of a social group that is watching out for everyone.
Astute observation and one that has been brought up numerous times by other scholars. But I still think that zombie myths and stories are moral tales, in part, because they did not come about in tumultuous times. These myths have existed for a long time, although the origins are incompletely known and may never be known since there are so many different cross-cultural interpretations of the zombie myths. Plus, if you delve deeply into the zombie stories we hear and tell today, there is still that element of morality present. Yes, it's the end of the world and nothing matters and we're all on "an equal playing field", lacking the material and immaterial social divisions that exist today, but there are still dictates on how we should and should not act. For example, in both the graphic novels/comics (pick your preferred title) and television series, The Walking Dead, we see the characters facing impossible odds and having to make hard decisions, and we the audience know who the "good" vs. "bad" guys are. How many people were rooting for The Governor to take down the prison? How many people liked The Governor ruling Mayberry? I'd say that the minority did and that's because we felt he was immoral. He did not embody what is ideally right. He personified everything that was wrong. So even in the face of tremendous odds, we're still being taught and learning a moral tale.
Absolutely agree with your assessment. I was merely commenting on its sudden popularity in today's culture and why it seems to resonate with people now rather than ten or twenty years ago.
Have you noticed any connections between vampirism and zombism in your studies? I've read several folk tales and legends written before Brahm Stocker and Dracula became famous where zombies have several similarities to vampires.
True, but I think in any time of social or political strife, people turn to morality for stability. How many people turn to religion when faced with a conflict that they feel is difficult, if not impossible, to face and overcome? :)
And I have noticed that parallel between vampires and zombies. It's actually something that some scholars have noted as for how/why the zombie mythos entered certain European cultures, but I have also seen the parallels between mummies and zombies. It's something that I talked about a little bit during my Monsters talk back in October (and I may have addressed in my mummy myths post, and if I haven't, I will in the future.) All of which have the common theme of a fascination with death, which is a whole other post and area of study within the fields of anthropology, and definitely something I want to explore sometime in a blog post.
I never knew that Haitians believe that "bad individuals" will become zombies. I would have thought that it was something told to children so that they would behave. But very interesting Dr. B!
-Cristian Rios
It's not just Haitians who believe in zombies. There are several cultures around the globe that actually have some sort of zombie mythos attached to them, but I opted to focus on the Haitians because of the availability of information. I will actually be going more in depth on zombie topics in the fall when myself and Dr. Lance Bowen work together for what will hopefully be a stunning display of zombie knowledge at the Discovery Museum. This is all in the planning stages, but please stay tuned for more information once we have everything solidified.
I find it interesting that other cultures consider zombies to be ghost (what western culture classifies as ghost). Do you know if they believe in something similar to western zombies?
It appears that the Western concept of zombie is one that was borrowed from the zombie mythos of other (non-Western) cultures and therefore is unique to Western cultures. Zombies-as the undead-comes from African and Caribbean cultures, but the comparison between their undead zombie concepts and Western ones are very different.
Im thinking that the voodoo rummers, chickens running around with their heads cut off and or alcohol induced story telling mite be behind the zombie myths?
Those are popular misconceptions of zombie mythos. Various zombie mythos exist in other cultures, which is explained in this post, but the misconceptions you speak of are cultural misrepresentations of ideals that other cultures value.
While the myth started based in magic and sorcery it now seems to be based in disease in American mythology. I wonder how that shift occurred. Could it possibly be that with the progress of science and the lessening of a belief in magic that a fear of magic transformed into a fear of disease?
Courteney Hedicke, Anth 101
Could be. We will be exploring this mythos further in the Anthropology of the Supernatural course that I will be offering. You should consider taking it if interested.
many people all over the world beilve some myth that there are truly zombies, but why do they assume this? However we celebrate zombies like if it were real. we do in Halloween
briana banuelos
anthro 102 1001
The body without a soul, reminds me of an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer in which Buffy's mom is brought back from the dead. The thought of this being real is terrifying. While reading, I kept thinking about all I've read on Narcisse. It peaked my interest in many of the Caribbean religions and the zombi myth.
There has been no proof that zombies could exist from a biological standpoint. However there have been instances of certain animals going into a extended suspended state or hibernation. I remember there is a certain fish that can live out of water in a hibernated state until it rains and then it "miraculously" springs to life out of it's hibernation. But we as humans do not have that mechanism to hibernate. Cryogenics might be the closest thing we can get to being a zombie. Or if we use Schrödinger's cat experiment [Wikipedia] (If you place a cat in a sealed box with poison, he theorized the cat would be alive and dead at the same time ) on ourselves would we be dead and alive at the same time and therefore considered a zombie?
I have never really understood our fascination in zombies, as I still see them as a character that is portrayed at Halloween time. I never knew the actual background of the human that was tortured and held hostage, that seems like such a terrible experience. But I also know that this happens across the globe, more often than we would want to know. Particularly because of the state of war. I personally do not partake in the zombie obsession, as I do not believe that it is an actual scientific phenomenon, rather than another reason to have another bar crawl and have a better feeling about death. I'm also intrigued by the nature of zombies and their backgrounds having ties to the slave trade. I wonder the industrialized countries started the "zombie" obsession because the slaves looked as if they were dead as they got off of the ships. This could also be a socially made concept, just as race. Only time will tell where the zombie obsession shall go. At this time, I believe it will continue, as alcohol sales and events are skyrocketing because of the theme.
There is a parasite that enters an insects brain, virtually turning it into a zombie, so I suppose that could happen to a human, too. I don't however, see the benefit a zombie would gain with a diet solely consisting of brains. To many, zombies would be stronger than humans,however, other than not being able to die as easily, I don't see why. A zombie would still have a human's body, and therefore would need the same amount of nutrition. This wouldn't be a problem if not for the popular belief that zombies would have little to no intelligence. How, then, would they farm and cook their food to maintain a proper balanced diet. And after killing all humans, how would they get live brains? Animals? Would they have to turn on each other?
What Western cultures adapted to beliefs of zombies? How long do you think it took for the american to follow into the beliefs of Zombies. The only time Ive ever followed zombies are on Halloween or scifi. Its neat to see some of the students comments on their beliefs.
I have always wondered why Zombies where so popular in this culture. If Zombies were real and they are anything like the zombies in World War Z I would be doomed.
-Monique McAllister
Jovie Black
I am a big fan of zombies. I also believe that zombies will some how become active. Wasn't there a case where someone who was high off of "Bath Salt." Eating people? Also, will cannibals be considered a zombie? I will automatically die if zombies become active. Hopefully it stays a myth
Where did the depiction of zombies being brain eaters come from? I think many are fascinated by death because none of us truly know what happens after. We all have our own perceptions of the after life that we hold and believe to be true.
What I found interesting after reading this article was that Zombies can also refer to souls that no longer have an associated body to reside in, which in Western cultural understanding is also known as a ghost.
Zombies might exist in literature and media because people want to see what they would be like without their upper mental facilities. That is basically what a zombie is.
Post a Comment