tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post3156723909841234876..comments2023-09-29T05:32:04.308-07:00Comments on StrangePegs: Zombies: A Cultural MetaphorAndrew Leonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-69867183981083055582014-11-03T16:28:05.645-08:002014-11-03T16:28:05.645-08:00Interesting theories in the post and comments as w...Interesting theories in the post and comments as well. Different than my thoughts for the most part, but in some ways related. I'll link to this post in the zombie post that I'll be doing soon.<br /><br />Lee<br /><a href="http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Tossing It Out</a><br /><br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-59155702880809413882011-06-12T14:05:35.965-07:002011-06-12T14:05:35.965-07:00Jesse: Well good! I'm glad it gave you a nudge...Jesse: Well good! I'm glad it gave you a nudge. And glad to see you stop by :)<br /><br />Shannon: I saw a commercial (on a dvd) the other day about being able to download digital copies and take them anywhere. Why? Seriously, why? Why is it that we feel this compulsion to be constantly plugged in? I'm living as much of a non-zombie life as I can while still owning a computer, but, at least, I don't have all those other devices. Or even cable!Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-17315181453702376912011-06-10T23:26:09.607-07:002011-06-10T23:26:09.607-07:00Interesting look at how the metaphor of zombies ha...Interesting look at how the metaphor of zombies has changed over the years. They had also fallen very much by the wayside, behind the romanticized vampires and werewolves, but as we pull further into ourselves they become more important. I think horror writers have seen this growth of the importance of technology for some time. There's a Dean Koontz book where a man becomes a part of his computer, and it was written probably about two decades ago. That man was a zombie, just a different type.<br /><br />On cells, I almost wrote a tirade the other night about people being so attached to them that they have to use them while driving, while eating dinner at a nice restaurant, and while in a movie theater. What is wrong with people that they can't just turn off the machines for a little while and enjoy something? The truly astounding part is that it isn't teens, who've never really lived much without this technology around them, but adults who know it's possible to survive without being tuned in 24/7.Shannon Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934641808195675935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-68277464909768696812011-06-10T11:27:03.580-07:002011-06-10T11:27:03.580-07:00Pretty spot on. I am at times enslaved. This post ...Pretty spot on. I am at times enslaved. This post is helping set me free.jesse.s.schwartzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04930807848346918557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-35638612140964959902011-06-09T14:39:03.914-07:002011-06-09T14:39:03.914-07:00Liz: I haven't actually seen Walking Dead. How...Liz: I haven't actually seen Walking Dead. However, I wouldn't say I agree with zombies always being about social commentary. I mean, that implies some forethought about it, and I don't think most people go that far. Generally, I think it doesn't go past "zombies are cool!"<br /><br />Jennifer: I'm kind of an old school person with zombies, too. They can take a lot of damage and just keep coming, but the loss of body parts tends to keep them from doing anything spectacular.<br /><br />Michael: But that's my point exactly. The zombie, even in groups, is an independent operator concerned only with itself. I was looking at some studies the other day that show that narcissistic behavior has risen over 30% in the last two decades, the two decades that have given birth to the internet and the iLife. That is exactly the zombie behavior that I think we recognize on a subliminal level.<br /><br />Alyssia: I liked Zombieland, too. I mean, they killed Bill Murray for crying out loud! That was awesome! I bet Murray thought it was awesome, too, which is why he did it. It wouldn't surprise me if he thought of it.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-67011941951849754002011-06-08T20:17:21.961-07:002011-06-08T20:17:21.961-07:00I agree 110% with Michael. The whole look out for ...I agree 110% with Michael. The whole look out for yourself and screw everyone else attitude? Yeah, we talk about that all the time @ the day job. Because it's true! And altogether sad, really, because the days of actually caring for the sick, elderly, and less fortunate grow weaker by the day.<br /><br />As far as zombies, I love the old school version. However, I did enjoy the heck out of Zombieland; although, I suspect that had more to do with Woody Harrelson & his Twinkie fetish than the actual zombies. ;)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16514163880053470414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-56386958253337665662011-06-08T14:00:06.839-07:002011-06-08T14:00:06.839-07:00Yours is an interesting take on zombies. However, ...Yours is an interesting take on zombies. However, I tend to think of our reliance on technology and social networks as a result of growing apart as a society. Anthropologically speaking, humans used to live in communes and the sick, weak, and elderly could count on their fellow to ensure that they didn't die. All of these systems in a modern world have been removed. We now live in a world where there are no guarantees. Instead, what we have is a world where you are responsible for your own welfare. I think this breeds innate selfishness as one person seeks out another with the intent of using them for their resources (whatever those may be). This in turn drives the social networks and the reliance on technology as people seek to ensure their own survival through understanding and use of electronics.<br /><br />Zombies have been used metaphorically by George Romero most recently in "Land of the Dead" to symbolize Americans. There's a scene where people shoot off fireworks and it makes the zombies go into a state of non-movement with their heads turned to the sky. This is the Director saying that "We are all zombies to patriotism".Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-73263686134196239922011-06-08T12:54:27.099-07:002011-06-08T12:54:27.099-07:00I LOVE Zombies but I prefer my zombies to be old s...I LOVE Zombies but I prefer my zombies to be old school. They aren't fast and they can't do flips and they don't have super powers. And yes the people I work with are zombies...no one wants to meet anymore they text me or leave me a voicemail or send me an email when I am sitting two offices down from the. Pathetic!Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-41064916861537356232011-06-08T10:45:05.457-07:002011-06-08T10:45:05.457-07:00Isn't that what Walking Dead is about. The tit...Isn't that what Walking Dead is about. The title has less to do with the zombies than the survivors. Zombies have always been about social commentary.Liz Schulte's Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11326150778630293771noreply@blogger.com