The Zombie Metaphor - Essay Example

Parting from the dictionary definition of this controlled subject, we can start interpreting what has been the zombie impact on books, movies, television and general consciousness. As Carl Jung states "The projection of the shadow changes the world into a replica of one's unknown face" (17) The zombie may represent man's fears: left willingness, controlled by somebody else, or even the devil itself. Taking the image a bit further, zombies cannot speak or walk correctly for they have been deprived from those abilities.

They make horrible sounds while trying to communicate with others, possibly crying for help, and cannot transport themselves freely and quickly. Making these creatures defenseless yet threatening enough to scare the audience. Maybe authors like George Romero intended to tap into these fears in movies like "The night of the living dead" (1968) which was considered to be the father of all zombie movies. In which we may subconsciously tap into our innate fears of having our abilities to scream from the top of our lungs if we fear, if we hurt, or simply say I Love you to our cherished ones robbed; or simply being unable to walk normally or move ourselves freely from one place to another without difficulties.

Or Romero simply made a very scary movie that changed our thoughts forever with his portrayal of these so-called creatures of the night, without any subconscious meanings what so ever If we continue this thought then we should question: why zombies Why not vampires Perhaps because these are somewhat worshiped immortal and beautiful creatures that contraire to zombies, impose their will on others, although they must eat blood to survive, they draw their prey with their abilities and attack with style and grace.

If we were to continue Jung's thoughts on projection, vampires would represent a possible goal for the social outcast. Or what about Aliens Creatures we have no knowledge of, invading our planet, our universe or our complete solar system for no reason. What could be the meaning or message of this type of movie Perhaps as complicated or simple as zombies, aliens may easily be defeated with the correct amount of weapons, manpower and courage. But as the meaning itself implies "alien" may not represent anything to the viewer convincible enough for them to want to be them, relate to them or even feel the need to worship them what so ever.

Tackling other possible implied messages in zombies is the term consumerism: How can they impulse, insinuate, push, us to consume, buy or steal In some movies like Dawn of the Dead (1978) zombies take control of a shopping mall and the humans try with all their wit to take that control back. What can be implied with this Could we be terribly afraid to be replaced as shopping creatures by something not human or dead Or is it simply a territorial thing We need to have control of everything and everyplace.

Perhaps it has nothing to do with a shopping mall literally; maybe the hidden consumerism is implied