Everything Everywhere Daily Zombies
Oct 27, 2024
Explore the fascinating origins of zombie mythology rooted in Haitian voodoo and African spirituality. Discover how societal fears have influenced their cultural representations. Trace the evolution of zombies from supernatural beings to flesh-eating monsters in films and video games. Dive into the critique of modern zombie narratives and their impact on popular culture, including iconic works like '28 Days Later' and 'The Walking Dead.' Uncover the connection between fiction and real-life preparedness for apocalyptic scenarios.
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Zombie Origins
- Modern fictional zombies are a relatively new creation.
- The concept's origins trace back several centuries to Haiti.
Syncretism and Zombies
- Haitian zombies arose from the merging of African spiritual traditions and French Catholicism.
- This syncretism combined beliefs about spirit possession, reanimation, and a permeable boundary between life and death.
Zombies and Suicide
- In Haitian voodoo, suicide prevents entry to the spiritual afterlife (Guinea).
- Sorcerers could capture these souls and reanimate corpses, creating zombies.