The idea of the Zombie long predates
that of the bloodthirsty undead that populated horror films since
the 1960s. The original zombies were drugged victims under the
control of certain powerful spiritual practitioners. Zombification
may have been used as punishment for certain crimes. Lately, the
word “zombie” has found a place in diverse discussions, in disciplines
such as economics, computer science, and entomology, among others
The Atlanta Zombie Symposium includes
a panel discussion, entitled The Zombie Perceived:
Religion, Media, and Society; a double feature film screening
of
Night of
the Living Dead and Return
of the Living Dead, directed by Dan O’Bannon; and Dance
of the Undead, a dance party with Zombie Transformation Chamber.
Area partners will participate
through presenting other interpretations of the idea of the “zombie”.
1 – 3:45 PM, Panel Discussion The Zombie Perceived: Religion,
Media, and Society, Dr. Dianne Stewart, Emory University;
Dr. Andrea Wood, Georgia
Institute of Technology Laszlo Xalieri. Moderated by
Stan Woodard.
Clary Theater, Bill Moore Student Success Center,
225 North Avenue, NE, Georgia Institute of Technology. FREE
(SEATING IS LIMITED, ARRIVE EARLY!)
5 – 9 PM Films Night of the Living Dead,
(1968) directed by George Romero +
Return of the Living Dead (1985), directed by Dan O'Bannon,
A rare opportunity to see George Romero’s classic on the Big Screen, followed
by Dan O’Bannon’s hilarious send up of the zombie scenario.
Plaza Theater, 1049 Ponce De Leon Ave. $9 for one, $12
for both
10 PM – 2 AM, Dance of the Undead, Including the
Zombie Transformation Chamber.
Graveyard Tavern, 1245 Glenwood Ave., East Atlanta
Village $2
The Atlanta Zombie Symposium is created and organized by Stan Woodard,
with participation from the School of Literature, Communication, and
Culture, Georgia Institute of Technology, Gorehound Productions, and
Public Domain, Inc. This program is funded through the generous support
of Robert Brawner, Gene Hooff, Louis Corrigan, Hormuz Minina Louise
Shaw, and Deborah Ryan.
Additional funds are sought, contact Stan
Woodard to donate. (Your donation is tax deductible. Consult
your tax advisor for details.)
Le
Flash, October 2 We Are Survival Machines, Carl Di Salvo and David Holstius
Curated by Louise Shaw in association with The Zombie Symposium.
Zombies in Vodun
According to the tenets of Vodun (voodoo), a dead person can be revived
by a houngan or mambo. After resurrection, it has no will of its own,
but remains under the control of the person who performed the ritual.
Such resurrected dead are "zombies".
Have you heard of the new book, "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies:
The Classic Regency Romance - Now with Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem!"? someone
added
zombies to Jane Austen" novel.
It is in the same series with The Philosophy of the Simpsons, The Philosophy
of the Matrix, etc.,
all popular culture oriented tomes of light-academic work (I guess in
some cases less light than others).
There is quite a bit of work in philosophy dealing with consciousness
and zombie states... the 'philosophical zombie'. This guy in particular has written
on the subject:
There is a link on his page which leads to lots of academic zombie stuff.
Probably you already know about all this. . .
I got the impression that your thing is more about cultural issues in
the uprise in zombie
interest in film (and other media) at the end of the twentieth c.?
And, an interesting link relating Easter Island to Zombies:
PLAYING -- It begins from Tonight of the Living Dead by
400 Lonely Things
A dark-ambient instrumental remix project over a year in the making, using
treated dialogue-free audio from the 1968 version of Night
of the Living Dead as its only ingredients, and is accompanied
by a 12-page booklet of photo treatments adapted from the movie as well. MORE
Jewel Wasps zombify cockroaches to reproduce
White Zombie A young man turns to a witch
doctor to lure the woman he loves
away from her fiance, but instead turns her into a zombie slave.
Zombie Fire Ants
Fungus Makes Zombie Ants Do All the Work
Jack Jeans Zombie Jamboree - French pop take on the classic
song
