In her book Zombie Theory: A Reader, Sarah Juliet Lauro argues that the zombie is a powerful metaphor for exploring a wide range of social and cultural issues. Zombies, she writes, are "figures of abjection, representing the marginalized and excluded members of society." They are also "symbols of fear and anxiety, reflecting our own fears of death, disease, and social decay." Through an in-depth analysis of zombie films, literature, and other cultural texts, Lauro provides a fascinating glimpse into the ways in which zombies can be used to explore complex social and cultural issues.
Social Commentary
One of the most common ways in which zombies are used in social commentary is to explore the issue of marginalization and exclusion. Zombies are often portrayed as being outcasts, living on the fringes of society. They are often feared and hated by the living, who see them as a threat to their own safety and well-being. This fear and hatred can lead to violence and discrimination against zombies, who are often denied basic rights and freedoms. Through her analysis of zombie films and literature, Lauro shows how zombies can be used to critique the ways in which marginalized and excluded groups are treated in society.
Cultural Analysis
Zombies can also be used to explore broader cultural issues, such as the fear of death, disease, and social decay. In her book, Lauro discusses how zombies have been used in popular culture to reflect the anxieties and fears of different historical periods. For example, she examines how the zombie films of the 1950s and 1960s reflected the fears of nuclear war and the Cold War. She also discusses how the zombie films of the 1970s and 1980s reflected the fears of social unrest and economic decline. Through her analysis of zombie films and literature, Lauro provides a unique perspective on the ways in which popular culture reflects the anxieties and fears of different historical periods.
Literary Criticism
In addition to its social and cultural insights, Zombie Theory: A Reader also offers a valuable contribution to literary criticism. Lauro provides close readings of a wide range of zombie texts, including films, novels, and short stories. She analyzes the ways in which these texts use zombies to explore different literary themes and motifs. For example, she discusses how zombies can be used to explore the themes of identity, loss, and redemption. She also discusses how zombies can be used to critique the conventions of the horror genre. Through her close readings of zombie texts, Lauro provides a new and insightful perspective on the literary significance of the zombie.
Zombie Theory: A Reader is a groundbreaking work that offers a fascinating glimpse into the ways in which zombies can be used to explore complex social and cultural issues. Lauro's analysis of zombie films, literature, and other cultural texts provides a unique perspective on the ways in which popular culture reflects the anxieties and fears of different historical periods. Through her close readings of zombie texts, Lauro also provides a new and insightful perspective on the literary significance of the zombie. Zombie Theory: A Reader is a must-read for anyone interested in the zombie genre, or in the ways in which popular culture reflects the social and cultural issues of our time.
