Course Details

The Zombie Film

Fall 2008 - English 98/198 - Units: 2

Shortcuts:     decal.org/721     decal.org/zombies

This course will explore the zombie film, a sub-genre of the horror genre. We will look at both the zombie film’s main currents and multiple variations throughout the twentieth century, including its early interest in Caribbean voodoo and alien invasions and its post-1960 turn toward “the walking dead” and post-apocalyptic society. To this end, we will interrogate the zombie subgenre’s signal characteristics and the larger socio-political implications that are laced within the historical context of many of these films and how these themes have shaped the ever-evolving portrayal of zombies in film. What kinds of threat does it depict and how do these change over time? How do different subgenres of zombie films respond to these threats? What effects do zombie films produce in their spectators? Why do we find these sensations so unpleasurably pleasurable? What kinds of “cultural work” does the zombie film do? To answer such questions, we will take a film-intensive approach in lectures and discussions, but will also incorporate the representation of zombies in other media such as literature, comics, television, music, music videos, and websites.

Enrollment Info:

Come to the first day of class where further instructions will be given on how to receive the appropriate CCNs in order to enroll!

First day of zombie-related instruction begins on September 3rd.  

Class will be held at 136 Barrows

Course Contact: zombiedecal AT gmail.com

Faculty Sponsor: Misa Oyama

Know someone who might like this course? Send them a link on Facebook!

Course info last modified September 28, 2008. This page has been viewed 2348 times.