Zombie as Metaphor
One Section Available to Choose From:
| Course Dates | Weeks | Meeting Times | Status | Instructor(s) | CRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 17, 2013 - June 21, 2013 | 1 | M-F 12:45-3:35P | Open | Sylvia Rolloff | 10526 |
Course Description
This course will introduce students to recent U.S. intellectual history by examining the changing "evils" as represented by zombies in popular culture.
What can the living dead tell us about the living? From communism to consumerism, anarchy to fascism, genetic modification to epidemic, radiation to space microbes -- our deep-seated fears and social anxieties have repeatedly risen from the grave and tried to eat our brains. This course will examine the evolution of the zombie as a metaphor in popular culture, and address why and how that evolution occurred. This involves not just a critical analysis of zombie films and associated fiction, but also a deeper reflection upon the changing (and challenging) social landscape that gave rise to this genre.
The students will become familiar with recent U.S. social history; think critically about the issues raised by the zombie genre; become aware of the power (and limitations) of metaphor.
Intellectual curiosity and the toleration of fake blood and gore is recommended.