Life is Better With Zombies

Let me tell you something about myself you may not know. For a nature loving, gardening, yoga and surf loving woman, you might not expect that I freaking love zombies. It doesn't make sense - I don't even like horror films and if I'm forced to watch them, I'm using hiding in my husband's armpit. It's okay - he smells like fennel seeds so it's a nice place to hide.

My first introduction to the genre was really about twenty years ago when both of us watched Dawn of the Dead followed in quick succession by Sean of the Dead. All of a sudden I got the world of zombies and why this genre even existed. They weren't just there for the shock and horror - they were there to talk to us about ourselves, and the way that humans face these really big things that threaten their existance, and how we deal with that. More on this later, but first, who cannot love this scene from Sean of the Dead where they're arguing which vinyl to throw at the zombies? Bloody genius.

Of course, zombies aren't always meant to be funny, and the genre is usually more despairing that than as humanity faced the apocalypse. Although I did find myself tapping my foot to this opening of Dawn of the Dead, where they recap the end of the world to Johnny Cash. Such a perfect song choice.

The whirlwood is certainly in the thorn trees as we're a minute from midnight as a species now. It feels like any day the world can be exactly like this, whether it's zombies or storms or tidal waves or nuclear destruction. I'd like to think that all those years of watching zombie flicks would prepare me somewhat. I've chosen my weopons years ago and we have a bug out bag packed. I mean, you think of these things when you think of zombies. I think that's another reason I like them - it makes me think about what choices I'd make, and how I'd survive in an apocalpyse. Plus I like the idea of this fucked up carbon capitalism version of our world to unravel and restitch itself in a different form.

And so, I know to aim for the head, to be quiet, and to watch my scent. I know where they might be lurking, and I know to get out of the cities, and I know a lot more besides. You kinda want to be on my team if the undead rise.

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I'm not going to just lay down and become a zombie. I can't help but think of the Whisperers in 'The Walking Dead' who don the flesh and masks of the undead to walk amongst them, barely living themselves amongst the horror. I remember this short story I read once in a collection of zombie fiction I have - yes, there's some good zombie fiction - zomlit? - and that was the premise. Something about that it's easy to pretend to be one of the dead when you have felt like that all along.

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Iggy Pop as a zombie in 'The Dead Don't Die'

The Z genre thus explores the problems in our world, from racism, nuclear war, communism, plague, consumerism, climate change and many more. Each new decade brings a fresh take on the genre - it will never end as long as humanity doesn't end. Some even get really philosophical. I loved Arden Bell's novel 'The Reapers are the Angels', where a young girl grows up in a zombie apocalypse and can't help seeing beauty in them too - they are creatures of the world just as a butterfly is, or a flower.

In many films, we're taught not to trust anyone - that there are worst people around that zombies. People will always throw you under the bus - or into the zombie horde - to save themselves, such is our survival instinct. I like to think we'd be better than that, and in a disaster, we'd help each other out more than fuck each other over. I'd like to think I'd be one of the people helping people out and helping starting over with the skills I have for the new world. It seems to me the end of the world is more of an opportunity to do better than to give up.

In fact, it seems like an opportunity to really live, rather than to die.

Thus, when @galenkp's Weekend Engagement question asks whether, in a zombie apocalypse, we'd rather become a zombie than try to survive, my answer is easy - I'm all in. Pass me my bow and arrow and my backpack, and let me chuck on my most zombie kicking boots.

With Love,

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26 comments
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Smelling like fennel seeds is better than smelling like a day old Big Mac. Lol.

Pass me my bow and arrow and my backpack, and let me chuck on my most zombie kicking boots.

Oh yeah, I'm in too - Bring on the zombies!

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I'd have you on my team! We could eat Frosty Fruits after a day of killing.

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Haha! Zombie killing and Frosty Fruits for after.

The perfect combination.

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we could eat the entire box and shoot anyone who asks us why we couldn't stop at one...

The world has ended. It's our rules now.

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Ah yes, come at me zombies and Frosty Fruits! I welcome thee.

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I'd like to think I'd be one of the people helping people out and helping starting over with the skills I have for the new world. It seems to me the end of the world is more of an opportunity to do better than to give up.

Trying new skills, helping others is an opportunity. Giving up is not helpful at all. We miss a lot when we give up but persistency bring in good things at last

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The living dead are still dead and I'd much rather be alive. I think we already have a good team on Hive to survive an Apocalypse.

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Hahaha yes we could throw out phones and laptops at them 😂🧟🧟‍♀️🧟‍♂️

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We will get them with Blockchain saw !LOL

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Oh speaking of zombies, me personally dont like to watch horror movies but there were time I was able to watch a movie about zombies if im not mistaken it was a train to Busan. It really hurts to see your loved one eaten by a zombie or turning into it.

Sometimes I have a question in mind. Are these zombies exists or will be existing in the future?

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I loved Train to Busan! They even referenced that in the awesome series We Are All Going To Die. The Koreans are great at zombies!

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Yes I noticed it too that most zombie movies were created and played by them. They are really good at it.

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Haha I thought you mean created by zombies for a minute!

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I love zombies too! I have a 'beware of zombies' sign in my hallway. I hate guns but I'd love to have a crack at a zombie. 😁

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Hahaha really? Funny what you learn about people!!!🧟‍♂️🧟‍♂️🧟‍♂️

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I got told I smelled of pepperoni yesterday by my daughter. Cheek.

I like to think that in a zombie apocalypse there would be more community and banding together against them than terrible infighting and throwing each other to the wolves but you never know, the average person is a dick so it might be the latter!

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It's a hard ask to keep believing in the good isn't it? But it's also a kind of act of resistance in a world that wants you to live in fear so it can sell you shit.

Pepperoni? Now that's a compliment. Being mostly vego, have to say I'd likely choose the fennel seeds 😂

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I love fennel seeds, I would have been more happy with that!

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😂🧟‍♂️ Nevermind, as long as you don't smell like rotting flesh you're okay.🧟‍♂️🧟‍♀️🧟

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If your on a country music kick after the Johnny Cash number, Country boy can survive by Hank Williams Jr is a good one. It wasn't written with a Zombie apocolypse in mind but it works 🙂

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Mate! I SO wanna be on your team when the apocalypse comes! You picked your weapons and all 😅😅😅

Seriously, you’re brilliant! I was crying from laughter while reading this! I started last night, watched the first video, searched for this movie on Netflix and Disney, but to no luck, so I watched something else and fell asleep 😴

This morning I remembered that I haven’t finished reading it, so I found it and my app crashed while typing the comment, so this time round I reblogged it for an easier find in case it crashes again 😅

Loved all about this article, so funny, sarcastic and true! I got to love zombies too. I play zombie games, watch zombie movies and like you, I wonder what it would be like, how we would react and behave. It opens our mind to other words and possibilities. Our world is so rotten in its current state…

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🧟‍♀️🧟🧟‍♂️ There's something so appealing about them! Glad you enjoyed. I've been struggling myself to comment as ive been just enjoying relaxing!!! I got half way through your post yesterday and got distracted.... Will try to find time today. My hubs is home on holidays so he totally demands my time 😂😂😂 making it hard to Hive for long before calling me off to do something. Men..so demanding 🧟‍♂️😂

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I know! And we’re supposed to be the weak sex 😂😂😂 No worries, take your time 💙

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