I just discovered a new book, Theories of International Politics and Zombies, by Daniel Drezner, which is nicely summarized and reviewed at Inside Higher Education. There is much speculation on the explosion of zombie cultural material in the 1990s, but little consideration there of the possibility that it’s related to public health awareness rather than international politics. I personally don’t think that this growth in zombie-related product has much to do with fears about the post-cold war world, myself.
February 11, 2011
Zombies and International Politics
Posted by faustusnotes under Monsters | Tags: international relations, zombies |[3] Comments
Compromise and Conceit 
February 11, 2011 at 12:37 pm
I tend to think the rise in zombie material in the 90’s was attached to the growing ease with which the films could be produced, the extended reach and reduced delivery times that niche markets began to enjoy, combined with the pervasive fear of an implacable, faceless, and above all tenacious enemy. That enemy, vague but perhaps living next door, was generating a reaction in the regular person, who is becoming less and less able to identify and respond to these strongly held fears., leading to a deep-seated desire for a total and guilt-free response: Shoot it in the head and it dies!
Once the events in New York on September 11th, 2001 occurred, the inevitable shift in media production lead to increases in violent content, themes of revenge, themes of fear and safety, heroism and sacrifice, loss and fear of loss, and so on. It also lead to widespread nostalgia which in combination with the ongoing revolutions in CGI naturally influenced a wave of remakes for theatrical and home video release. These remakes understandably focus on the low-budget horror film.; the staple of movie rental business, and movie channels.
Zombie movies contain content which cross through all of these elements. The rise in zombie movies and remakes grows significantly after 2001.
With the varying methods of zombie production being held in differing regard by fans (supernatural, biological, technological) and in complete disregard by the casual viewer, I don’t feel a lot of resonance with the idea that a fear of infection or disease is a primary factor in the rise or return (pardon the pun) of zombies in film or print., but like you – I don’t feel it has very much to do with international politics either.
Thanks for the post, I may check out the book.
February 11, 2011 at 12:44 pm
If the zombie is filling in as a representative of our post-2001 enemies (which figures – muslim hordes, the image of the enemy as a civilian, etc.) then it’s interesting precisely because most war propaganda presents the enemy as defeatable, and usually ends in victory. But victory is a rare outcome of zombie stories, with survival or an uncertain future the main endings. What does that say about modern confidence in the righteousness and ultimate defensibility of our modern wars?
February 11, 2011 at 12:48 pm
Absolutely my line of thinking! It is a sad, but sadly predictable thing that in this time of widespread information access, the result is a crippling lack of certitude.
The upswing in interest in Heroic Pulp is related~