Journal Article Analysis:  Terror in Horror Genres: The Global Media and the Millennial Zombie

Terror in Horror Genres: The Global Media and the Millennial Zombie, describes the evolution and the revolution of the zombie in horror films.  Popular culture has changed as a result of the global media attention from the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.  Thus causing the world’s fears and anxieties about terrorist, violence, and epidemics to be displayed and presented through zombie films.  Zombie horror films before 2001, did not represent any real global, political or social tensions of society as the zombies could be seen as comical.  As zombie films evolved the political and social tensions of society were present.  This evolution shows that the way society interprets political and social tensions, such as terrorism and disease, has intensified due to global media changes.  The increase of the use of the media, through the Internet, has made political and social tensions more known to the public, and horror films have intensified by using these topics to scare the audience.  These films are related to real global issues such as, climate control, terrorism, political revolutions, inadequate governments, use of mass destruction weapons, viral epidemics and pandemics.  The zombie outbreak and the panic that takes place in the film represents how society reacts to a crisis.  The outbreak is typically quick and unavoidable with a lot of media attention.  Zombies went from being slow moving and melodramatic creatures to ones that are more alive: jumping, running, screaming and biting their victims. 

Terror in Horror Genres: The Global Media and the Millennial Zombie, was written for the general audience as an example of popular culture with the use of the global media and how it has effected and evolved the horror genre.  This article is well prepared, organized and written allowing the ideas to be presented clearly.  The article is displayed with subcategories that explain the topic in detail, along with examples of movies that demonstrate the theory.  The article displays a conclusion section that summarizes the main points of the article.  The vocabulary used in the article is general terminology that is easily understood and is not written over the readers’ head.

Yes, I agree with, Terror in Horror Genres: The Global Media and the Millennial Zombie, article because there is a dramatic change in how zombie films were presented from the 1980’s to when the films began to change in 2001.  Zombie films began with supernatural themes of fear, such as voodoo to scare the audience with.  Then, the films progressed to such themes as wartime, depression, and the empowerment of women.  And finally, zombie films now represent global issues that society as a whole fears, such as terrorism and violence.  When the 9/11 attacks occurred, society for the first time in the United States felt weak and vulnerable, and this is the exact theme horror films use to scare the audience with, as horror films are designed to frighten the audience.  Zombie films will always be non-fiction, however, the plot used is with real issues that society fears, understands and relates to making the horror film feel like it could really happen.  I think this article is a good read on an interesting topic, however, I do not feel that it is important to read.  The topic itself is opinion based, and does not teach the reader any real knowledge.   

             

References

Birch-Bailey, N. (2012). Terror in horror genres: the global media and the millennial zombie. The Journal of popular culture, 45(6). Retrieved from Franklin University database.