So, Tara and I plan to see “28 Weeks Later” sometime next weekend. “28 Weeks Later” is the cinematic sequel to the 2002 film “28 Days Later.” Both films focus on a society overrun with blood-spewing, flesh-hungry zombies.
Why would we go to such a film? Well, to tell you the truth, both of us enjoy frightening films. Wait…allow me to modify that. Yours truly enjoys frightening films. I always have, ever since the days of Chiller Theater on Saturday Nights. For Tara, it is more of an acquired taste–one that she has graciously developed for the sake of her peculiar husband.
What a wife I have!
Anyway, I am intrigued by our culture’s current fascination with zombies. According to Fangoria magazine, a record number of zombie films have been made since 2002. Here are a few:
-28 Days Later
-28 Weeks Later
-Dawn of the Dead (remake)
-Land of the Dead
-Day of the Dead
-Shaun of the Dead
-Dead & Breakfast
-Dead Meat
-Dead Men Walking
-Diary of the Dead
-Grindhouse
-House of the Dead
-House of the Dead 2
-Outpost
-The Plague
-Planet Terror
-Resident Evil
-Resident Evil: Apocalypse
-Resident Evil: Extinction
-Slither
-When Zombies Attack
-Dukes of Hazzard (This isn’t really a zombie film, but the actors were so wooden that I felt as though I were watching zombies.)
And these are just the movies! Don’t get me started on the zombie-related books and video-games.
One of the comic books that I am currently reading is called THE WALKING DEAD. It is a black and white comic book that focuses on a group of survivors making their way through a world overrun by zombies. Interestingly, the reader finds out over time that the title of the comic (”The Walking Dead”) is a reference, not to the zombies, but to the survivors. One by one the survivors come to understand that, prior to the zombie crisis, they were living lives that were completely devoid of passion, vision, and vitality. They were like social zombies, walking aimlessly and inattentively from workday to workday, soccer game to soccer game, appointment to appointment. Not until the zombies came did the survivors realize how zombie-like they had become.
I wonder if this comic book is onto something. Is the recent influx of zombie-related entertainment nothing more a manifestation of Hollywood’s penchant for cashing in on hot trends? Or, as the comic book suggests, is there more to it than that? Might the recent zombie interest be a byproduct of our culture’s well-used capacity to produce zombie-like citizens—people who are so hyperactively busy and so oppressively overscheduled that they find themselves living without any real passion, vision, or focus? Might some of us enjoy zombie movies, in other words, because we are subconsciously able to see ourselves in the faces of the zombies?
Halford Luccock, the well-known biblical scholar, once made the comment that the most dangerous “ism” facing the contemporary church is not racism or sexism or ageism. Rather, said Luccock, the most dangerous “ism” facing the contemporary church is somnambulism—that is, sleepwalking. People walking aimlessly from worship service to worship service, meeting to meeting, Bible study to Bible study, with no real passion, no real vision, no real sense of vibrant and transformational life in Christ.
So…do you see any sleepwalking happening these days?
Do you see any zombies?
I find these questions to be significant, especially in light of the fact that we serve a Savior who came that we might have abundant life. I wonder where the disconnect is?
You amaze me friend, that you can write something meaningful about something that causes my face to have the obvious look of confusion. (you know the look)
But please notice that I am the first to comment about this post! Which I find to be amazing in and of itself! I thank God for your sence of humor and imagination.
Sometimes people that live with passion, zeal, or vibrancy have been described as having a fire in the belly. I like the visual that this phrase evokes in my mind. It is such a basis for our many needs and comforts. Lately, I have been feeling a little like a zombie, not that my passion is gone, but just that my fire needs a little more wood added, a little stoking.
In reference to the description of people living without any real passion, vision, or focus I believe that quite frequently it is difficult for people to apply to their actions and choices what they have professed with their words. I believe that there are more people out there with misplaced passion.
The difference in the words service and servitude is interesting. Service has a much more voluntary and positive tone, while servitude indicates the loss of personal freedom and choice. I think we can become zombie-like when we enter into the realm of servitude instead of service. And as one who responds to the needs of 5 others, I’m sure I gave the oxygen for my fire to someone else.
Wow!
You two are up late in cyberspace!
Barb–Thank you, friend. I know that you would much rather watch The Sopranos than a zombie film! Although, to be fair, sometimes Tony Soprano seems to be moving through his life in a zombie-like enslavement to the mob ethos! But he’s a lovable zombie, right?!
Keep it real, sister!! Ba da bing.
Allene–Misplaced passion? I am intrigued by that image. I think you are right. Passion misplaced is normally passion misused, I would imagine.
Thanks for your thoughts about the difference between service and servitude as well. It is difficult to nurture passion and vision when we feel enslaved by our responsibilities.
Even as I type these words, bud, I am praying that God brings to you some fresh oxygen for your fire.
I don’t watch many movies, in fact, none in your list! But I do see the zombies, and am sometimes very guilty of Christianzombieism myself. Thanks for the “wake up call.”
They ought to offer that class in seminary (cemetery?)…
“Dealing with Christianzombieism”
Good stuff. I am envious of your ability to find theological profundities in the everyday stuff of pop culture.
This zombie idea could easily be expanded into a good article for “Christianity Today” or “The Christian Century”, or even “The Interpreter” or “Good News”. You may want to think about that!
Eric…great post, man. Look at the things our culture finds so enticing: Paris Hilton, Anna Nicole Smith, American Idol and Don Imus. We get so “dead” inside that we try to live vicariously by fixating on the lives of others. Sometimes I feel like a zombie because I find other people’s lives more interesting than my own. But my faith always has a way of snapping me out of the trance.
Incidently, I grew up as a neighbor of Chilly Billy. I once even met Norman the castle prankster.
Eric, you never cease to amaze me. You can take just about any scene from a movie and make it a Christian metaphor for life. Zombies aren’t my favorite type of movie anymore, however I loved Chilly Billy back in the day. I feel like a zombie lately. I feel that disconnect. What a coincidence that you would use that word. That’s the title of my blog last night. I’ve been thinking about “zombieISM” all afternoon. It may help me to have a different perspective on my situation. Great post, my friend. I miss the great analytical conversations we used to have. Your blog has given me another avenue to hear your perspective on things; a perspective that has helped me during so many past challenges in my life. THANKS for being in the blogosphere!