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American Zombie Gothic: The Rise and Fall (and Rise) of the Walking Dead in Popular Culture

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Zombie stories are peculiarly American, as the creature was born in the New World and functions as a reminder of the atrocities of colonialism and slavery. The voodoo-based zombie films of the 1930s and '40s reveal deep-seated racist attitudes and imperialist paranoia, but the contagious, cannibalistic zombie horde invasion narrative established by George A. Romero has even greater singularity. This book provides a cultural and critical analysis of the cinematic zombie tradition, starting with its origins in Haitian folklore and tracking the development of the subgenre into the twenty-first century. Closely examining such influential works as Victor Halperin's White Zombie, Jacques Tourneur's I Walked with a Zombie, Lucio Fulci's Zombi 2, Dan O'Bannon's The Return of the Living Dead, Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later , and, of course, Romero's entire "Dead" series, it establishes the place of zombies in the Gothic tradition.

247 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

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Kyle William Bishop

15 books5 followers

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5 stars
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39 (26%)
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14 (9%)
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for Keri.
170 reviews13 followers
April 13, 2011
The first thing I learned from this book: the zombie movies I definitely have to watch.

The second thing: I go into movie watching all sorts of wrong.

American Zombie Gothic is not an easy read. It's actually, as it says in the foreword, the work of a doctoral thesis and it reads like that. It wasn't something I expected, but also not something I was loathe to read. It just took me a bit longer than most books would normally.

I enjoyed that he went first to the Haitian zombies (as all good histories of zombies must) and listed movies that focused on that, and where the sudden rise of zombie popularity came from. I haven't seen all the zombie movies of that time, but I will be making a point to watch the highlighted ones.

We went next to the use of zombies in Romero's Living Dead trilogy (and beyond). Deep analysis is not something I enjoy; I dropped out of AP English because I hated Deep Reading. But this was an interesting take on all the tiny things that the normal moviegoer doesn't notice (i.e. the stuffed animal heads on the walls, the psychoanalysis of the different parts of the building versus femininity and masculinity). While I don't think it will change the way I watch movies, it's another layer to ruminate on.

As a fan of the so called "zombidies," I was even pleased to see that he gave a nod in their direction. I think they assisted in this uprising of the new wave of the living dead (as well as stepping back from the traditional definition of "zombie" into a new, wider range that does include the disease-ridden-super-fast-28-days/months-later-monsters).

While not everyone's cup of tea, definitely something I would recommend to the more analytical friends of mine, as well as film students interested in making their own zombie movie!
Profile Image for Kristin  (MyBookishWays Reviews).
601 reviews212 followers
April 22, 2011
Zombie movies! End of the world, undead armies, mad chases, bloody conflicts; what’s not to love. The zombie movie has covered every emotion; laughter, horror, tragedy, romance, survival. What a rich vein in which to mine gold. I eagerly opened American Zombie Gothic thinking it would have an in-depth examination of the genre. Boy was I right …….and was I ever wrong.

No one can fault the author's in-depth analysis of zombie movies from their first appearance to the most recent fare. It is an impressive testament to his efforts. The problem is that this is by no means a mass market treatment of the genre. Disregard the graphic novel feel of the cover, this is a doctoral dissertation and it is written as one. It should only be broached by those looking for the kind of analysis that only excites the academic. I had a high school teacher who brought this level of analysis to Foundation. It took me over ten years before I was able to go back and appreciate the book as it was written not as what he thought every element symbolized.

I strongly agree with some elements of his theories. For example, his belief that the latest and greatest renaissance of zombie movies can be tied to 9/11 and the fear and uncertainty that generated in the average American. I always felt that Japan had such a plethora of post-apocalyptic movies due to the fact that they witnessed firsthand the devastation wrought by the dropping of the atomic bombs. This should be fascinating stuff but I felt like a student in Ben Stein’s class in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. In short, unless you are into academic dissertations, I would suggest avoiding the lure of this book.
Profile Image for Camille McCarthy.
Author 1 book41 followers
March 24, 2013
Since this book is pretty much a doctoral thesis, it is not an easy read; there is a lot of information and it is well-written to be sure, but I feel it might have been modified a bit to make it less repetitive to make it more of a popular read rather than a very wordy thesis. I was very interested in the topic because of the overwhelming prevalence of zombies in popular culture today, which I'm sure most people have taken note of. I felt that the overall emphasis of the book didn't really take into account the whole cultural significance of the reasons behind zombies being so popular however; the book attempts to explain it by saying that we are more afraid of death due to the September 11 attacks, Avian Flu, Swine Flu, pandemic scares, terrorism scares, chemical warfare, and the like, and this fear of our own death is represented by zombies. This is a good point and probably has something to do with it, but I find it hard to believe that it's the whole story when I go outside and everyone has a glazed look on their face and is usually either talking into a phone or texting and staring down at it and not paying any attention to anything else so that they might walk right into you. I think the book really should have gone more into depth with our everyday culture and its significance as regards the topic of zombies.
Profile Image for Xexets.
21 reviews5 followers
November 7, 2011
This books reads for the most as a doctoral dissertation. As such it feels at times repetitive and the argument is not always smoothly traced back to the data presented. Still, it is a very accomplished achievement, especially in the most mature parts, such as the introduction and the conclusion. The title is misleading in my opinion as it presents a much wider purpose and scope than the book itself, which introduces the origins of zombie films and then limits the argument (quite understandably) to Romero's quadrilogy.
I find the argument at times clumsy, not always zombie narratives trace back clearly to their alleged gothic predecessors, although the idea is in itself rather undeniable. I am not sure, but I am no expert in literature per se, about the overflowing of gothic literature into contemporary cinema, maybe the category in itself could be deconstructed and overcome. But this is not a problem intrinsic to this book.
Overall, I found interesting the use of Romero's quadrilogy as a marker of society: the way we change our perception of zombie is modulated on the main concerns we have about society and the world we live in. This bit of the argument I think is much more compelling than the gothic legacy part.
All in all, a good scholarly monograph, easily readable by non specialists, limited in scope, but pertinently argued.
Profile Image for Midnight Blue.
467 reviews25 followers
May 5, 2015
What I could understand was very interesting....that said, I'm no mouth-breather but I had to reread some sentences two or three times and I'm still not sure what they mean. Keep in mind, this book is a collection of college theses written by a college professor so, if you haven't been in college recently and didn't major in English or some sort of theory, it's a hard read. Only my great love of all things zombies made it worth reading all the way through; reading this book will take a lot of BRAAAIINNNNSSSSS!
Profile Image for C.
894 reviews3 followers
August 18, 2019
A zombie film primer & appreciation

I was never really a zombie movie fan. '28 Days Later' was a favorite, but for non-zombie reasons. I loved that at times, it had such beauty that I hadn't seen in many movies, like the way rain was filmed, despite featuring a rage infection. It was because of this movie that I wanted to read this book: an analysis of all things zombie. But of course I had to be a bit familiar with more zombie movies if I was to know what was going on here. After scoring almost all the George A. Romero movies and remakes on ebay for $20, and seeing most of the other important zombie films, I was good to go. And I can say I really enjoyed most of these films, the first three Romero movies especially: Night, Dawn and Day of the Dead. Zombie movies, at least the good ones, have something to say, and those are the films that are discussed here. The films mainly in the 1980s that had less to say, less substantial metaphors for real society, are avoided in 'American Zombie Gothic'. I can't believe I'm saying this, but some zombie movies are classier than others.

'American Zombie Gothic' begins with describing the cultural and mythological origins of the zombie, mainly in Caribbean voodoo culture. For a people with a history of slavery and so much revolution, sometimes replacing their rulers on a yearly basis, there are many possible meanings for the word 'zombie': the fear of being enslaved again, or of being sold to the Bizango, the secret voodoo societies, for violating the "seven transgressions". The zombie provided the oppressed the opportunity to oppress. In some cases, being a zombie may mean being poisoned by neurotoxins in a puffer fish that gives the appearance of death, though the victim is sometimes buried alive. To the Caribbean people, the zombie itself was something to be pitied. What they were worried about, was becoming a zombie themselves, and this time, as an automaton, they wouldn't have a shot at revolution. You can decide if these real cases and others in this book make the cannibalistic, infectious and feral zombie reinvented by George A. Romero in 'Night of the Living Dead' and subsequent films, more or less scarier. Romero always has something to say. His films are a snapshot of what society had been concerned with at the time. For example, zombies continually consuming human flesh and the mall setting of 'Dawn of the Dead' condemned rampant consumerism and the extensive explanation of this in 'American Zombie Gothic' is brilliant. Romero's first four 'Dead' films are discussed in detail here: Night, Dawn, Day and Land. Romero likes to use the zombies to represent ourselves, and somehow the zombies are sometimes more humane than humans.

Bishop also discusses the movies of the 1930s and 1940s that used the zombie movie to benefit from the fears that whites had with possible reverse colonialism: whites becoming enslaved zombies by voodoo masters in black nations in movies like 'White Zombie' and 'I Walked with a Zombie'. I'm a bit disappointed Bishop didn't include another zombie film here: 'Chandu on the Magic Island', a completely kooky zombie film, which I only found because I thought it was in this book, but 'The Magic Island' by William Seabrook is a non-fiction book on zombies that was featured instead. The 1935 'Chandu' would have been a nice pairing with Bela Lugosi as the hero here, along side Bela Lugosi as the villain in 1932's 'White Zombie'.

Many interesting points are discussed here, though I would have liked to see more on '28 Days Later'. With the release of '28 Days Later', that was filming as 9/11 was happening, a zombie renaissance began, with many zombie films representing fear in a way that hadn't been present before 9/11. This is a must read for any zombie, horror or movie fan, and to anyone who isn't such a zombie fan, who doesn't see the importance of zombie films, here is a good place to start.. Though you certainly get more enjoyment out of it with each movie that you are familiar with that is discussed here. If anything, I'm pleased that I have found some movies to call my favorites, and I'd say I'm addicted to zombies now. I think the zombie "renaissance" is just beginning --one of my favorite shows, Community, recently had an episode featuring zombies (but to be fair, they are usually a show with a new theme every week). Since the living dead say so much about the living, I don't think they will be disappearing any time soon.
Profile Image for Jessica.
Author 26 books5,925 followers
April 1, 2010
Can we, indeed, speak of a current zombie renaissance?

Yes. Yes we can!

A must for film buffs and zombie/horror movie fans everywhere, Bishop's book is a fascinating look at the history of zombie films and their effect on pop culture and cinema.

I don't particularly care for zombie films (notable exceptions: loved Shaun of the Dead and Fido, and 28 Days Later is one of my favorite movies ever), but Kyle "Dr. Walking Dead" Bishop is a friend of mine, so I thought I'd give his book a go. Wow. Couldn't stop reading! He covers everything from the history of voodoo and zombies in the real world up to the release of the book Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. It was deeply interesting to see how zombie films have evolved from the incredibly racist 1930's films to the evil zombie heyday of the 1970's, and then the sympathetic zom-rom-coms of the 21st century.

The book is totally engrossing . . . and also kind of gross . . . (there are pictures) . . . but five stars and two thumbs way up!
Profile Image for Cheryl.
211 reviews5 followers
December 29, 2014
American Zombie Gothic by Kyle Bishop is an awesome resource on zombies, especially for someone who loves zombie movies and books. I have always been somewhat embarrassed to admit that I love zombies, and have never been able to articulate why. Now I can quote Mr. Bishop's work as an explanation: "Perhaps, then, zombie cinema is not merely a reflection of modern society, but a type of preemptive panacea, and that protective potentiality along gives the subgenre both great cultural significance and lasting social value." As you can see from the quote, this is not light reading. However it is worth persevering, as it is valuable as a scholarly work and reference book. As other reviewers have noted, American Zombie Gothic puts the zombie phenomenon in perspective and context, as well as acting as a must-read reference of zombie materials. It introduced me to a whole new way of looking at (and justifying!) my zombie fascination. Recommended for any zombie aficionado, or anyone wanting to understand a zombie aficionado.
516 reviews9 followers
January 30, 2016
An interesting look at zombies in movies, their history, what influenced them and how they in turn influenced modern culture and have evolved over time.

I found I preferred the first chapter that dealt with the origins of the zombie, both as a real part of Voodoo and in films. He was his most concise and to the point at this point and the history itself is fascinating.

In the remaining chapters he focuses primarily on the George Romero films, which while understandable got a bit tedious after awhile. I would have appreciated a bit more in depth look into other zombie movies as well, especially since he seemed to repeat himself multiple times in trying to explain and prove the theories about what influenced those movies and how he made them work.

Overall I enjoyed this book and it 19s quite approachable and easy to read, even if you 19ve only seen one or two zombie movies this book does a good enough job of fleshing out the whole genre that you don 19t really need an expansive history with them get something out of it.
Profile Image for Linda.
127 reviews19 followers
May 8, 2011
Very interesting and informative. I must admit, I didn't read it cover to cover. It is so like a text book, that I found myself looking for references to certain movies, time frames, etc. My daughter made an interesting comment: this would be a great reference for watching the films. Before watching one of the referenced films, look it up in the book and find out all the interesting info.

Mr. Bishop did an excellent job of researching (I'm an ex-English teacher, so I appreciate his annotations, research, etc) and his in-depth information can't be faulted by any means. However, if you don't enjoy reading text books, you might want to pass on this one.
13 reviews
March 4, 2014
Yes it is a PhD thesis but if you are aware of this to begin with then there won't be any surprises about the depth. Agree there is some repetition at times but this is a first published study after all. The book was really useful for the unit I teach on Fictions and there is a lot of insightful comment and some detailed coverage of early zombie narratives and post colonial theory. If you are looking for a coffee table account there are better books out there. A reprint in future years dealing with The Walking Dead television series and Marvel comics appropriation of the zombie would be something to look forward to.
Profile Image for Amy the book-bat.
2,378 reviews
January 17, 2016
This book began as a PhD dissertation. The writing is very scholarly. The reason I went with 4 stars instead of 5 is because the author uses a lot of uncommon vocabulary and has a tendency to repeat things.
Overall, I think the author has a lot of valid points to make about the evolution of the zombie subgenre. I think it is very interesting to see how various films are allegories to the social fears of the times. I also learned about films I had not heard of prior to reading this and I will now watch them to see the author's points being illustrated.
If you are interested in film criticism or zombie films, you may want to take a look at this book.
Profile Image for Laura.
352 reviews33 followers
December 7, 2012
Good in-depth study of zombie films, focusing particularly on Romero films. Sometimes the critical reading got a little too in-depth for me and I felt some points were repetitive. I really liked the chapter on the origins of zombie lore in Haiti and the U.S., and enjoyed the comparisons to gothic literature.. Bishop analyzed many Romero films deeply and I would have liked to seen as much attention paid to some of the other post-2000 films. But all in all, if you're into zombie films and dig heavy pop-culture analysis, you'll like this.
Profile Image for Amy.
42 reviews1 follower
July 25, 2011
This is a fantastic overview of the zombie film sub-genre. Bishop has a vast knowledge of anthropology and philosophy, intertwining these theories with his zombie research. Although the book is heavily academic is is an easy and fun read. Many thanks to Bishop for helping to bring much-needed respectability to horror film fans.
Profile Image for Andrew.
140 reviews
March 14, 2014
Bishop should be lauded for training a critical gaze upon the resurgence and penetration of the zombie idiom in popular culture. Unfortunately, he has done an exquisitely bad job of it. The text reads like it was written by a college freshman and edited by a high school senior. It is a meek gesture toward cultural criticism.
Profile Image for Emily.
166 reviews
November 30, 2011
Interesting but I hate my habit of automatically slowing down when I read nonfiction. I should have burned through this book based on length and subject matter. Very interesting and original ideas about the zombie.
Profile Image for Mikel.
4 reviews
March 30, 2014
Very solid scholarship. While I disagree with some of Bishop's conclusions, I can't fault him for his research.
Profile Image for Mike Glaser.
878 reviews34 followers
December 11, 2021
Found this one at the library in a Halloween display that had not been taken yet. A combination of articles and a doctoral thesis, the book may say more about academia than it does about zombies. The author spends a minimal effort on connecting the various pieces that were slapped together to turn this into a book which has led to a repetitive narrative but did help to pad the page count. This book could be used to play “woke” bingo as just about every fashionable word or phrase that can be used to show an author’s disdain for the mainstream world can be found in this book. Let my mistake of seeing the cover to this book and thinking that this could be an enjoyable review of zombie movies serve as a warning to you good reader and just walk away from this book.
Profile Image for Sistermagpie.
799 reviews7 followers
August 31, 2023
Another good overview of the evolution of the zombie movie and thoughts about what these monsters say about us through the years. Some zombie movies are, of course, even more interesting to read about than to watch. It's not a straight road from Voodoo to the Walking Dead, but it's still enjoyable to try to follow it!
Profile Image for McKel.
89 reviews2 followers
January 6, 2015
Um...literary studies and zombies? People are dying to read it.
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