Sunday, December 8th, was the day it all started. Some might call it a catastrophe, some call it The End of Humanity, but I, Eli, call it an experience; even if it is evidently more extreme. Caused by a scientist’s mistake, humankind was at serious risk of extinction. What is this life-changing event? It is something so hysterically implausible that I thought I was merely living in a dream. It is the Zombie Apocalypse of 2014, and here is my story:
Today was the third day the zombies have been here, yet I still cannot acknowledge their existence, it seems so unreal. ¼ of the world has already died, or technically, infected and are transitioned into horrible, foul-looking creatures. They haven’t arrived at Atlanta yet, where I live, but are very close. My parents don’t plan on an attempt to safety, or taking any precautions. Like the pessimists they are, they expect the worst out of this supernatural situation. The T.V. isn’t helping at all either, besides reminding us that we are going to die very soon. There is a one minute video on write now, some guy was taking a video on his phone and it’s being broadcasted.
The creatures were ugly looking, vomit-green, saliva dripping out of their mouth, dark, black circles under their eyes, making hissing noises at the man taking the video (imagery). Suddenly, the camera went black, not before I saw a green hand reach out for him. I guess he didn’t survive then. I felt bad for the man. I guess my death is coming soon as well. I feel calm, ready for my decease, indifferent. The zombies are predicted to arrive in Atlanta in a day or two. There is officially no hope in civilization. I picked up the remote, ready to change the channel. The door suddenly came crashing down. Then, chaos.
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...ddenly saw me and grabbed the gun and shot the zombie. I ran up to him, grateful and happy.
“Thank you so much, really, thank you.” I smiled at him.
“You’re very welcome.” He smiled back at me.
I suddenly collapsed, my ear was stinging. I touched it. It was a bite. No, this can’t be. I didn’t feel anything at all. Kolton stared at me, fear in his eyes. My pulse was speeding. My hand was turning greenish-yellow, my nails grew, saliva was beginning to drip grossly, my hair was partly falling out slowly, my vision was blurring, my body was getting stronger, and my body was vibrating (imagery). I was sitting at Kolton’s feet. I looked up, I was staring in horror. I need to do the right thing, if I complete my transition, I’ll turn him into a zombie.
“SHOOT ME, NOW!” I yelled.”
“What? No!!”
“NOW!” I shouted louder.
The last thing I heard was a bullet shot.
Though fictional, this novel illustrates the fear surrounding disease, viruses, and contamination and how if uncontrollable, could lead to a global spread that could jeopardize the human race. Traveling internationally, World War Z represents a zombie epidemic that brings forth infection, which can be considered an unconscious actor during this time of confusion and destruction. Scientifically, fear is defined as a natural response found in almost all organisms that revolve around the emotions and feelings induced by perceived threats and danger. Max Brooks illustrates the societal interaction with fear, “Fear of aging, fear of loneliness, fear of poverty, fear of failure. Fear is the most basic emotion we have. Fear is primal. Fear sells. That was my mantra. ‘Fear sells.’” (Brooks 55). The fear of a zombie virus spreading in fact just produces more fear into the mind of the individual. Through research and scientific advancements, fears and anxieties have been proven to put an individual more at risk of developing health issues. How ironic, right? Our fears and anxieties surrounding diseases and the spread of them cause our society to be more susceptible to obtain and contract more health related problems. The fight against the zombie metaphor within World War Z gives the reader a purpose for finding a way to hold
I looked over my shoulder and realized that the zombie was tailing me! I ran through the entrance of a nearby ride and stopped to catch my breath only when I was sure the zombie wasn’t following me.
AHHHHhhhhhh........! Imagine being awakened by a soft, distance scream. Wide awake, the world returns to being silent except for a racing heartbeat. Suddenly, a soft resonating moan starts to fill the empty air of the bedroom. Looking out the window, the world is an eerie grey with nothing moving but the occasional garbage blowing in the wind. Suddenly the horizon begins to change as a crowd of people begin to emerge. Watching nervously, the figures get closer and turn into something much more menacing. They are all disease-invested, flesh-rotted, brain-hungry zombies! Where did these undead monsters come from? How do they survive? What helped them crawl into the popular culture and continue through the changing fads of past decades? The zombie craze was “born” for the hardcore horror fans but has been kept “alive” by fear and publicity that is focused towards everyone.
The zombie race is very different. It doesn't not have many abilities and is not advanced like humans. Their behavior patterns are different. They cannot stand cold or winter weather. Their behavior is very different and difficult to calculate. They usually stand around lingering and waiting to attack when they hear something. They follow noises.Some abilities that they do have is that they have excellent hearing and can walk but aren't blind.The also can smell human blood. Zombies are generally weak but don’t underestimate what they can do to a human.
THE PAST :.. In days gone by, the four species managed to live in perfect harmony. Witches, werewolves and vampires lived in secret, blending in with the humans on a daily basis - and the humans remained completely in the dark about their existence. It was after thousands of years of living this way, whilst everything was completely normal, that a small group of vampires decided that they’d had enough. They spent months devising plans.
In Night of the Living Dead, the zombies were eventually eliminated. Or were they? Theorists argue that the monster’s elusiveness is due to its physical, psychological and social characteristics that cross the lines of classification. Human’s innate fear of the unknown is due to their inability to make a distinction or draw a clear conclusion. This is explained further in Jeffrey Cohen’s second thesis in “Monster Theory” that claims that; “the monster never escapes” (Cohen, 14). The zombie as a monster can never be destroyed completely and if it is, it leaves a remnant the make people feel uncertain of its destruction. Base on Cohen’s theory, the zombie’s different interpretation allows it to emerge in other forms (a faster, smarter zombie?)
Brains. Must have brains. There are a lot of far-fetched scenes that horror movies have filled in our heads over the years. Many elements of fiction have created varying degrees of panic, more so since the emergence of the false “Based on a True Story” label. There is one terrifying creature once thought to be fictitious that has recently gained popularity in the media as well as news channels around the world. A situation that would have negative global effects far worse than any other natural disaster previously experienced. But just what is this violent biological phenomenon that has people taking a second look at our understanding of pathogens and the effects of chemicals on biological organisms, you may ask. The simple answer is the very real possibility of a zombie outbreak. Zombies are a misunderstood being. The definition that used to be applied is that of a once living being revived from a posthumous state with a nasty appetite for flesh. However, the new definition of zombie is that which is being evaluated as an eminent fear. Zombies are widely accepted, currently, as a being that has been subjected to a biological change that incites rage, neurological defects and an enormous appetite for meat. Many factors contribute to zombies being considered a realistic threat to life as we know it; including but not limited to chemical products consumed by humans as well as viral infections with effects not previously researched in depth. Biotechnology is our best defense against our closest neighbors.
In conclusion, I taught you what food to eat, what people to trust, and how to care for yourself. So even though it seems exhausting it really is not when you get the hang of it so just sit back and relax because, if the zombie apocalypse is coming it is not coming soon . On the bright, side even though you will look or sound like a weirdo, who is going to be laughing because they got eaten by zombies because they did not listen to you. So there you have it, you are now ready for the zombie
Death is the scariest part of living. Humanity has always been acutely aware of this horrible inevitability, and as a result of this almost near obsession with mortality certain practices, precautions, and even religions have been developed to ease the weary minds on death. Self- preservation, preparedness and survival motivate almost faction of human interest and behavior but becoming prepared for the conceivable anything and asking all the “what if” questions in the world still might not save humanity when analyzing how many devastating catastrophes can essentially wipe out life on this planet with ease. Not hard to imagine, mass extinction in history has happened at least five times estimated as far back as 440 million years ago at the end of the Ordovician Period. (Sjøgren) Most people expect to live a long and fulfilling life and eventually die naturally, peacefully surrounded by family and friends, but what if the Grim Reaper takes on another form, a zombie? At first the idea seems comical, but can one be completely sure this ghoulish creature could not be created. Only the foolish would deny that a zombie apocalypse is more than plausible. To analyze this realization completely is crucial to not only the survival of the human race but the entire planet as well. This thesis focuses on zombie popularity in culture and media, how an outbreak could come about, human zombie preparedness, how nature would stack up against the undead, and ultimately given the evidence which would survive the apocalypse, the living or the undead?
In any zombie literature helplessness is one of the most prominent themes. Most people would agree to the fact that there rarely is any happy ending to any zombie story or even film. In most of these stories the survivors try to make it to safety but they will usually not succeed in doing so and they eventually end up dying. A state of helplessness has also been stressed in the Anger of the Dead. In this movie we find Alice a pregnant girl who is trapped in a world that has been ravaged by a virus that turns its victims into cannibals. There are very few survivors along with her but not all of them have the same motive as her. Their only hope is an island that is untouched by the plague. However, despite the near impossible mission to head to safety, the situation is complicated by an individual from a group of sadistic groups who is after a mysterious woman. He is not to be reasoned with and his methods interrogation and punishment are simply barbaric.He only serves to make her threats bigger aside of the zombies.In Anger of the Dead mankind is ultimately doomed(Robson,
“Zombie killings are similar to reading and deleting 400 work e-mails on a Monday morning or filling out paperwork that only generates more paperwork, or following Twitter gossip out of obligation, or performing tedious tasks in which the only true risk is being consumed by avalanche” (41). These are all similar to zombie killings because zombies will never go away unless you turn to really harsh tactics like aiming for one’s brain with a shot gun and repeating this for every zombie you come in contact with. In order to clear those 400 emails after reading them you must repeat the steps for each and every one, which is time consuming and can be very frustrating. Completing paperwork is very tedious, and can sometimes become overwhelming you may begin to feel as if it will never end which is common well it can feel similar to that when it comes to zombie killings as well because there will be one zombie followed by another one and many more to come. “Battling zombies is like battling anything….. Or everything” (42). Never assume the war is over because it is not, there will be one or more zombies hiding out, the war is never over. “The zombies you kill today will merely be replaced by the zombies of tomorrow” (44). Zombies are a “live-stock” they are brain dead but they travel in packs and have no limit as to how far they will go. In the movie Dawn of the Dead the zombies actually
Mass amounts of people will die, families will be separated, and peaceful ways of life will be long gone. Guard your loved ones, board up your windows and keep your gun under your pillow because you’re gonna need it. I have taught the facts, the opinions, and the theories on the possibility of a zombie apocalypse. I have explained with facts and statistics the ramifications of it if it was to happen, the way and speed at which it can spread, and the cruelty that will follow. You can protect yourself and the ones closest to you, but first you have to believe it.
You don’t want to die alone now do you? Grab a partner or a friend as a meat shield so you can run away while they stand there getting slaughtered. Make sure you find some shelter and a nice secure door so they won’t be able to get in because zombies love breaking the doors down. If you’ve lost your mind because you’re not smart, you might hide in a house and be scared to death. Use your brain and go out there! Your brain might not be the most powerful tool for fighting, but you might’ve been dead before you could even fight with your brain. Fight ‘till every last zombie has died or until you died because your brain probably won’t help you at all with math equations, and writing essays because that’s not the point in the zombie
The Creature That Opened My Eyes Sympathy, anger, hate, and empathy, these are just a few of the emotions that came over me while getting to know and trying to understand the creature created by victor frankenstein in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. For the first time I became completely enthralled in a novel and learned to appreciate literature not only for the great stories they tell but also for the affect it could have on someones life as cliché as that might sound, if that weren’t enough it also gave me a greater appreciation and understanding of the idiom “never judge a book by its cover.” As a pimply faced, insecure, loner, and at most times self absorbed sophomore in high school I was never one to put anytime or focus when it came time
In recent years, there have been a plethora of film releases that pertain to the central topic of zombies. Typically “zombies thrive in popular culture during times of recession, epidemic and general unhappiness” (Drezner). Zombie films began around the 1920’s, and continue to fill modern day theatres. These films, although dramatized for entertainment, are something that truly could, and have, occurred. These films have been modernized, in order to fit the desires and demands of a modern-day audience, and therefore are tremendously different from their original zombie-film counterparts.