How to Discuss Zombie Lore Like a Pro

Zombies have become an incredibly potent part of our culture. Their apocalyptic assualts can be used to represent anything the filmmaker, author or artist desires: death, bioterrorism, even rampant consumerism. For a novice, however, coming up to speed on zombie history can be a challenging task. But fear not: it is not as overwhelming a chore as it first appears.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Review the zombie classics. George A. Romero's 1968 film, "Night of the Living Dead," set the stage for zombie cinema to come. Lucio Fulci's "Zombie" became the European hallmark. These films were often the first in a whole series of sequels and spin-offs, which are worth watching to chart the steady, decomposed evolution of zombie theory.
2. Watch and examine contemporary takes on the zombie phenomenon. These include the "28 Days Later" series, "Shaun of the Dead," and most everything else George Romero has ever done.
3. Read up on the biological basis for zombies. These include neurogenesis, reanimation research and brain parasites like toxoplasmosa gondii. Study zombies in the Haitian voodoo tradition (in particular the story of Clairvius Narcisse), and read Dr. Wade Davis's books on the subjects: "Passage of Darkness" and "The Serpent and the Rainbow."
4. Follow the trail of undead straight into pop culture. Find a zombie mob in a local city, in which up to hundreds of zombie-lovers dress up as their favorite brain-eaters, and go on to aimlessly wander the streets and occasional mall. Order a zombie-killing kit, which comes with a small shotgun and a plexiglass shield.
5. For the most extensive investigation into the effects of the dead rising, read the entirety of "The Walking Dead," a graphic novel serial that follows dozens of imperfect and progressively traumatized humans as they come to terms with a world newly infested by immortal corpses.
6. To truly one-up most zombie experts, research zombies in world culture. These include the "draugr" of Norse mythology, and the "hopping vampires" in Chinese cinema, which are zombies that devour life force and dress up in the style of the Qing dynasty.