Overview

Building on previous zombie studies scholarship, this ghoulish collection examines how the undead reflect and contribute to contemporary social anxieties, particularly in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. The contributors to this volume advance the theoretical framework of 'zombiism' through four interconnected themes journeys, bodies, pandemics and politics and their writings analyse diverse media representations of zombies across literature, film, television and material culture, offering new perspectives on how zombie narratives engage issues of travel restrictions, political breakdowns, racial tensions and sexual taboos. By bringing together scholars from various fields, the volume demonstrates the continuing relevance of zombies as a lens for understanding contemporary societal challenges, from public health crises to rising far-right politics and ongoing culture wars; its interdisciplinary approach not only enriches zombie studies but also reveals how the figure of the zombie remains a vital tool for analysing pressing issues in the humanities and beyond.

Full Product Details

Author:   Conor Heffernan ,  Emma Tonkin ,  Linda Flores Ohlson
Publisher:   University of Wales Press
Imprint:   University of Wales Press
ISBN:  

9781837723034

ISBN 10:   1837723036
Pages:   256
Publication Date:   15 October 2025
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Not yet available  
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Table of Contents

Author Biographies Introduction Linda Flores, Emma Tonkin, Conor Heffernan The Zombie Journey Place, space and the localised apocalypse Emma Tonkin 2. Fear the Walking Dead: Elitism, Privilege and Zombie Americana Scott Hamilton 3. Examining the importance of Media in George R. Romero’s Early Zombie Movies Robert Curran Dissecting the Zombie Body 4. Decaying Dicks and Putrid Pussies: Zombie Sex Toys and Pleasure Caroline West 5. The Suburban Zombie: Exploring Posthumanism and Transhumanism in Netflix’s The Santa Clarita Diet En-Chi Chiou 6. Incel Zombie Sex: Trophy Wives of the Damned Adeline Berry 7. Zombie as Metaphor of Postmodern Malaise in Halley Surviving the Zombie Pandemic Violeta Alarcón Zayas 8. Hear the Dead, Bite the Living: Beyond Post-Apocalyptic Trauma Catherine Pugh & Nikki Foster-Kruczek 9. Abject Body of the Zombie as a Counter Narrative to the Pandemic Hero Madeline Becker 10. Human Individuals versus Zombie Masses: A Dystopia or a (Hyper-) Individualistic Utopia? Hossein Mohammadzade Zombie Politics 11. Decomposition and Excavation of War Memories and Massacres in Na Hong-jin’s The Wailing Grace Jung 12. The Symbolic Zombification and the Capitalist Modes of Production Rodrigo Gonsalves 13. Race, class and the Goal of the Dead: marginalised identities in French zombie cinema. Reece Goodall Bibliography Index

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Author Information

Conor Heffernan is a lecturer in the Sociology of Sport, at Ulster University. Emma Tonkin is a research fellow at the University of Bristol. Linda Flores Ohlson is an assistant professor of Spanish Linguistics, at the University of Gothenburg.

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