So uhh WHAT is the origin of zombies?

[emperorx1984]

been watching alot horror flicks lately, where in the hell does this concept of a virus spread by bites from undead zombies whom hunger for human flesh come from? And where does the virus come from? Like, Dawn of the Dead, never heard a word, it all jus happened. Where did George Romero get his ideas? So what happens after everyone is a zombie on the earth?

[TC]

been watching alot horror flicks lately, where in the hell does this concept of a virus spread by bites from undead zombies whom hunger for human flesh come from? And where does the virus come from? Like, Dawn of the Dead, never heard a word, it all jus happened. Where did George Romero get his ideas? So what happens after everyone is a zombie on the earth?


I think it got its beginnings in conservative politics, possibly a Republican concept :grin

[Philosopher Foelhe]

ZOMBIE QUESTION! WHOOOO!

Heh. Sorry. I like zombies. Anyway, one piece at a time...


where in the hell does this concept of a virus spread by bites from undead zombies whom hunger for human flesh come from

Actually, that's a misconception of zombie lore. The truth is, the "zombie virus" is NOT spread through the bites of zombies. Anyone who dies during a zombie invasion, no matter the cause, will become a zombie.

This is shown clearly in the first of the Romero trilogy, Night of the Living Dead. At the beginning of the movie, Barbara's brother Johnny is killed wrestling with one of the zombies, when he falls onto a gravestone and apparently cracks his skull. Later he rises from the dead and attacks Barbara.

The bite isn't technically what causes zombies. I suspect the bite just makes people sick, the disease kills them, and then they rise like any other corpse. Hey, I imagine getting bitten by a shambling corpse isn't very sanitary.

*ahem* But anyway, yeah. Romero's version of zombies is based on ghouls, mythical creatures who feast on the dead. More information on ghouls can be found here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghoul) In fact, Night of the Living Dead actually refers to the monsters as ghouls. But people took the term "zombie" from Vodoun, and that stuck instead.


And where does the virus come from? Like, Dawn of the Dead, never heard a word

Night of the Living Dead actually had a theory that radioactivity from a returned satellite had caused the problem. But they also made it clear that no one knew for sure what the hell was going on - the point of a zombie movie, IMHO, isn't to have a goal to reach, but to have people trapped and panicked. Most good zombie movies are all about people cracking under stress, and giving them the reward of information about the crisis is a step away from that.


So what happens after everyone is a zombie on the earth?

If everyone died? Probably no different than any other apocalypse. People and most animals might be wiped out, and then the zombies slowly rot away, and then another species emerges from the ashes as the top of the food chain. Mother Nature is a stubborn lady; she's not gonna let things get permanently off-track just because of some shabby cannibalistic corpses.

[Cartesiantheater]

Hey Philosopher, have you heard of the Zombie Survival Guide? (http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/zombiesurvivalguide/)

[Philosopher Foelhe]

Hey Philosopher, have you heard of the Zombie Survival Guide?

Yes indeed. I actually own a crowbar because of that book. And if I could afford a Shaolin Spade, I'd own one of those too. Shaolin Spades are cool.

[Assassin X]

Just so you know zombies are very real! The first one of its kind came about during the Bush/Gore election. Just watch Gore when hes not talking. I swear hes a zombie. :scream:

[Cartesiantheater]

I think I'm going to go play a Zombie flash game...

Zombies freakin rock!

EDIT-this one's (http://www.2flashgames.com/f/f-Zombie-Survival-1705.htm) pretty fun...

[Godsgifttomankind]

been watching alot horror flicks lately, where in the hell does this concept of a virus spread by bites from undead zombies whom hunger for human flesh come from? And where does the virus come from? Like, Dawn of the Dead, never heard a word, it all jus happened. Where did George Romero get his ideas? So what happens after everyone is a zombie on the earth?

There are many ancient understandings for the living dead, mythological creatures that relate to specific teachings given by God to man. The fictional characters that we see today are a result of literal interpretation of things that were meant to be symbolic.

Within scripture the words dead and death corresponded to a person that had not placed themselves in a relationship with God or been born again. Though they were physically alive, spiritually they were dead and thus the living dead.

This example from the Book of Matthew

8:22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

[Maxtin]

Im a big japanese history sort of fella, and they calm that they started the Zombie craze. If you have ever been to Japan or even eaten sushi you may notice that the one fish they can hardly ever get is the puffer fish, you know the one that blows up when it gets scared. Well this fish has a poison in it, that will paralyze a person to the point where they appear dead, like in romeo and juliet when she poisons herself. Well anyways, when you eat the fish you can suffer from the light side effects sorta like being on LSD, if you eat to much or eat some from a bad chief you can be under the full effects. What im getting at is that in japanese history they would bury people who died after eating this fish in with bells above them and a string that came down to them, so if they where to wake up they would ring the bell. on the same lines some islanders would say that people that have eaten this fish would rise up from the dead and where zombies. Sorry for the spelling im dyslexic

[RavenWhitefang]

Father give me the Bull of Heaven, So he can kill Gilgamesh in his dwelling. If you do not give me the Bull of Heaven, I will knock down the Gates of the Netherworld, I will smash the doorposts, and leave the doors flat down, and will let the dead go up to eat the living! And the dead will outnumber the living!

From the Epic of Gilgamesh as spoken by Ishtar. Sumer. This would be one of the oldest mentions of the living dead.

Funny ass explanation of zombies (http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Zombie)

[emperorx1984]

ZOMBIE QUESTION! WHOOOO!

Heh. Sorry. I like zombies. Anyway, one piece at a time...



Actually, that's a misconception of zombie lore. The truth is, the "zombie virus" is NOT spread through the bites of zombies. Anyone who dies during a zombie invasion, no matter the cause, will become a zombie.

This is shown clearly in the first of the Romero trilogy, Night of the Living Dead. At the beginning of the movie, Barbara's brother Johnny is killed wrestling with one of the zombies, when he falls onto a gravestone and apparently cracks his skull. Later he rises from the dead and attacks Barbara.

The bite isn't technically what causes zombies. I suspect the bite just makes people sick, the disease kills them, and then they rise like any other corpse. Hey, I imagine getting bitten by a shambling corpse isn't very sanitary.

*ahem* But anyway, yeah. Romero's version of zombies is based on ghouls, mythical creatures who feast on the dead. More information on ghouls can be found here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghoul) In fact, Night of the Living Dead actually refers to the monsters as ghouls. But people took the term "zombie" from Vodoun, and that stuck instead.



Night of the Living Dead actually had a theory that radioactivity from a returned satellite had caused the problem. But they also made it clear that no one knew for sure what the hell was going on - the point of a zombie movie, IMHO, isn't to have a goal to reach, but to have people trapped and panicked. Most good zombie movies are all about people cracking under stress, and giving them the reward of information about the crisis is a step away from that.



If everyone died? Probably no different than any other apocalypse. People and most animals might be wiped out, and then the zombies slowly rot away, and then another species emerges from the ashes as the top of the food chain. Mother Nature is a stubborn lady; she's not gonna let things get permanently off-track just because of some shabby cannibalistic corpses.


good stuff man, thanx! :headbang:

[Apollo]

Thinking creatively, I suppose there could be a scientific explanation for zombies. A highly virulent pathogen, which would in turn, need to be extremely neurotoxic in order to cause a level of dementia enough for the subject to lose all concept of society and reason. Given these circumstances, many of the affected would spend alot of time doing absolutely nothing, but who knows if some zombies in Dawn of the Dead were doing that? I can't think of any communicable pathogen which would allow a person to achieve that level of dementia, and also the ability to run at full-speed and the strength enough to tear limbs off and break down doors.

[Fut004]

Yes indeed. I actually own a crowbar because of that book. And if I could afford a Shaolin Spade, I'd own one of those too. Shaolin Spades are cool.

So you own the Zombie Survival Guide, and you believe it enough as too purchase a Crowbar (and want a Spade), yet your explination for Zombies is as far off from the explination in the book as possible. That's kinda confusing.

[Foreign Mathematic]

I wish I were a zombie...ever see Braindead? The one made by Peter Jackson. It's so funny! If I were in a world that was surrounded by zombies, I would be a zombie psychologist. Instead of curing, I'd try understanding. Other people would find a cure for the infected or the actual zombies. In the meantime, I'd just like trying to figure out how they work and if they're habits can be compromised for the better. Maybe they can eat live pig!
Besides, zombies would make better boyfriends. They wouldn't talk at all, no rude comments, pale greenish skin is,like, totally attractive. And if you ever wanted to play tag, all you'd have to do is let them sniff your skin and then they'd chase you all day! A playmate with endless energy! How fun!

[Smoke]

LOL, thats crazyness..... hahahahah

[Foreign Mathematic]

What's crazy??? I am not crazy, I am perfectly sane. Where'd you get the idea I'm insane. I am definitely not insane..........well....I do have my moments....but being a corpse lover doesn't make me insane...does it?
Zombies are adorable!

[TC]

Some might question being a corpse lover, but OK thats the fun of this place.

[emperorx1984]

hmmmm, perhaps a combination of super-natural and genetic research = Zombie outbreak. . . . .

and WTF is up with eating flesh. . .AND brains?. . . .is it because they're soulless lifeless, walking undead = all that remains is a monster?

I got in a zombie mood after playing some Xbox 360 of Dead Rising, pretty damn good game!

[boromeer3]

I'm a big fan of The Zombie Survival Guide (WWZ too).

I'll say that it's the virus spread by biting.

[Demonskates]

There are real instances of zombies in south america i beleive, or where ever voodoo is practiced. They use somthing from the puffer fish, mixed with a bunch of other unknown stuff and give it to their victim. He appears dead, but is actually alive. Then the poor bastard is buried.Alive. later, the people who did this to the person, digs up the guy and uses him for slave labor. It deffinately does somthing to the brain of the victim. They cant reason any more, and pretty much do as thy are told. I watched a documentary of it. Not a true zombie, in the sense that they never actually die, but, they are as close to one as you can get in true life anyway.

[Fojos]

The origin of zombies is an imaginative mind.

[lazserus]

Thread moved. No scientific purpose, strictly creative.