Living with Zombies

Depictions of the zombie apocalypse continue to reshape our concept of the walking dead (and of ourselves). The undead mirror cultural fears—governmental control, lawlessness, even interpersonal relationships—exposing our weaknesses and demanding a response (or safeguard), even as we imagine ever more horrifying versions of post-apocalyptic life. This critical study traces a shift in narrative focus in portrayals of the zombie apocalypse, as the living move from surviving hypothetical destruction toward reintegration and learning to live with the undead. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Chase Pielak teaches English at Auburn University.

Alexander H. Cohen has written about such topics as zombies, active learning, and how weather affects politics. He lives in Potsdam, New York.

Chase Pielak and Alexander H. Cohen

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 208
Bibliographic Info: 19 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2017
pISBN: 978-1-4766-6584-9
eISBN: 978-1-4766-2792-2
Imprint: McFarland
Series: Contributions to Zombie Studies

Acknowledgments vi
Introduction: Living with Zombies 1
1. Approaching the Apocalypse 17
2. Parsing Apocalypses 35
3. Apocalyptic Temporality 71
4. Apocalyptic Causes (by Matt Lewerenz, Chase Pielak and Alexander H. Cohen) 102
5. Apocalyptic Living (by Chase Pielak and Fanny Ramirez) 124
6. Curing the Apocalypse 140
7. Archiving the Apocalypse 156
Conclusion: Yes, but in a Zombie Apocalypse 171
Chapter Notes 183
Works Cited 189
Index 197