The dark history of zombies - Christopher M. Moreman

Summary

The script explores the origins of zombies, tracing back to African traditions and the vodou religion of Haiti, where zombis were victims of sorcery, enslaved even in death. The narrative shifts with the US occupation of Haiti, as Western pop culture reimagined zombies as flesh-eating monsters, erasing their original significance and transforming victims into threats. This evolution reflects societal anxieties, with zombies serving as a metaphor for various social issues.

Takeaways

• 🧟 The concept of zombies has roots in Equatorial and Central Africa, with the word 'zombie' possibly deriving from various African languages.
• 📚 The term 'zombie' is associated with spiritual beliefs where a spirit can inhabit a corpse or object, reflecting African cultural traditions.
• 🚢 During the colonial era, African religious beliefs mixed with Catholicism in the Caribbean, leading to the development of vodou and its concept of zombification.
• 🏰 In vodou, a 'bokor' or sorcerer could capture a soul or corpse, turning it into a zombi, symbolizing the horrors of enslavement faced by Haitians.
• 🌟 Haitian culture views zombis as victims deserving sympathy, highlighting the tragic nature of their existence as eternally enslaved beings.
• 🎭 The Western portrayal of zombies began with the 1932 film 'White Zombie,' which introduced the concept to a broader audience but misaligned with Haitian beliefs.
• 🎬 American pop culture later transformed zombies into flesh-eating monsters, diverging from their original cultural significance as victims of enslavement.
• 🧟‍♂️ The 1968 film 'Night of the Living Dead' further popularized zombies as mindless, slow-moving creatures, cementing their image as monsters.
• 🧠 By 1985, zombies in pop culture developed a taste for brains, adding a new dimension to their monstrous characteristics.
• 🌐 The concept of zombies has been used by artists to comment on contemporary social issues, reflecting societal anxieties and concerns.

Q & A

What is the origin of the word 'zombie'?

The exact etymological origins of 'zombie' are unknown, but it may have roots in the Mitsogho word 'ndzumbi' for corpse, the Kikongo word 'nzambi' referring to a supreme being or deity, or 'zumbi' in Angolan and Congolese languages, which refers to an object inhabited by a spirit or someone returned from the dead.

How did the concept of zombies relate to African cultural beliefs?

In African cultures, particularly in Kongo tradition, it's believed that a person's spirit can be housed in a physical object after death, which might bring protection and good luck. Similar beliefs about the soul's fate after death are found in various parts of Africa.

How did the African religious beliefs mix with Catholic traditions in the Caribbean?

Between 1517 and 1804, enslaved African people's religious beliefs mixed with the Catholic traditions of colonial authorities in the Caribbean, leading to the development of the religion known as 'vodou'.

What is the vodou belief regarding a person's soul and how does it relate to zombies?

According to some vodou beliefs, a person's soul can be captured and stored, becoming a body-less 'zombi'. Alternatively, a sorcerer called a 'bokor' can capture a corpse that isn't properly attended to after death, turning it into a soulless zombi to perform their bidding.

How were historical zombies used and what did they symbolize?

Historically, zombies were said to be put to work as laborers, needing neither food nor rest, thereby enriching their captor's fortune. Zombification symbolized the horrors of enslavement, representing a form of enslavement from which even death could not free one.

How is the perception of zombies in Haitian culture different from their portrayal in Western pop culture?

In Haitian culture, zombis are commonly seen as victims deserving of sympathy and care, whereas in Western pop culture, they are often portrayed as monsters with an insatiable craving for flesh.

What impact did the US occupation of Haiti in 1915 have on the portrayal of zombies?

The US occupation of Haiti in 1915 led to the propagation of many racist beliefs about Black Haitian people, including false accounts of devil worship and human sacrifice. Zombie stories captured the American imagination during this time, leading to a transformation of the zombie concept through the lens of Western pop culture.

In what year did zombies debut on the big screen and what was the film's name?

Zombies debuted on the big screen in 1932 in a film called 'White Zombie'.

How did the portrayal of zombies change after the film 'Night of the Living Dead'?

After 'Night of the Living Dead', zombies became linked to an insatiable craving for flesh, with a particular taste for brains added later in 1985's 'The Return of the Living Dead'. They were no longer controlled by a sorcerer but were portrayed as monsters.

How have artists used zombies in their work over the decades?

Artists have used zombies to shine a light on social ills and anxieties of their time, such as consumer culture and the global lack of disaster preparedness.

What significant change did American pop culture bring to the original significance of zombies?

American pop culture initially erased the origins of zombies, transforming the victim into the monster and cannibalizing its original significance.