Theorizing Zombiism 4: Fast Zombies/SLO Zombies
Theorizing Zombiism IV: Fast Zombie/SLO Zombie
DEADLINE EXTENSION
California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly)
Department of English
San Luis Obispo (SLO)
California
Provisional Date: 18-19 July, 2025
The Theorizing Zombiism (TZ) conference series is intent on exploring theories of what zombiism as the state of being or becoming zombified was and meant for the modern era. As the zombie figure shifts and mutates, discussions, and debates, have ensued about what constitutes a zombie and what does not. Since the 1932 film White Zombie, the zombie has developed numerous iterations: from the agentless worker to the shambling corpse, to the cannibalistic corpse, to the sentient zombie. This is, of course, an abbreviated list. The TZ4 conference aims to continue exploring the state of zombiism by examining not only what a zombie is but also how the figure functions. Through these two aspects, the Zombie Studies Network calls for papers examining the seemingly ever-shifting parameters of the zombie in both society and academia through all media versions. As discussions of zombies in academia, and in public, tend to be dominated by the cinematic portrayals, the hope for this conference is that other mediums will be explored to expand the scope of understanding of the zombie in comparison to the various spheres of society that engages with and utilizes the zombie. As a continuation from the previous conference as well, the TZ4 conference aims to provide a much-needed platform for the development of international and interdisciplinary relationships between researchers, educators, practitioners and other interested parties. Collaborations between disciplines is also encouraged. Proposals for panels and co-authored papers are also especially encouraged.
Abstract deadline: 31 January, 2025
Email abstracts to theorizingzombiism@gmail.com
Potential topics could be, but are not limited to, the following:
Zombie Science
Zombies in Science
Zombies across the disciplines compared to the humanities
Zombies in the news and social media
Short stories and short films
Novels
Comic/Graphic novels
Cosplay and Fancy Dress/Costume
Ecocritical zombiism
Zombies in Popular Culture
Historical/Literary mash-ups
The undead in myth and folklore
Zombies in survival video games
Zombies and consumer capitalism
Zombies and neoliberalism
Zombies and communism
Linguistic perspectives on the undead
Globalization, refugees, and migration
Gender/ethnicity/race and the undead
Nationalism through the zombie narratives
Zombiism and visual culture and art history
Zombie infections as a metaphor for pandemics
Re-evaluating the function of horror in society
Dead digital objects and undead archival objects
Expanding zombie tropes in other forms and fields
Zombie phenomenology/philosophy/psychoanalysis
The science of zombiism/the zombification of science
Legal zombiism: law and legislation that refuses to die
Zombie visuality: motifs unique to the zombie’s visual personality
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