The Anti-Zombie Position
Over on Twitter there was a discussion about zombies, specifically the zombie flash mobs that the kids are into these days. It may surprise you to learn that for a guy who enjoys costumed jackassery I am anti-zombie. I shall explain.
The problem is that "the zombie gestalt" is inherently nonsocial or antisocial. Zombies do not talk, they groan. They do not socialize, they attack. They don't even cooperate or communicate much with each other. In contrast, Santas, easter bunnies, and clowns are at least neutral or social. These costumes encourage the wearer to interact with other participants and observers as well-meaning social equals. In-group social interaction - debatably the major point of flash mobs - is also hindered. Pirates can yarr with each other in character and Santas can discuss which civilians are naughty or nice but zombies can only groan at each other without breaking character. The theme is socially inhibiting.
Orthogonal to this point is the mess factor. You can convert from civilian to pirate or santa quickly and back again quickly as well. Zombie costumes not only seem to require make-up, zombie behavior encourages participants to smear zombie make-up on other people, and the expected mock horror and mock protest of zombie victims combined with the confused melee nature of a zombie attack can make genuine expressions of protest seem ambiguous.
I understand that zombie participants are well-meaning, good-faith actors looking to have a bit of fun but I think the mob of costumed zombies is a fundamentally flawed concept, which is why I avoid participation in such events as either zombie or victim.
(Note to readers outside San Francisco: in our homogenously liberal city this is what passes for a controversial topic.)
The problem is that "the zombie gestalt" is inherently nonsocial or antisocial. Zombies do not talk, they groan. They do not socialize, they attack. They don't even cooperate or communicate much with each other. In contrast, Santas, easter bunnies, and clowns are at least neutral or social. These costumes encourage the wearer to interact with other participants and observers as well-meaning social equals. In-group social interaction - debatably the major point of flash mobs - is also hindered. Pirates can yarr with each other in character and Santas can discuss which civilians are naughty or nice but zombies can only groan at each other without breaking character. The theme is socially inhibiting.
Orthogonal to this point is the mess factor. You can convert from civilian to pirate or santa quickly and back again quickly as well. Zombie costumes not only seem to require make-up, zombie behavior encourages participants to smear zombie make-up on other people, and the expected mock horror and mock protest of zombie victims combined with the confused melee nature of a zombie attack can make genuine expressions of protest seem ambiguous.
I understand that zombie participants are well-meaning, good-faith actors looking to have a bit of fun but I think the mob of costumed zombies is a fundamentally flawed concept, which is why I avoid participation in such events as either zombie or victim.
(Note to readers outside San Francisco: in our homogenously liberal city this is what passes for a controversial topic.)