Dharma of the Living Dead: A Meditation on the Meaning of the Hollywood Zombie

Abstract

This paper examines the religious implications of the modern zombie, which has achieved great popularity in the modern Western imagination. Today’s zombie-craze can be traced from its roots in Haitian folklore through the 1960s counter-cultural revolution. The popularity of the zombie reflects the after-effects of the anti-authoritarianism of the 1960s. As holes appeared in what Peter Berger called the sacred canopy, previously held systems of meaning collapsed, leaving a growing uncertainty about life and death. In many cases, these holes were filled by alternative spiritualities and Eastern philosophy. I will demonstrate, using Martin Heidegger, how the modern zombie acts as a vessel for Buddhist teachings. As such, the zombie’s popularity can be understood as a reflection of a present need to confront mortality and thus become an ‘‘authentic being.’’