Dawn of the Dead

I love this weird little poem. It’s actually one of the first poems I wrote for the collection and probably the shortest poem I’ve ever published. “Dawn of the Dead” originally appeared in Molecule – a tiny lit mag in Fall 2022 and I love that it found a home that appreciated both its humor and brevity.

One of the things I adore about horror as a genre is it’s ability to interject comedy and camp with serious messages about fear, society, and human nature. Romero’s 1978 classic “Dawn of the Dead” is a masterclass in this area, dazzling audiences with the perfect combination of gory practical effects (due to the genius of Tom Savini), campy yet creepy zombies, and a still-relevant message about the dangers of over-consumerism, and its physical, emotional, and psychological effects on society.

Romero has always been a pro at understanding how to create a solid plot that makes sense on its own but leaves a lot of space for wider thematic interpretations. Is it a coincidence all the zombies descend on the mall? Absolutely not. Mall culture in the U.S. was already booming in the late 70s (and would only grow exponentially through the 80s and 90s). This era ushered in a major cultural shift, eschewing the importance of community for rampant greed and consumerism. Society encouraged people to make as much money as possible and spend it all on themselves to help drive corporate profits. As a result, American social culture became inexplicitly intertwined with shopping and consumerism.

It’s also not a coincidence that themes of unrestrained consumerism easily mirror the concept of mindless zombie hoards solely driven by a innate desire to consume. They come to the mall out of habit, but also as a symbol of what unfettered consumerism will ultimately cost – humanity itself. It’s terribly smart and awfully funny and one of the best zombie films of all time. I only hope my small poem does it a hint of justice.