Annotated Bibliography Albuquerque, Ulysses Paulino, et al.

"Natural Products From Ethnodirected Studies: Revisiting The Ethnobiology Of The Zombie Poison." Evidence-Based In this article it is important to understand what Ethnobiology and though there is not a direct definition, it is implied that it is the scientific study of the way plants and animals are treated or used by various cultures. In this article it describes the research done by Wade Davis. Wade Daviss study of Haitian zombification in the 1980s was a landmark in ethnobiological research. In his research he attempted to find the origin of zombies. Apparently the zombie powder are not unique to Haiti and are used as remedies in traditional medicine worldwide. This article really strives to show the importance of what this kind of medication can hold. This is significant to this research paper. It is necessary to understand that although zombification is part of black magic, it also holds another power of healing. This reveals what the origins of zombies have led to in scientific research used today. Barber, Nicholas. "Why Are Zombies Still so Popular?" Bbc.com. BBC Culture, 25 Oct. 2013. Web. 2 Feb. 2014. <http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20131025-zombie-nation>. In this article, Barber speaks of why zombies are so popular in our culture today. He reminds us about the film 28 Days Later and how the film brought zombies back to the big screen. According to Simon Pegg (Cowriter of Shaun of the Dead) the revival of zombies happened when Resident Evil released, a popular zombie game. Whatever started it, Barber traces some mainstream films, comics and novels. From Dawn of the Dead, The Walking dead, and World War Z. He even states as 2013 is the year of the zombie. Barber goes on to state before all the mainstream popularity that, zombies were sorcerers slaves in Haitian Vodou folklore but Romero brought the idea to America, giving zombies a new twist. He also codified a new set of undead rules. His zombies had an insatiable hunger for human flesh And, just as importantly, they were a metaphor for everything that bothered Romero about the modern world. Coombs, Marian. "Unraveling The Undead." American Conservative 11.2 (2012): 40-42. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 Feb. 2014. The goal of Coombs article was to trace the origin of zombies to the point where society became obsessed with the idea. She begins her article with stating that zombies came from Africa, there they led rich lives being worshipped as Congolese snake gods (nzambi). Then voudon or Obeah cults, the nzmabi migrated to the meaning to spirits of the dead.Coomb goes on to explain that voodoo gained enough popularity to trigger The Salem Witch Trials of 1692. She then directs her article to the popular cult of the zombie, in which it began in the 1920s, when Jazz Age hipsters turned their fever attentions to the West Indies. Because of the growing popularity with Obeah rituals, Hollywood was inspired to take part of the epidemic. Coomb then speaks of a 1932 film entitled White Zombie which aided with the newfound obsession with the dead. She then concludes by talking about how in todays culture there have been many zombie films and shows which further reveals the popularity of zombies. Keegan, William. "Zombi." Caribbean Archaeology. Florida Museum of Natural History, 2013. Web. 22 Feb. 2014. <http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/caribarch/zombi.htm>.

This article outlines all answers to what a zombi is, who invented it, why it was invented and where. Keegan introduces the topic by describing where zombis originated. He explains that Haiti (the first free Afro-Caribbean republic in the world), invented a culture that is unique to the world. Haiti is especially involved Voodoo and though most Voodoo has little to do with sorcery and black magic, the idea of zombies is different. Zombi actually means spirit of a dead person. In Haiti though, it is someone who has annoyed his or her family and community to the degree that they can no longer stand to live with this person. Therefore someone would hire a Bokor (a voodoo priest) to turn the person into a zombi. A Bokor would create coup poudre (magic powder); through this the victim appears to die. Then they are buried although they are technically alive. Keegan goes on to describe a few stories where victims were able to survive and return to their village, being known a zombie. Keegan goes on by giving the archeology research involved to find the origins of zombi and concludes with the ingredients to the magic powder. Fredsti, Dana. "The Evolution Of Zombies In Pop Culture." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 25 Mar. 2012. Web. 28 Feb. 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-fredsti/zombie-culture_b_1375167.html>. Fredsti, like Barber, her article traces the reasons why zombies saturate pop culture. Fredsti claims, the concept of a zombie apocalypse is not new. There are references to the flesh eating dead in the Epic of Gilgamesh, perhaps the oldest surviving work of literature. And one has only to take a peek at a few choice passages in the bible to see that the dead returning to life is not a new theme. Like the rest, she recognizes that zombies stem from a long ago history. Like Gilmore she recognizes the Bible has contributed to the theme of the undead. She goes on in her article to recap the origin of zombie from the Haitians and then refers to some movies that have helped make zombies a thing. She then concludes her article, With so many epic moments to choose from as zombies have lurched their way through history and into the mainstream Gilmore, Michael J, and Cory Rushton. Zombies Are Us: Essays on the Humanity of the Walking Dead. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland, 2011. Print. Gilmore explores The Living Word Among the Living Dead. Since the Bible is recognized by many as a sacred and truth telling book, it is important to see what it has to say about dead spirits. Gilmore uses chapters and verses of the Bible explain what the Bible tells about the dead. Yes, the corpse you saw placed in a tomb got up and walked away, here Gilmore is speaking of the resurrection of Jesus. Would Jesus be considered by definition a zombie? Gilmore describes that Vodou zombie stories and their secular counterparts differ from one another in significant ways, both adapt ideas vaguely familiar to horror fans from biblical narratives. So Gilmore takes an interesting stance in his chapter relating verses to zombies and how zombie fans and Bible readers relate. He offers up a different unique perception of where zombies may have originated and where obsession may have begun. Oxforddictionaries.com. Oxford Dictionary, 2014.Web. 21 February 2014. The understanding of what zombie actually means is significant for this paper. According to Oxford Dictionary zombie has four definitions. The definition I will be using and exploring the most is a corpse said to be revived by witchcraft, especially in certain African and Caribbean

religions. It is key to know that the word originated in African and Caribbean regions. This reveals that is significant to these cultures and shows that these regions are known for witchcraft. A secondary definition is a person who may seem lifeless, apathetic, or unresponsive. Another alternate definition includes a person hacking on to another persons computer without their knowledge. Lastly zombie is a type of alcoholic drink. It is important to understand where the word zombie comes from and means. With the understanding of the word, I am able to fully research my topic. Also, this source is helpful in identifying what falls under the category of zombie. Platts, Todd. "Locating Zombies in the Sociology of Popular Culture." Locating Zombies in the Sociology of Popular Culture. Academia, 2013. Web. 26 Feb. 2014. <http://www.academia.edu/2076353/Locating_Zombies_in_the_Sociology_of_Popular_Culture >. Platts focuses primarily on the movies of the dead. He provides an overview of zombie studies and proposes potential avenues for sociological investigation into zombie phenomena. Platts claim that zombie lms, comic books, novels, video games, and the like can be seen as signicant cultural objects that reect and reveal the cultural and material circumstances of their creation. Platts, as the rest, gives a brief overview of the Haitian origin. He continues to argue that zombie pop culture reveals sociological truths about society. One is zombies as symptoms of social anxiety. He continues discussing societys production and consumption of zombie culture. He then claims even further that Sociologists can provide important perspective regarding how zombie culture reects, challenges, and perpetuates existing inequalities, particularly in respect to race, class, gender, and sexuality. Platts claims this because he believes that every director/writer has an agenda. If not agenda, some system of beliefs they want the rest of the world to see. It is crucial to see the zombie culture from a sociological view because the evolution does say a lot about our society today. Including what Platts argues in his article. Twohy, Margaret. From Voodoo to Viruses: The Evolution of the. Moshspace, Oct. 2008. Web. 28 Feb. 2014. <http://www.moshspace.com/theses/zombie_thesis.pdf>. The purpose of Twohys thesis, is similar to mine. Just like me, Twohy explores the evolutionary path the zombie has followed in current popular culture. Also she defines the term zombie as it has changed throughout the course of history. She also addresses that within the growing zombie culture today there is an over-arcing viral theme associated with the zombie. She also pints out the irony in it all, the growing popularity of zombies and its widening reach throughout popular culture makes the genre somewhat viral-like as well. She then recaps the Haitian history, like many of the others, describing the origin and obsession. She also discusses how zombiism has much variety and compares film and literatures on differences and similarities. She then proceeds with discussing how the film industry has prospered for this new type of monster and concludes with how pop culture is today. Intelligently, Twohy, describes it as Dawn of the (digitally) Dead. "Voodoo." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6Th Edition (2013): 1. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 Feb. 2014. Since voodoo plays a key role in the origin of zombies, it is important to know what voodoo is and consist of. The encyclopedia provides brief insight including where voodoo practices are

found (Haiti, Benin, Jamaica, parts of U.S and Guana) and reveals that in 2003 voodoo was granted official religious status. It goes on to say that basic features of voodoo were brought by slaves from W Africa, Particularly Benin Voodoo is known to include witchcraft and spiritual forces which may be honored with offerings, sacrifices ecstatic trances (communication with gods and spirits) and magic. In the New World Christian elements became a part of voodoo and the African gods became known as various saints. According to the source there has been multiple attempts to suppress the practice of voodoo, but it continues to flourish today. It is vital to understand that practices of voodoo still exist and flourish this means that practices of zombifying still exist. Therefore the topic is relevant to not only in history but today as well.