Post-Apocalypse In Alicia Kozma's The Walking Dead

With the current rise in popularity of zombie films and literature, it is clear that many individuals are thrilled by the idea of a zombie apocalypse — an interest sparked by the desire to live a life without the dependence on technology. Alicia Kozma, a professor in cultural media studies, uses the television series of The Walking Dead to illustrate how the show’s post-apocalyptic setting demands a return to the natural world free of such reliance. For example, the protagonist Rick Grimes constantly resorts to using technological alternatives such as a horse rather than a car and a baseball bat rather than a gun (Kozma 151). With gasoline and bullets scarce, forms of technology such as cars and firearms are seen as invaluable in a society where scientific

Rick, arguably one the most influential survivors, understands this idea and successfully adapts to the new world through his dismissal of technology. Similar to this rejection, Kozma also mentions how the second season exemplifies a return to pastoral naturalness by the survivors’ attempt to rebuild their lives on a farm (Kozma 154). By choosing to hunt and gather, collect well water, and perform other earthbound tasks, the characters of The Walking Dead perfectly capture how the post-apocalyptic world provides an opportunity to eradicate the need for technology and return to a more primitive society. Coinciding with the desire of a post-apocalyptic world free of technology, the fascination with the zombie apocalypse may also be explained in terms of an aspiration to live in a less globalized society. Nicole Birch-Bayley, an English graduate student, frames the argument that zombie films are “a medium for western culture’s ‘crisis mentality’…waiting for the next terrorist attack, the next outbreak of