좀비 반, 사람 반: 좀비서사의 한계와 감염의 윤리 (Out of Zombie-to-Human Conflicts: The Limitation of Zombie Narrative and the Ethics of Infection)

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초록

Taking note of a recent trend in zombie narratives, wherein non-zombie monsters appear as the main characters and thus cause ruptures in the conventional narrative structure that inhabits only zombie-to-human conflicts, this paper examines how this trend comes from the limitation of zombie narratives that, due to the ordinary and infectious nature of zombies, are unable to come to a conclusion by themselves. With their supernatural power or intelligence that helps map out the illusory point of origin of the zombie apocalypse, non-zombie characters infect zombie narratives with a much needed dramatic climax, or, to quote Frank Kermode, a “peripeteia,” to prepare for a realistic sense of resolution that is lacking in conventional zombie-to-human conflicts. The paper further points out that this trend could be signaling the end of zombie narratives by the infection of non-zombie narratives while zombies as ordinarily human monsters losing their philosophical edge that draws scholars to the monsters.
The paper also takes a particular note of two recent zombie films, Maggie and Train to Busan, since they are resisting the new trend of having non-zombie monsters and thus attempt to keep the convention of zombie narratives alive. Their attempts, while admittedly admirable, however, are made by practicing the twisted ethical approach to infection that asks the infected individuals to sacrifice themselves for other people and society in general. By beautifying the self-sacrifice of the infected in the name of common good, thus, the two movies are at the risk of committing, to quote Steven Pokornowski, “the totalitarianism of generalization.” Weighing between embracing the coming death of zombie narratives and resisting it with the totalitarian ethical force, this paper argues that the former is as natural as the ironic yet sensible premise that zombie narratives are born and ended by way of infection.

영어초록

Taking note of a recent trend in zombie narratives, wherein non-zombie monsters appear as the main characters and thus cause ruptures in the conventional narrative structure that inhabits only zombie-to-human conflicts, this paper examines how this trend comes from the limitation of zombie narratives that, due to the ordinary and infectious nature of zombies, are unable to come to a conclusion by themselves. With their supernatural power or intelligence that helps map out the illusory point of origin of the zombie apocalypse, non-zombie characters infect zombie narratives with a much needed dramatic climax, or, to quote Frank Kermode, a “peripeteia,” to prepare for a realistic sense of resolution that is lacking in conventional zombie-to-human conflicts. The paper further points out that this trend could be signaling the end of zombie narratives by the infection of non-zombie narratives while zombies as ordinarily human monsters losing their philosophical edge that draws scholars to the monsters.
The paper also takes a particular note of two recent zombie films, Maggie and Train to Busan, since they are resisting the new trend of having non-zombie monsters and thus attempt to keep the convention of zombie narratives alive. Their attempts, while admittedly admirable, however, are made by practicing the twisted ethical approach to infection that asks the infected individuals to sacrifice themselves for other people and society in general. By beautifying the self-sacrifice of the infected in the name of common good, thus, the two movies are at the risk of committing, to quote Steven Pokornowski, “the totalitarianism of generalization.” Weighing between embracing the coming death of zombie narratives and resisting it with the totalitarian ethical force, this paper argues that the former is as natural as the ironic yet sensible premise that zombie narratives are born and ended by way of infection.

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