What Do the Undead Teach Us? Reflections on Death from George Romero’s Horror Cinema

Abstract

The article aims to analyze what the undead can teach us, using this figure as an example among the various monstrous manifestations present in the horror universe. To achieve this, the text focuses on the horror cinema of American director George Andrew Romero, known for his works that reconfigure the representation of the undead. It is understood that these figures have significant potential to reveal aspects of the historical and cultural context in which they emerge, encompassing a range of emerging themes and promoting deep reflections on death and the finitude of human existence. To achieve this purpose, the study is grounded in Cultural Studies and employs a methodology composed of screen ethnography, theoretical contributions from cultural analysis, and critical visual methodology. This approach allows for a richer and more contextualized understanding of both the figure of the undead and horror cinema as a whole. Thus, it is considered that these representations not only help to comprehend historical and cultural contexts but also address problems that persist over time, transcending various cultures. The figure of the undead is understood not only as a symbol of death but also as an element that deconstructs the truths and understandings typically held about it. This disorganization provokes a crisis in established perceptions, generating a variety of reactions and deep reflections on the human condition.