This morning began like almost any other Monday morning. As usual, I slept through for about an hour before finally getting up. Groggy and irritated at having to go to work, I still managed to get out of the house on time. I crowded onto the train which was full and things seemed a bit strange. People were in costume.
Well, one or two random people can wear costumes almost any day of the year in New York City, it’s so chaotic, but to see a good dozen people in different getups is definitely unusual. And just about the time I realized it must be Halloween, I felt a sharp pain in my hand. I looked down and saw a little guy dressed like a zombie happily sinking his teeth into me.
I understand getting a little overzealous in costume, that’s happened to the best of us, but I draw the line with a 10-year-old biting strangers on the train. This is by no means hygienic and frankly, it really hurts. I have my hand all wrapped in gauze at the moment, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t painful to type those words.
I didn’t want to end up as just another Karen in a viral video, so I didn’t really say anything. It’s a little bite, what’s the big deal?
Sorry, that’s probably a lot of personal information to share in a simple blog post. I digress, let’s talk zombie tattoos shall we? Of all the horror film genres, zombie films have always appealed to me the most. All of the most popular zombie movies, starting with George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, do more than just terrify audiences. They use the concept of the undead as a starting point to hold up a mirror to society’s ills. In “Night of the Living Dead” the viewer is shown how the actions of humans can often be more terrifying than a pack of ravenous undead monsters. In “Dawn of the Dead,” it is America’s devotion to commerce that…
I’m sorry, is it hot in here? I don’t feel quite right. And if I’m completely honest, the pain in my hand is radiating up my arm.
I digress. what did i say Oh, Dawn of the Dead was not only an attack on the rampant materialism found throughout the Me Generation, but it also represented a huge leap forward in visual effects, making the zombies even more terrifying than before.
The concept of letting your humanity go away in a matter of hours is a terrifying thought, and it’s at the very root of these films. You either lost your humanity when you fell into dire circumstances, or you lose it through an otherworldly disease coursing through your veins and infected with a simple bite.
Speaking of bites…. should a wound turn black? It’s only been a few hours, but I don’t have health insurance, so I don’t want to have to lug my butt to the ER when all I really needed was some Bactine and an Advil.
As I said before, the zombie movie has evolved over the years. Often the zombies aren’t slow and brainless, they’re often superhumanly fast and ferocious. In terms of symbolism, modern films tend to blame environmental disasters or corruption….
My head is pounding right now. I want to finish this article but I don’t know if I can. Every keystroke is agony. My hand has turned black around the wound… I think I may need to lie down, foasd;ghasgklebh ohenriotu =0[qgAb.nv /l.,
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Editor’s Note: This article was set to auto publish. It wasn’t until I got to the last bit that I grew concerned. I was working from home today—had to finish working on my costume for tonight—but now I’m more than a little worried. Calls to the office have gone unanswered. I hope everybody’s OK… but let’s just distract ourselves by looking at some really cool zombie tattoos. I’m sure everything is fine.