A zombie by any other name

[Kzach]

Like Umbran said, I think it's about trying to avoid literary self-referentialism... if that's even a term.

The thing is, though, that this just annoys me and takes me OUT of my suspension of disbelief. Everybody knows about zombies. They might not distinguish between a Romero stumbler and a modern runner, but the general concept of "people eating you after dying" is most definitely a well-known fictional phenomena. To assume that people in such a situation don't know the word or the term or how to apply it, ESPECIALLY in a place like America, is so absurdly idiotic that the ONLY explanation that I can accept is that the movie is in an alternate universe where the concept has never gained popular attention.

Then again, if done well I don't mind it so much. The Walking Dead is a good example. People are sheep and follow the leader so whoever first termed them 'walkers' in Rick's group, everyone else just latched on to that and made it the default terminology within their clique. Now, if the term zombie NEVER comes up, especially as they engage new groups of people, then I'll be bothered by it.

 

[Nebten]

I believe it is because they are paying homage to Night of the Living Dead (NotLD) since the term "zombie" is never used in that movie. Like many said already, zombie is voodo term and movies that had "zombies" where either under a curse or mind controled.

Romero never thought of his undead as "zombies" but instead of a variation of "monster" from I Am Legend. He admits to "borrowing" from I Am Legend and concieved a script of what happened before the events in Legend. Starz presents Zombie Mania (TV 2008) - IMDb

But to answer your question, I believe the the 28 Days/Weeks series doesn't refer to the "infected" as zombies. In Shaun of the Dead, Shaun scolds Ed for calling the undead "zombies."

 

[Bullgrit]

I think Umbran has it right.

What other genres avoid using terms like this. I mean, "vampire" is OK to use in vampire movies. "Alien" has even been used as a movie title.

Bullgrit

 

[Dykstrav]

Besides the self-referential nature of the term, one thing that may have got missed: rationalization. It's a powerful force in human psychology, and I think it works to explain why they wouldn't be called "zombies."

Witness season two of the Walking Dead. Herschel clearly rationalizes the danger that they pose, referring to them as people, often by name or their relationship to him. Sometimes he goes so far as to call them "sick people," but even then, he still refuses to identify them as "walkers." Glenn and Maggie also have this conversation, "What do you call them?" It's an issue they are concerned with in-universe as well.

I think that it's similar to why Camarilla characters in Vampire: the Masquerade don't call themselves vampires: it's a coping mechanism. Even with something staring you in the face, some people can just deal with it better if they don't directly address it. Sure, it's a bit Victorian, but I think it's a valid consideration.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Someone mentioned ZombieLand. It, like the Scream and Urban Legends films, has characters who are well aware of "The Rules" of the film genre being inflicted on them.

And not a one comes off as serious.

By having the fiction- and any references to it- kept out of the film or tv show, it gives an air of gravitas.

 

[Ralts Bloodthorne]

That and they aren't really zombies, but ghouls.

Ghouls act like the typical zombies.

Plus, people would come up with nicknames rather than call them zombies.

 

[Kzach]

That and they aren't really zombies, but ghouls.

Ghouls act like the typical zombies.

Plus, people would come up with nicknames rather than call them zombies.

Pfft, you and you're 'running zombies are ghouls' thing again?

You'd think you wrote a book on it or something.

 

[Bullgrit]

In the book World War Z, they are referred to as zombies, zed-heads, ghouls, and gees.

Bullgrit