I had an interesting conversation with someone the other day as to why society seems to be thoroughly obsessed with zombies. With shows like “The Walking Dead,” movies like the “Resident Evil” series, and video games such as “Left 4 Dead” and “Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare,” Americans seem to be infatuated with the impending zombie apocalypse and are willing to spend their time and money to be consumed by it. It is as if many people would be happier if a zombie apocalypse actually occurred than they currently are in their day-to-day lives.

What’s truly fascinating about the prevalence of zombies in American society is how long they have stayed popular. I’m not even sure it can still be considered a fad, given its longevity. My first experience with the craze was the original mini-game “Nazi Zombies” that was contained within the game “Call of Duty: World at War” released in the fall of 2008. I’m not sure if zombies were taking America by storm before then, but they sure did afterward. From that point onward, the popular “Call of Duty” franchise has included a zombie mini-game in each of their new editions, despite numerous statements that they would not continue the zombie saga. Simply put, the popularity of the zombie mini-game was so high that it was actually driving up the demand. The franchise couldn’t afford to not continue producing downloadable zombie content.

All of this leads us back to the original question: why is it that people love zombies so much? I’ve asked several people and gotten mixed views. One individual speculated that it dealt with the fact that so many people subconsciously view both themselves and peers as zombies simply trying to make their way through a 40-hour work week in the rat race of life. Another thought that it dealt with the fascination of death and the afterlife. I think that these explanations look far too deep for the answer. I think the true answer lies in a human’s inherent desire to experience the simplicity of life.

Imagine a world where you can walk through Knoxville and only hear the cicadas in the trees. Or better yet, consider New York City without the constant commotion of people and car horns. There are no desk jobs, no 40-hour work weeks, no schooling, and no laws. The only worries in life are those that are related to basic human needs. The issues I deal with on a daily basis are getting into medical, how I’m going to pay for medical school, making good grades, ensuring URHC functions properly, and keeping up with my lab research. After a zombie apocalypse, all I would have to do is look through houses for food and make sure I have somewhere safe to stay.

While life would be more dangerous, there is something oddly comforting about stripping human existence down to its core. There is always the issue of being surrounded by your undead friends and neighbors. But other than that? Life is golden. Kick back, relax, and try not to get eaten.

— Hunter Tipton is a senior in microbiology and can be reached at [email protected].