Oh quit already--zombies

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Oh quit already--zombies

Posted: 9/7/2010 7:20:34 AM EDT

BALTIMORE (AP) - Call it Zombies 101.

The University of Baltimore is offering a new class on the undead.

The course is being taught by Arnold Blumberg, the author of a book on zombie movies, "Zombiemania," and the curator of Geppi's Entertainment Museum, which focuses on American pop culture.

Students taking English 333 will watch 16 classic zombie films and read zombie comics. As an alternative to a final research paper they may write scripts or draw storyboards for their ideal zombie flicks.

The university isn't the first to have a class on the undead. Columbia College in Chicago has offered a course on Zombies in popular media for years, and at Simpson College in Iowa students spent the spring semester writing a book on "The History of the Great Zombie War."

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Information from: The Baltimore Sun, http://www.baltimoresun.com

Posted: 9/7/2010 7:27:07 AM EDT

[#1]

The dumbification of America! Why are we lagging behind in education world wide??? I wonder?????

Posted: 9/7/2010 7:37:06 AM EDT

[#2]

Quoted:
The dumbification of America! Why are we lagging behind in education world wide??? I wonder?????

+1 WTF!!!! I love zombie movies, but the thought of a class on the undead.... WTF!!!!

Posted: 9/7/2010 7:41:58 AM EDT

[#3]

Well colleges are full of ppl who cant think for themselves and then try to force their way of "thinking" on you ...

Its perfect.

Posted: 9/7/2010 8:42:35 AM EDT

[#4]

All I needed to know about zombies, I learned in "The Art Of The Tactical Rifle."

Posted: 9/7/2010 8:50:56 AM EDT

[#5]

wish I could take it... I freakin hate college courses because of the lack of relevence to anything in my life and low interest. This might actually be something relatively entertaining. I don't need calc or osme liberal arts bullsh!t in my career field. So if I have to take a class that is completely irrelevent might as well be an entertaining one.

Posted: 9/7/2010 11:06:40 AM EDT

[#6]

It's a required class for the Santa Clause major in the Fairy Tale Arts department.

Posted: 9/7/2010 11:19:43 AM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
The dumbification of America! Why are we lagging behind in education world wide??? I wonder?????

This is an elective class. It has the same education value as archery or bowling classes, which have been offered for many decades.

Posted: 9/7/2010 11:21:13 AM EDT

[#8]

Shouldn't this be in the Zombie forum instead of SF?

Posted: 9/7/2010 11:37:19 AM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:

The dumbification of America! Why are we lagging behind in education world wide??? I wonder?????

I'm guessing you never took a creative writing course as an elective or part of your core.

I would have killed for this class.

No matter how bad student zombie fiction is, it's better than the crap pumped out by angst ridden freshmen and scared sophomores. Jesus, help them.

I'm personally amazed more English prof's don't murder/suicide every day.

Posted: 9/7/2010 11:44:35 AM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:

Quoted:
The dumbification of America! Why are we lagging behind in education world wide??? I wonder?????

This is an elective class. It has the same education value as archery or bowling classes, which have been offered for many decades.

Yup.

FWIW, I took a "Films of Harold Lloyd" course as an elective. Loved it! I still enjoy silent films because of that course.

Electives can have a value, even if they are not germane to the actual degree achieved.

TRG

Posted: 9/7/2010 11:54:50 AM EDT

[#11]

need more training films.......just sayin

Posted: 9/7/2010 12:02:42 PM EDT

[#12]

Am I just missing the point? Aren't 'Zombies' a metaphor for the end of civilization as we know it, and a wake-up call for the need to learn some of the basic survival techniques that helped our ancestors survive and prosper?

What's bad about teaching that?

Posted: 9/7/2010 12:09:09 PM EDT

[#13]

Are the teachers going to teach tactics against the undead?

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Posted: 9/7/2010 12:20:33 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
Am I just missing the point? Aren't 'Zombies' a metaphor for the end of civilization as we know it, and a wake-up call for the need to learn some of the basic survival techniques that helped our ancestors survive and prosper?

What's bad about teaching that?

I guess it would depend on whether they're teaching it.

Zombie survival classes are a great way to sneak some forethought and preparedness into the skulls full of mush disguised as fun.

The psychology of zombie lit is a great way to highlight the crumbling ethos of independence and coherent thought (again, depending on who's teaching it)

Watching Zombie flicks and writing your own zombie movie? Considering the quality of the largest portion of the zombie movies out there, it's a stretch to even call this a creative writing class.

ETA: And on this note, we officially need a zombie smiley

Posted: 9/7/2010 12:25:40 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Am I just missing the point? Aren't 'Zombies' a metaphor for the end of civilization as we know it, and a wake-up call for the need to learn some of the basic survival techniques that helped our ancestors survive and prosper?

What's bad about teaching that?

I guess it would depend on whether they're teaching it.

Zombie survival classes are a great way to sneak some forethought and preparedness into the skulls full of mush disguised as fun.

The psychology of zombie lit is a great way to highlight the crumbling ethos of independence and coherent thought (again, depending on who's teaching it)

Watching Zombie flicks and writing your own zombie movie? Considering the quality of the largest portion of the zombie movies out there, it's a stretch to even call this a creative writing class.

ETA: And on this note, we officially need a zombie smiley

Good point. Like all things pop-culture, it's certainly possible that the essential nature of the zombie mythos is discarded in favor of 'coolness' - especially in the new wave college environment.

Posted: 9/7/2010 12:29:07 PM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:

Quoted:
The dumbification of America! Why are we lagging behind in education world wide??? I wonder?????

This is an elective class. It has the same education value as archery or bowling classes, which have been offered for many decades.

Yeah I kind of like the idea of being able to study whatever you want in college. If you are counting on the federal education system to close any education gaps you're going to be disappointed. On the other hand, for every college offering a zombie class because students want it, there are 10 offering new advanced engineering or computer or math or whatever classes.

Give the students what they want. The ones that matter won't take zombie 101, but will benefit from a college that caters to their customers.

Posted: 9/7/2010 12:34:54 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Am I just missing the point? Aren't 'Zombies' a metaphor for the end of civilization as we know it, and a wake-up call for the need to learn some of the basic survival techniques that helped our ancestors survive and prosper?

What's bad about teaching that?

I guess it would depend on whether they're teaching it.

Zombie survival classes are a great way to sneak some forethought and preparedness into the skulls full of mush disguised as fun.

The psychology of zombie lit is a great way to highlight the crumbling ethos of independence and coherent thought (again, depending on who's teaching it)

Watching Zombie flicks and writing your own zombie movie? Considering the quality of the largest portion of the zombie movies out there, it's a stretch to even call this a creative writing class.

ETA: And on this note, we officially need a zombie smiley

Undoubtedly, the course will not be taught neither as a preparedness lesson nor as an analysis of the decay of society.....