The idea of Zombies and the Zombie Apocalypse fascinate the millennial generation, digital natives who process information uniquely because of their immersion in new technologies, especially smart phones and social media networks. Research shows that millennials’ and their ability to digitally multitask influences their cultural perspectives. Now place this generation in a post 9/11 world perennially at war with a nomadic and often unrecognizable enemy bent on destroying them anytime, anyplace, by any means. The millennials fascination with zombies could simply be a feeling of uber-vulnerability, leading them to defeat death by transforming it into another kind of life. Maybe. What if we add to this mix research on texting habits and social media usage, and their impact on how millennials think, learn, communicate? Then what do we discover? This last season of The Walking Dead suggests some answers, answers that provide both hope and warning to all of us who educate, parent, hire, or otherwise befriend the generation that will soon rise to power and be called upon to change the world.
About the presenterJohn Barrett Allen
John Barrett Allen is a professor of writing at Commonwealth University. Current writing projects include two manuscripts: “Sh-Boom, Sh-Boom, Life Could Be A Dream Sweetheart” a playlist memoir, and “Taproot” a horror novel. Recent work appeared in Hippocampus, Microfiction Monday Magazine, and Front Porch Journal. He is a vocal actor (currently Old God in the Disposers Fiction Podcast Series), fitness coach, and occasional bartender. His interests include writing pedagogy, learning, pop culture, baseball and chess.