Murphy, Emily2017-11-022017-11-022017Murphy, Emily. “Romantic Zombies: What Their Representation in Film Means for Racism.” Royal Road, 2017. https://doi.org/10.48497/EXNM-SW17.http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11868/226Recommended Citation: Murphy, Emily. “Romantic Zombies: What Their Representation in Film Means for Racism.” Royal Road, 2017. https://doi.org/10.48497/EXNM-SW17.In cinematic history the representation of zombies began in 1968 with George Romero’s film Night of the Living Dead (Barber 1). In Romero’s film, zombies are depicted as brain-dead, flesh eating monsters. Since Romero’s time, zombies have begun to infiltrate the romantic comedy film genre. Films such as Pretty Dead (2013), Zombie Prom (2006), Warm Bodies (2013) and I Am Legend (2007) have used zombies as romanticized bodies in their plot lines. The shift from brain-dead corpses to possible romantic leads initiates a change from racism and othering to acceptance and tolerance. Films that incorporate zombies through a romantic lens challenge the original use of zombies in America. This challenge motivates audiences to see humanity in a body that has been traditionally separated or discriminated against.en-USZombie filmsRacismPretty Dead (2013)Zombie Prom (2006)Warm Bodies (2013)I Am Legend (2007)VodounMiscegenationRomance filmsDiscriminationArticlehttps://doi.org/10.48497/exnm-sw17