The dark history of zombies - Christopher M. Moreman

[@TEDEd]

Content Warning: This video depicts racial violence and trauma.

[@hruaiteasathing7277]

I suggest you change the Title to "The Sad HiStory Of Zombies". "The Dark History Of Zombies" might trigger other peoples too Edit : Where'd all the Comments above me went to?

[@PaladinVII]

🤣

[@gegeenblink]

@@hruaiteasathing7277 ur not funny mate

[@hruaiteasathing7277]

@@gegeenblink Not trying to be a funny one man, just trying sharing my suggestion, and asking a question

[@Patrick_919]

I'll go cry in my safe space then.

[@pisceanbeauty2503]

“…Transforming the victim into the monster.” That’s a powerful word right there.

[@kalebbryce]

It’s not a word, it’s a sentence 😮‍💨

[@lampad4549]

Pretty generic word if you ask me.

[@janm5854]

@@lampad4549 some people are easy to impress

[@optimx314]

@@lampad4549 🤓

[@kissumiiJ]

Reminds me of a particular someone right now.....

[@nidhisapkale]

American pop culture also initially erased the zombies' origins, cannibalizing its original significance and "TRANSFORMING THE VICTIM INTO THE MONSTER" What a line..

[@loki2240]

American culture has done that with real people, too.

[@totallynotsummermorrison33]

Yes; because myths cannot evolve to be a different type of entertaining for future generations. Hate how you can't be inspired by a culture, you can only copy it exactly or not at all.

[@coffeeknight6148]

@@totallynotsummermorrison33 taking inspiration from a culture by whitewashing and then erasing it. Classic artistic genius

[@JurassicReptile]

its completely wrong about White Zombie though, I watched the movie and the zombies are the victims too

[@alx8571]

@Reply to what I wrote, not to what you assumed Just say what ur tryna say 🙄

[@cinemanuggets24]

Interesting to know that the belief in zombies has origins in Africa. Here in Uganda it's widely believed (and for good reasons) that in some districts, there are residents with powerful medicine, who can enchant corpses and unsuspecting sleeping people to dig acres and acres of land for them at night.

[@Potatoesandchaos]

Can you elaborate please. Especially what you mean by 'nd for good reasons' I'd appreciate it

[@user-ze8fr9wq1t]

@@Potatoesandchaos same! I’d like to know too

[@sowmindful1501]

Well now that’s some affordable labor!

[@arif2336]

@@Potatoesandchaos yes I wanna know as welll

[@nunyabiznes33]

This is the first thing I thought they'd mention when I clicked the video and was kinda disappointed. Guess they've focused more on zombies as a cultural icon. I've read that it's possible to poison someone to make it appear he/she is dead (pufferfish toxin or something), then dig out the body and revive it into a basically drugged out "zombie".

[@hb.raafay]

Ted Ed is the cradle of underrated education; the topics, which we have overlooked today, but hold significant knowledge in themselves. Thank you Ted Ed!

[@amribrahim1486]

Can i ask u a quest. From this video what u’ve learned to change or apply to the world?

[@amribrahim1486]

Not all info is imp

[@vasectomyfail442]

they left out the part about slaves being sold by other africans. they made it seem like france and spain abducted people. slaves were sold by other africans. that is a crucial part of education, actual facts

[@hb.raafay]

@@amribrahim1486 Every info may not be important. But History repeats itself in various ways. What seems so little can turn small events to grow into bigger influences. For instance, the twisted gradual transformation of Zombies from a symbol of cruelty to fictional monsters is how unusual instruments are normalized with time even today.

[@yoursubconscious]

@@amribrahim1486 Can I ask you a question? Why couldn't you complete the full spelling of "quest"? Also, who says that?

[@ivansyllables29]

“Form of enslavement that not even death could free you from.” that’s something.

[@HayashiManabu]

The Nietzsche quote (at the start of the video) is followed by the ominous: “… when you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back into you.” Definitely one of the most badass quotes from a brilliant philosopher

[@NZ_BraveHeart_0120]

I’ve heard that quote in something before. I think it went something like this: “There’s one difference between us: we both stared into the abyss. But when it stared back, you blinked.” I don’t remember exactly what it’s from, though.

[@ajaylawyerkti]

@@NZ_BraveHeart_0120 i think it's from a batman comic.

[@유-k6f]

TIL that Amphibia has a Nietzsche quote

[@andrewlazol7687]

@@NZ_BraveHeart_0120 kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5LCdYuYf7t4itU&ab_channel=mistercustodian 4:13

[@comradekenobi6908]

What does that mean

[@mathishopper5608]

This is actually really helpful, I would love to hear anything else about the original zombie, before pop culture changed it.

[@Hstat910]

Extra Credit did a really good video on that exact topic. You should check it out

[@rabiamariam1632]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXqqnqaud7KhoKM If you want to know more about original zombies then definitely check out this video

[@Cora.T]

Monstrum did a really interesting series, where they explore it all in depth

[@mathishopper5608]

Thanks!

[@eclair6910]

PBS Storied did a series on the origins of Zombies

[@adrianbourceanu9145]

I always found zombies in Hollywood movies incredibly disturbing. Seeing a decomposing human figure walk stiltedly across the screen gave me goosebumps every time and made me want to turn my gaze away. It's very interesting to learn that the origins of this creature are actually much more nuanced

[@FairMiles]

"The Serpent and the Rainbow" (the book) is a rather old but entertaining and informative read to understand the Haitian culture around Vodou

[@YourQueerGreatAuntie]

I always remember the line from the movie: "Haiti is 80% Catholic and 100% Voudun". It explains a whole lot about how Catholicism took on the rituals of every people it colonised.

[@JP-br4mx]

I need to read it

[@pascalegaspard3053]

In the meanwhile a Haitian person reading this

[@Omg_Mo_]

@@YourQueerGreatAuntie To be honest Vodoo isn’t really appreciated there really like people DON’T like it at all. There was this president I think Francois Duvalirr he hated them so much that he wanted all of them ( people that practice voodoo ) killed. Nowadays Christianity is more normalized in haiiti but there is still A LOT of voodoo

[@cesar.leyvag]

I wish more people knew about zombies' true origins, I find them fascinating

[@CookedMeat]

The animation left me absolutely speechless. TedEd never fails to amaze.

[@yellowstarproductions6743]

agreed.

[@l.n.3372]

This animation was gorgeous! Kudos to the animation team! I never knew the origins of the word zombie or the concept. Such a fascinating lesson and it really highlights how the original ideas can be corrupted and distorted beyond the original intentions.

[@DressedRunner]

I think it's also worth looking into how a simple concept like zombie/ living dead can be diversify to such an extent.

[@jibberwocky4054]

It makes a lot of sense that modern-day Zombies are a result of culture, traditions or stories passed down being Westernised. History still has more to teach us.

[@tomatoheadfd]

This was so incredibly interesting! If I ever make a game or write a story I'll incorporate the original Haitien zombies. I like the idea of zombies being victims much better.

[@harlowitter3060]

Same. It'd be interesting to take zombies back to their roots.

[@pv.pp_9515]

As a Brazilian I have to remember that one of the greatest men in the fight against slavery in Colonial Brazil is the "ZUMBI dos Palmares"

[@Jerod_jay]

Swear to god there is a brazilean in every comment section

[@CarrionMorris]

I used to be very afraid zombies, the idea of contagion was freaky to me

[@shafqatishan437]

The jabs

[@Amy_the_Lizard]

As it should be - diseases are scary!

[@kartikchinda7137]

2:39 now that's a brilliant scene right there!

[@heolyeollie6628]

Ted-Ed has always fascinated me with their educational content. But this video just HITS. The content is so original while raising awareness in a way that gives voice to the marginalized group. The animation is straightforward and on point. (I love the zombification of Mickey Mouse - literally the embodiment of America!). We need more educators like this.

[@XC11301991]

Modern zombie films are also just a substitute for a disaster that allows the viewer to see survivors reveal their true nature of being monsters under tight circumstances.

[@bsrkrishna7583]

Brain king it says😊

[@sadatmiftaroski6134]

Video: zombies and stuff My ads: Is your skin dry?

[@notabot1162]

it's creepy yet I enjoyed it. thanks TedEd. Keep up the good work

[@yoursubconscious]

"Zombies" the everliving topic that will never die. That's ironic.

[@dummydummy1493]

Well, I wouldn’t have expected it to be a pleasant history.

[@asulambalanga9672]

I was enlightened about zombie. I can't believe that it was misinformed for long decades. Thanks for this.

[@phillipinek1856]

The animation was phenomenal. Truly striking.

[@NoName-ik2du]

I don't consume a lot of zombie media, but I feel like most depictions of zombies in the last couple decades that I've seen generally address that victim vs monster dilemma. The zombies are monsters because they're trying to kill the protagonists, but they're also acknowledged as victims because they were once living innocent people. It seems like a common trope now for characters to wrestle with a loved one becoming a zombie because they have to wade through the ethical dilemma of deciding if the zombie is a monster that must be dispatched or a victim that can be saved.

[@drakemelee4135]

The really smart man narrating the story apparently hasn’t seen Day of the dead

[@MoonWatcher.]

I had never heard of the origin of zombies and this video was fascinating, it brought me a new light on how they were shown in media in the past and now. Appreciate the great content.

[@rikiaVB]

I'm writing a book heavily inspired by this topic. Great job on the video!

[@Grusha7]

I'll be there to buy ur book though.... Count on me.... M always interested in topics lyk dis.

[@kingsingh2616]

Hey, comment down the name when you finish it. I might like to go through it. All the best.

[@Raccon_Detective.]

What's it going to be called?

[@rafifahheiwaabdika2038]

Can I read your book after you finished writing it? It seems enteresting to me.

[@JP-br4mx]

Oh?

[@enzonavarro8550]

In Brazil the leader of the country's greatest "quilombo" was called "zumbi"(not the person, but the leadership position, like mayor, president...), and that's the same word for zombie in portuguese

[@vnsh10]

"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster" The moment I read this I liked the video ❤️❤️❤️

[@brindade2004]

Ted ed never ceases to surprise me.

[@noahhenson1669]

What's in a name? The flesh-eating cadavers we now call "zombies" were called "ghouls" since the 18th century; prior to that, the word "vampire" amply covered the concept. Then LeFanu, then Pomidori after Byron, and finally Stoker refined the vampire into a cursed noble rather than a mere savage cannibal corpse. So "ghoul" took over. When audiences started calling George Romero's movie creatures "zombies", they were using the wrong word, having seemingly forgotten about ghouls... but the term stuck, and here we are with zombies an indelible facet of Western culture. Weird.

[@drakemelee4135]

It’s od to because Haiti is one interpretation of zombies but obviously not the original because it goes back to the medieval age

[@pallavichamarty6483]

Happiness on Netflix is a great show featuring zombies, that talks about how 'othering' contagious diseases are and how the zombie-like creatures on the show are victims of disease and still to be cared for and treated with respect.

[@ΣαβίναΓιαννοπούλου]

The animation is as impressive as the topic itself . I never knew zombies had such deep roots in culture !

[@aleksandarvil5718]

Naration and Animation = Marvelous Masterpiece

[@bertferri-5685]

Missed referencing one of Hollywood's best interpretations of zombies...Michael Jackson's THRILLER.

[@lizardguyNA]

Hmmm.... strange, Zombies went from a symbol of slavery to a symbol of herd mentality. And yet, in a sense, both of those things can be seen as closely related.

[@nunyabiznes33]

Coz they are the same except the latter is oblivious.

[@zatannazatara552]

with all the respect in the world, these are not similar at all. Herd mentality is about conformation to the norm while slavery was about subjugation of an entire class of people.

[@lizardguyNA]

@@zatannazatara552 One is willing, one is unwilling. Both are bad.

[@antoniacapellaborges6566]

@@lizardguyNA but they’re still not the same. What are you trying to argue here 🤨

[@lizardguyNA]

@@antoniacapellaborges6566 Uhh, the meaning changes very little and we still pity the Zombie as they're taken over by the elite. What else could I have been saying? You do know what COnsumerism is, right?

[@demonhunter-1208]

3:34 I've been laughing at this for three minutes

[@dummydummy1493]

“Are you alive?” “NIEN, NIEN, NIEN!”

[@oxide9717]

You Guys Art style is freaking beautiful. Tell whoever is doing it that he/she is greatly appreciated ❤️❤️❤️

[@ye3s146]

It’s interesting how the victim is now seen as the monster, much like Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein both warned of and fell victim to. Frankenstein’s monster is type of zombie, in more ways than one.

[@grayaj23]

PROF! Good to see him around. I took several classes from him in undergrad. Sadly, I missed out on the zombie seminars.

[@lgs7]

Here in Brazil, in our history, one of the greatest leader of the Afro-Brazilian resistance to slavery was known as Zumbi dos Palmares

[@erinthedemonhog2090]

It's fascinating how the zombie went from enslaved corpses to people infected with a deadly virus, causing a worldwide epidemic & an apocalypse

[@niyan4413]

1:23 - 1:28 and 2:34 - 2:40 Great symbolic animation, genius 🙌

[@clacktrak]

Zombies in movies : Scary monsters Zombies in real life : Free Labor

[@harsyakiarraathallah2222]

the Idea of Old of Zombie is more Interesting.

[@shakuntalapatra6167]

Wow, this was a video with an unexpectedly different art style, soothingly horrifying.

[@webaqoofgaming1996]

How we imagine zombies: infected mindless corpses with an appetite of human flesh How 15th century rich Europeans imagined zombies: _cheap labour_

[@thatlushdudejoe6452]

I could listen to this guy talk all day!

[@docbaker3333]

I really wish you guys would do a video explaining Vodou because it's such an interesting religion.

[@phoenixgriffin2562]

Love the animation & storytelling, you can actually feel yourself gaining knowledge.... AMAZING 🤩

[@chuubm]

It’s crazy how something as simple as zombies has a sick racial backstory

[@rollintweeds234]

Fascinating topic, rigorously [sic] explored, and stylishly presented. Great writing, animation and musical cues. Thank you, TedED

[@kingofpigs6630]

The craze for media with these things traumatized me back in the early to mid 2010s, my OCD fears regarding them (I'm watching this video) have gotten a lot better but I don't think I will ever not resent the topic just a little bit. Before anyone says no one asked, I'm aware that probably no one cares. But the fact is that the idea of zombies and the media depicting had such a profoundly negative and damaging effect on my life and I feel as though I should share as a way to reflect on it.

[@akumaking1]

There are plenty of mindless zombies running around these days

[@chieckenman4432]

A lot

[@nicholasgoh145]

There’re?

[@tebogomogamisi1127]

Here in South Africa (mainly amongst the Zulus and Xhosas) , we call it umkhovu. That's the witchcraft behind a corpse that is alive and what we would call that corpse. Otherwise 'corpse' is just called isidumbo.

[@bethelmenil8786]

Finally! The video needed to be watched by zombie fanatics, some people that are into zombie pop culture should be I can say educated, for its origin before criticizing old fashion zombie types. Kids these days thought zombies are fast and good looking, smh

[@wabisabi7755]

Some idiots would probably say, "Stop putting race in my zombie stories!"

[@Animeal_Tv]

@@wabisabi7755 I can already envisioned that. 😶

[@JP-br4mx]

I hope that has also inspire you to be interested in Haitian or African mythology as well

[@drakemelee4135]

It’s good education but it’s still fine to enjoy something that is different from where it came from

[@Tsicloh]

In some regions of Madagascar zombies are called "Lolo Vokatra" which can be translated as "ripe ghost".

[@AnubhavD]

Such a big channel and still so consistent. Lovely

[@bobthegoat7090]

That zombie with the Mickey Mouse costume eating the original African zombie, was genius, especially with the line expression the powerful conclusion.

[@mike-6139]

Not really, seems like the generic "Disney bad" outcry forced into a theme that barely has any relationships with Disney because haha Disney, if anything was Universal who popularized the Zombie idea into the mainstream.

[@mildndr]

Fun fact: In "White Zombie", the voodoo master is played by the legendary actor, Bela Lugosi. He's best known for playing Dracula in the 1931 film

[@hello-gx6oi]

This gives more meaning when you call your overworked co-worker looking like a zombie

[@catorhumandunno]

3:34 "He's just standing there... ominously!" - Patrick

[@anshumanjoshi2444]

biggest fan of the knowledge you spread in the world

[@mememode6305]

The animation, the art style is just Wow.. I observed that a part of animation from a scene is used in the next scene, this happens throughout the video. Great work 👏 never knew 🧟‍♂️ didn't actually killed people but were used by "monsters" selfishly and were victims.

[@hi-sn1pw]

Damn the animation and the narration is just ✨

[@setiadikusuma5161]

Please make a video about the history of wax print fabric from Java to Africa ❤

[@vido7027]

Well, that made the ending to Shaun of the Dead much darker.

[@KittenKuddler]

I am absolutely terrified of zombies. Hands down they're my biggest fear.

[@catlovingtrio]

The idea of CEOs using zombies as their workforce is hilarious.

[@keatonr776]

It just occured to me that combining the combined symptoms of rabies and leprosy would land very close to a real life zombie.

[@Amy_the_Lizard]

Ehhh...gangrene would be a lot closer than leprosy. Contrary to popular misconceptions, leprosy doesn't actually rot your flesh, it just causes weird growths and kills the nerves in the skin beneath them, resulting in loss of sensation in the extremities where the growths tend to be more numerous. The loss of sensation increases the likelihood that the person will injure themselves on accident, and not necessarily notice it happened, which can result in limbs getting lost, or in some cases, infections resulting in gangrene (which does rot flesh) occurring

[@jpsynthesis]

0:14 That's Too Sweet!

[@SAEshorts]

I didn't know that zombies were originally in Africa. Very interesting.

[@pjm_31]

Each and every video of ted ed just grows your interest in it more and more

[@Abell_lledA]

Narrative of Self is the result of a feedback loop between “Separate Self” & Cosmos 🎈

[@eVoluci0n]

I always get excited to watch any video topic on this channel, whether it's new or something I've yet to take a peek at. Everything is so informative, the narrator(s) are great, and the animated videos are always wonderful. Thank you for this amazing channel! ❤️

[@sosensualandfree]

This is so fascinating. This meaning of the word zombie was also highlighted in the Fela Kuti song "Zombie". kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5uYqWmml6-Ar7c Here the zombies were agents of the Nigerian army who had destroyed his commune and threw his mother out of a window, leading to her demise. It brings yet another level of meaning to an already incredible and meaningful song. It's also sad to think how a poignant cultural motif has been reduced to it's current tired form. The original zombie creature makes me feel and think. Hollywood zombies, not so much. Thank you Ted-Ed for all you create, and when you can please make a video on Fela Kuti.

[@jasayehan]

Interesting. Here in Southeast Asia, we believe that without a proper burial, the soul of a person can be trapped by a Bomoh to do his/her/their biding. Same goes with the aborted or dead foetus/infant/toddler, which in Hokkien is called the GweeKia.

[@jasayehan]

@@sorayaasmr Haha yes.

[@YulhamBasir]

The video editing is a masterpiece

[@suvranshusardar387]

I love how the tiniest of the tiny details in the animation talk about a lot of things.......

[@Cora.T]

For anyone curious to know more, the series monstrum from the channel storied did an indepth 3 part series on zombies, this is part one kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXqqnqaud7KhoKM

[@TORchic1]

It's a great series!

[@Cora.T]

@@TORchic1 yes I adore it 🤗

[@memeboy4206]

"The dark history of zombies" It's a video about zombies, I wasn't exactly imagining sunshine and rainbows

[@oldbloodiam]

To think that the history of "zombies" is way more disturbing than the current zombie movies we watch and those profit making people who make movies about zombies without even knowing the dark background of this walking corpse people, I feel fvkng insulted for them. They were a victim of enslavement, non stop working, no eating, they were even deprived of their afterlife. Becoming a zombi won't put them to rest, instead they will keep on working for these people who are obsessed of making fortune, they can't rest in peace, and I'm really sorry for them. This is a torture to them. The worst torture is that even if they die, they won't be liberated from their captors, not even death can help them be free from them. Thank you Ted-Ed for this lesson. You guys are the best.

[@camilleaguiardossantos5740]

This animation style is brilliant!!!!!!

[@dylansearcy3966]

1:09 woah watch out

[@myliege8197]

It's interesting that Haitians looked at Zombies as victims who need empathy.

[@goldenvulture6818]

The island containing the nations of Haiti & the Dominican Republic is Hispaniola

[@kushaljain3767]

@2:29 epic transition to us flag

[@RichardVerret]

Thank you for not calling the island the colonial "Hispaniola". The natives (Taino, Arawak, Caribs) called the whole island actually Bohio, Haiti, and Quisqueya. As a tribute to the natives, the Haitians called not only the new country, on the western third of the island, in 1804 Haiti, but also renamed the whole island Haiti (and they still call the island Haiti or less commonly Quisqueya) when they took over the whole island until 1844

[@notrealadam6035]

Imagine being totured in human form when alive and being totured again in zombie form

[@robkilbride9242]

Why does this video not include anything about voodoo practitioners using pufferfish venom to create a deathlike state? Even if it were to be a myth, it should have been addressed because it is a well known aspect of the subject of zombies.

[@StaySpicy]

I want to see a zombie movie with the original Haitian origin!

[@viktormuerte]

The Serpent and the Rainbow with Martin Sheen I think but it's more of a thriller rather than a horror film.

[@Raccon_Detective.]

"Get out" is the closest thing we have to it.

[@setcheck67]

@@Raccon_Detective. There is loads of spanish ones. Basically just pick anything about witches and there is mind control involved, which would be the standard haitian zombie.

[@idiotgoddess2114]

I love learning about the occult and the origins of myths and legends. As you said in your Minotaur video, Mythology and Science are two sides of the same coin. By the way, can you do a video on different lake monsters around the world? I would love to see that video and the beautiful animation depicting those fascinating, plesiosaur-like beauties from many different cultures Love from the USA

[@marlonmoncrieffe0728]

Do you watch Monstrum too?

[@idiotgoddess2114]

@@marlonmoncrieffe0728 sometimes I watch certain videos

[@DaddySantaClaus]

Well, to be perfectly honest in my humble opinion without being sentimental, of course without offending anyone who thinks differently from my point of view, but also by looking into this matter in distinct perspective and without condemning anyone's view and by considering each and everyone's valid opinion I honestly believe that I vividly don't have anything to say. In fact, i forgot what i am about to say. Thank You

[@zombiedude245]

Awesome video …I always find the history of zombies fascinating

[@kostatsanidis9984]

Wow, I expected zombies to have a fun and bright history 😲

[@FilipinaTalks]

This TED-ed topic scared me the most.

[@Singly.]

Did That guy just drink the other person’s soul?