Why are zombies so big right now? - John Vervaeke

John Vervaeke, PhD teaches a course called Buddhism and Cognitive Science (NEW333) which includes a lot on how and why people find meaning in life. In this entertaining off-the-cuff talk, he argues the reason why zombies are so huge in the media right now is because they are a symbol of the lack of meaning that many of us feel in our hectic and disconnected modern lives.
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[@randaltd]

So glad to have the opportunity to be taught by Dolderman twice, Peterson twice, and Vervaeke once.

[@michaelparsons3007]

Randal David jealous!

[@imtubing]

peterson is nothing

[@ostrich97]

I was roaming and walking (just like a zombie) around the internet in search of a compact and thoughful explanation for the popularity of zombies. This 7-minute talk is WAY better than what I had previously found. Mr. Vervaeke, you have got my attention.

[@IceCream-he7en]

I am here just to say: God job John

[@returntofleet]

Hi John, I've noted that it comes in waves when it comes to zombie and vampire popularity. Sometimes it can be due to the fact that Hollywood runs out of ideas, and goes let's do zombies again! Other times, maybe it's deeper like you say in this video ... Anyway... I've had this thought too about zombies in pop culture. I like it. I'm in! Speaks to my growing recognition of my humanity and expanded understanding of us as a whole. And my love of entertainment, myths, stories, culture, and psychology, philosophy.. etc. Also, wow! I'm excited and enthusiastic about finding your channel (through your chat on Jordan's channel). Can't wait to get my notepads out and do your classes. Thank you for sharing. Really. Regards, Seán :) For wisdom and compassion, always.

[@thetriode]

The emphasis on zombies themselves is extremely interesting and I almost wonder if it's over thought. The reason I say this is that truthfully the zombies serve merely as a series of events to to provide an under current to the main plot in a zombie movie which is the interactions the people have with one another. You could argue that the outbreak or political events of right now provide similar under currents.

[@dbdavis3958]

I can testify, everything that comes out of the mouthes of both Jordan Peterson and John Vervaeke, on the videos I have viewed, is divine transcendence. Cheers for to you both for explaining chi/Qi/spirit intellectually, even if only for me well worth the time listening and then some. Namaste.

[@wiseandfunfox]

I love how you find the deeper meaning and actually help us identify why we are so attracted to this type of genre. I think the same thing about the hobbit series also, it symbolizes the spiritual/mythic path. I find it fascinating that the big time box office movies are more or less just a reflection of what is inside of the cultural narrative.

[@1walkerw]

This man definitely saw what was coming

[@HappyCatholicDane]

Another interesting aspect of popular culture, is the increasing popularity of TV series/movies that almost seems to glorify the cynical a-holes.

[@gailfinke7015]

The reason the word "zombie" is rarely used in current zombie movies and books is not metaphysical, it's to distinguish the movie or book from other ones. That said, I agree. The historical zombie (in films, etc.) was not what today's "zombies" are. It reflects that we are afraid of other people, and of losing our identities in meaninglessness. This is still true 10 years later.

[@KirurUwU]

I think the aspect of the apocalyptic scenario with a purpose driven struggle plays a bigger role that makes those stories attractive. The focus is more on the people rather than the zombies in the story. A good video about this is titled "The Fantasy of Ultimate Purpose - How Our Entertainment Reveals Our Deepest Desire ."

[@K-A5]

This was really cool. Thank you for sharing!

[@simonanderson8778]

The things is with zombies is that the zombies don’t realise they are zombies. It’s ironic that so many people chose their imaginary zombie weapons for the zombie apocalypse, while never imagining that they might be the zombies instead of the people fighting the zombies.

[@1dcondave]

Very interesting lesson here. I would take it one step further, and apply Christian meaning to the classic monsters. In this case, the zombie is a corruption of the Christian notion of the Resurrection, a blasphemy against the promise that the dead would be raised to eternal life when Christ returns.

[@montooooo]

On to the next topic! Compassion and wisdom!

[@LeoUfimtsev]

Interesting video. Thumbs up. I'd be interested in seeing more videos also.

[@yellow6100]

When I see a man doing as society has programmed him (and other things) and has only the lowest form of so called waking consciousness I see a zombie in the most technical terms.

[@CutieWhiteCat]

watched

[@viktoriaregis6645]

How to communicate this? This is seven years ago, and it just getting worse. I've made exactly the same connection, but I feel powerless.

[@Kaldur95]

it was like a church sermon...with zombies

[@shinraholdings7281]

🤯 mind blown

[@tomspriggs9478]

Zombies also reflect the fear of God, especially for unbelievers. To them, a zombie is the reflection of life after death - a condition in which they are out of control. They see life after death as meaningless and colorless and the ultimate futility. That is the other half of the equation.

[@touch8971]

What does the NPC trend ,non player charater, mean as the cultural evolution of zombies?

[@00Morton00]

Zombies have been a huge thing since the 60s. It's def not a new trend. Romero's Night of the living dead is from 68.

[@idou6377]

what about the logotherapy of Viktor Frankel?

[@Ac-ip5hd]

With Vervaeke it would be dia-logo therapy. His Awakening From The Meaning Crisis series is big on the search for meaning. Frankl could definitely be brought into it.

[@shireenkhattak]

Wait...we have courses this cool at U of T...?

[@MiteshDamania]

Uh Hum... The past 3 years...

[@siweljlr]

The "Not John Vervaeke" seems to indicate that it was *NOT* John Vervaeke that wrote that response.

[@DJ-3maj]

Myth of the zombie has evolved to the swarm.

[@yellow6100]

I think you got it right except you didnt start with the most important thing defining a zombie , a real zombie , which is absolute lack of any real consciousness and not meaning.

[@captainjack6758]

It's actually about the possibility of pandemic. :p

[@AgitatedUser]

One thing that bothers me about this presentation: Zombies are homeless not because they can't find one but because they don't need one. They are impervious to weather and discomfort why would they need shelter? Similarily Zombies wander aimlessly because they don't have the brainpower for strategy, they hunt by accident and they create herds because they all will follow the same spore. Visit Ad-Astra in April, talk to some of the poeple who have supported zombies since 1974.

[@HEpennypacker420]

Someone is rather full of themselves. You consider yourself life changing? I actually thought this video sucked.