When one hears Zora Neale Hurston, generally the first thing that comes to mind is not zombies. But like most people who've visited Haiti, Hurston encountered the zombie while there. In her work "Tell my Horse," Hurston tries to make sense of voodoo and zombie mysticism. She begins by examining sexuality and voodoo. In Western christianity, sex is often almost completely ignored when it's not being touted as sinful. Voodoo seems to celebrate creation through sex. Although, admittedly in a somewhat ritualistic pagan way. I'm not entirely sure what that has to do with zombies, but I thought it was interesting so I thought I would ramble about that for a while.

The Haitian zombie, as we have noted in class, is much different from the pop culture zombie of the West. Haitian zombies are simplistic and less violent, which seem to make them scarier than our a bloody, flesh craving zombies. These zombies are not so much scary in the way that you fear to meet one, but rather to be one. These zombies don't get to run around seeking to fulfill their desire for brains, but rather have to toil like a "beast" as Hurston puts it. There is no rest for Haitian zombies and their work seems greater than searching for flesh.

To add to the terribleness of being a Haitian zombie, it seems that a Haitian zombie can be cured. However, for that to happen someone would have to recognize the zombie and feed it salt. But because the zombie is always toiling and the zombie master, Bocor, makes sure the keep the zombie hidden, there is little chance of the zombie being recognized. These zombies are to be pitied and no fears to become one.

It is interesting to think that the fear in pop culture zombies lies in being attacked by them, but so much becoming one. It seems that once someone becomes a pop culture zombie, it only feels the overwhelming need for brains, but the Haitian zombie feels the wear of it's toil; a toil that someone else benefits from.

Sorry for the late post. I had almost forgotten about it. Hopefully, someone will have time to read it before class.