Gretchen Stull

A Good Zombie is Hard to Find: Representations of Gender and Competing Ideologies in "Shaun of the Dead" Gretchen Stull

Blending several film genres, 'Shaun of the Dead' is counted among a small but growing sub genre of film known as romantic zombie comedy. As such, it is uniquely suited for gender critique. This thesis answers the question, what gender messages does 'Shaun of the Dead,' a contemporary British film, communicate to American audiences? Containing all the defining filmic characteristics of the horror genre, with the added cinematic elements of both zombie horror and the romantic comedy sub genres, 'Shaun of the Dead' communicates gendered messages about the American sociocultural landscape that hold meaning for American movie-going audiences. Placing zombies in the ideological position of ?Other,? the film depicts the tension and struggle among dominant and competing gender ideologies within the United States. Ultimately, this depiction serves to maintain and repair dominant American ideological values and power structures. Additionally, 'Shaun of the Dead' provides a commentary on the prevailing American sociocultural fears of the time period in which it was released, allowing audiences members to confront shared fears and overcome them onscreen.