File:Why George Romero Changed Zombies Forever - Monstrum

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In the second episode of our three-part special series, we move from the zombi which has its roots in spiritual beliefs developed during the African diaspora, to look at one of the most influential and enduring horror legacies of all time—the Romero zombie.

Considered the “godfather of zombies,” Romero’s 1968 film The Night of the Living Dead introduced the flesh-eating reanimated corpse to popular culture. But that’s not all he did. More than just a reinvention of a frightening fiend, the Romero zombie’s introduction during a time of great political and cultural unrest in America impacted how it was received—and why we still talk about it.

Featuring expert interviews from Author Daniel Kraus, who completed Romero’s novel The Living Dead, as well as Author, Screenwriter, and Lecturer of Black Horror and Afrofuturism at UCLA Tananarive Due, and Professor and Author Dr. Robin Means Coleman, you’ll learn just how influential Romero’s work became. #zombie #Romero #MonstrumPBS Written and Hosted by: Emily Zarka Director: David Schulte Executive Producer: Amanda Fox Producer: Stephanie Noone Illustrator: Samuel Allen Editor: Derek Borsheim Produced by Spotzen for PBS Digital Studios.

We would like to thank Daniel Kraus for his insights into Romero’s work and personal life. Special thanks are also due to Tananarive Due and Robin Means Coleman, Ph.D. whose generosity of knowledge and time proved integral to the episode.

The world is full of monsters, myths, and legends and Monstrum isn’t afraid to take a closer look. The show, hosted by Dr. Emily Zarka takes us on a journey to discover a new monster in each new episode. Monstrum looks at humans' unique drive to create and shape monster mythology through oral storytelling, literature, and film and digs deep into the history of those mythologies. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monstrumpbs/