1. I worked on getting George A. Romero the recognition that he deserves. The Zombie Research Society and I had launched a campaign to get Romero a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I contacted various celebrities, authors, and fans who shared the same interest in zombies as I. (Quentin Tarantino, Simon Pegg, Steve Hockensmith, Max Brooks, Jonathan Maberry..) However, the project was unfortunately shut down by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce due to the fact that we were advertising that the star costs so much money. Before the project was shut down I did however get to put together an article within the Hero Complex of the LA Times with the help of Steve Hockensmith and Gina McIntyre.
2. An article that I have reviewed that helped me determine what I should do next with my senior project was the article "Can the Walking Dead Revive the Zombie Genre?" Reading this article taught me that there are and can be various central messages behind the movies, shows and books within the zombie genre.
3. The Hero Complex article:
http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/10/24/george-romero-walk-of-fame-star-for-zombie-godfather/#/0
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Blog 5b: Science Fair Proposal
1. Zombie Culture
2. Some zombie walks are intended to contribute to a specific charity. When few people attend a zombie walk, less money is raised for the charity.
For example, money raised this year by the Houston Zombie Walk Downtown went to three Houston charities: The Houston's Children's Charity, Spay/Houston, and Dove Key Ranch Wildlife Rehab.
“It’s important because it is number one, going to raise a lot of money for the charities that we’re supporting, because it is such a pop culture phenomenon right now.”
-Darren Tompkins, the founder and president of Zombie Walk
"Events like this allow people to express themselves and still remain charitable."
-Lady Cocchia, Zombie Walk's Executive Director
3. If we are able to get more people to participate in Zombie Walks, then more money would be raised for charities.
4. If I were to perform an experiment based off of this hypothesis, I would probably want to find out what age or population has participated the most in past zombie events and try to figure out a way to get more participants. I would have to collect the data from past zombie walks using the website to find out more information about who attended and what age they were and how much money they had donated. That way I could gain a better understanding of where to look for more participants for future zombie walks.
5. Behavioral/ Social Science
2. Some zombie walks are intended to contribute to a specific charity. When few people attend a zombie walk, less money is raised for the charity.
For example, money raised this year by the Houston Zombie Walk Downtown went to three Houston charities: The Houston's Children's Charity, Spay/Houston, and Dove Key Ranch Wildlife Rehab.
“It’s important because it is number one, going to raise a lot of money for the charities that we’re supporting, because it is such a pop culture phenomenon right now.”
-Darren Tompkins, the founder and president of Zombie Walk
"Events like this allow people to express themselves and still remain charitable."
-Lady Cocchia, Zombie Walk's Executive Director
3. If we are able to get more people to participate in Zombie Walks, then more money would be raised for charities.
4. If I were to perform an experiment based off of this hypothesis, I would probably want to find out what age or population has participated the most in past zombie events and try to figure out a way to get more participants. I would have to collect the data from past zombie walks using the website to find out more information about who attended and what age they were and how much money they had donated. That way I could gain a better understanding of where to look for more participants for future zombie walks.
5. Behavioral/ Social Science
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Blog 9 Working EQ and Possible Answers
1) What main aspect makes zombie culture so popular in today's society?
2) I am not going to revise my EQ at this time.
3) David Barr Kirtley, author of “The Skull-Faced Boy” says that there are two reasons we find zombies appealing: (One) There’s an enormous segment of our brain that’s evolved for running away from packs of predators, and zombie stories give us a rare opportunity to take this primal part of our psyches out for a spin. (Two) Zombies are a great metaphor. The great mass of humanity often comes across to us as unreasoningly hostile and driven to consumption, and the image of the zombie captures this perfectly.
2) I am not going to revise my EQ at this time.
3) David Barr Kirtley, author of “The Skull-Faced Boy” says that there are two reasons we find zombies appealing: (One) There’s an enormous segment of our brain that’s evolved for running away from packs of predators, and zombie stories give us a rare opportunity to take this primal part of our psyches out for a spin. (Two) Zombies are a great metaphor. The great mass of humanity often comes across to us as unreasoningly hostile and driven to consumption, and the image of the zombie captures this perfectly.
Author Nancy Kilpatrick thinks that zombies have ascended in popularity because they reflect society’s fear of something over taking us, making us less-than-human, or the victim of that less-than-human. It’s especially traumatizing when less-than-human is family, friends and neighbors or strangers. It’s what all sane people fear, being confronted by something/someone that has your destruction at heart and which/who can’t be stopped.
Matt Mogk, head of the Zombie Research Society believes there are three main reasons why zombies are popular:
1) We live in uncertain times. Weʼre faced with economic peril, climate change, terrorism, and the constant threat of natural and manmade disasters. Zombies are synonymous with the end of the world. One zombie leads to ten zombies leads to ten million zombies. The events we see play out in the news every day look a little like a zombie outbreak.
2) We live in the age of microbiology. The average person walking down the street may not be able to tell you who their Congressman is, but they have a better understanding of infectious diseases than the leading scientists eighty years ago. Zombieism is a blood borne illness, so any blood or fluid contact and youʼre toast. It makes sense from a common sense perspective.
3) Zombies are the only club that accepts everyone. They donʼt care what you look like. They donʼt care how old you are. They donʼt care what you ate last night or if youʼre cheating on your partner. They donʼt care if you just got fired or just got a promotion. Zombies want you just as much as they want the next guy. And you see that played out in the rise of grass roots events like zombie walks across the planet.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Independent Component 1 Plan Approval
1)For my independent component, I plan to fundraise money to get George A. Romero a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for inspiring and creating the modern zombie genre and culture.
2)My plan will meet the 30 hours work requirement by having me constantly spread the message and starting groups to raise awareness of the project and why it's being done.
3)My independent component will help answer my EQ by allowing me to get an insight scoop of who the true zombie fanatics are and how they will help promote the zombie culture by getting George Romero that star he deserves.
2)My plan will meet the 30 hours work requirement by having me constantly spread the message and starting groups to raise awareness of the project and why it's being done.
3)My independent component will help answer my EQ by allowing me to get an insight scoop of who the true zombie fanatics are and how they will help promote the zombie culture by getting George Romero that star he deserves.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Blog 6: Second Interview Questions
1. What type of projects do you work on here at the Zombie Research Society? Which one has been your favorite? Why?
2. How do you gather the information you present at conventions regarding zombies? How do you know whether or not the information is accurate enough to share?
3. What is your primary goal here at the Zombie Research Society? What has made you want to reach this goal?
4. How are the members of this society chosen? What characteristics do you look for when you are in search of more members?
5. How did you first become interested in studying the culture and history of zombies?
Friday, September 21, 2012
Working EQ
The Pentagon:
1. The positive thing that has happened as a result of what I've done so far is
2. A piece of research that has helped me gain a better understanding of my topic was the article "Eat Me: The Growing Popularity of Zombies" written by Tobin Dalrymple. This article has helped me understand how now days the zombie genre has gotten extremely popular. It also talks about the way zombie enthusiasts participate in the use of games that are of that genre and also how they attend events such as zombie walks.
3. What has worked for me so far in the senior project, was finding my research and mentorship. Since my topic is zombie culture, I turned to Matt Mogk, head of the Zombie Research Society for assistance. He's great help due to the fact that he is the author of quite a few books relating to zombies and because he has set up events for those that are into the culture. Finding research on my topic has worked for me because there are several things to look at in order to examine the culture (video games, books, movies, etc.)
4. What hasn't worked so far was the interview. In the beginning I had trouble getting into contact with Matt, so I was unable to interview him. So, knowing that, I had to find someone else to interview that somewhat related to my topic and I chose a funeral director. Although I did turn in my first interview in on time, I found out that I had to do it over again. So, as of now, I'm trying my best to book an interview with Matt as soon as he returns from a zombie convention in Pennsylvania in order to get that done.
5. Based on my experience so far, I would like to get an answer to the question of "What makes the zombie genre/culture so popular?
My end goal this year with my senior topic is to actually complete the first task I was assigned in my internship of getting George A. Romero a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I think it would be really amazing if I were to help the Zombie Research Society reach that goal and be known as one of the people that helped get that star for the "grandfather of zombies". I believe that George Romero does deserve this star because he was the one who started the whole modern zombie genre.
I would like to talk to a famous actor that has been in a zombie film next because obviously they are into the whole zombie thing if they were a part of a movie about it. I would probably try to talk to Simon Pegg due to the fact that he is the closest I could get to thanks to the Zombie Research Society. I would also try to talk to Mr. Romero himself, if that was in any way possible.
1. The positive thing that has happened as a result of what I've done so far is
2. A piece of research that has helped me gain a better understanding of my topic was the article "Eat Me: The Growing Popularity of Zombies" written by Tobin Dalrymple. This article has helped me understand how now days the zombie genre has gotten extremely popular. It also talks about the way zombie enthusiasts participate in the use of games that are of that genre and also how they attend events such as zombie walks.
3. What has worked for me so far in the senior project, was finding my research and mentorship. Since my topic is zombie culture, I turned to Matt Mogk, head of the Zombie Research Society for assistance. He's great help due to the fact that he is the author of quite a few books relating to zombies and because he has set up events for those that are into the culture. Finding research on my topic has worked for me because there are several things to look at in order to examine the culture (video games, books, movies, etc.)
4. What hasn't worked so far was the interview. In the beginning I had trouble getting into contact with Matt, so I was unable to interview him. So, knowing that, I had to find someone else to interview that somewhat related to my topic and I chose a funeral director. Although I did turn in my first interview in on time, I found out that I had to do it over again. So, as of now, I'm trying my best to book an interview with Matt as soon as he returns from a zombie convention in Pennsylvania in order to get that done.
5. Based on my experience so far, I would like to get an answer to the question of "What makes the zombie genre/culture so popular?
My end goal this year with my senior topic is to actually complete the first task I was assigned in my internship of getting George A. Romero a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I think it would be really amazing if I were to help the Zombie Research Society reach that goal and be known as one of the people that helped get that star for the "grandfather of zombies". I believe that George Romero does deserve this star because he was the one who started the whole modern zombie genre.
I would like to talk to a famous actor that has been in a zombie film next because obviously they are into the whole zombie thing if they were a part of a movie about it. I would probably try to talk to Simon Pegg due to the fact that he is the closest I could get to thanks to the Zombie Research Society. I would also try to talk to Mr. Romero himself, if that was in any way possible.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
SF Blog A: Problem Statement
1. Topic: Zombies
2. Problem: Few people are prepared for real life emergency situations. After I solve this problem, I'm going to spread my knowledge on survival to others so that they can know what to do in case of a natural disaster.
3. Problem: People are unaware of several harmful diseases that are extremely contagious. After I solve this problem, I will let people know how they can prevent themselves from getting the disease.
2. Problem: Few people are prepared for real life emergency situations. After I solve this problem, I'm going to spread my knowledge on survival to others so that they can know what to do in case of a natural disaster.
3. Problem: People are unaware of several harmful diseases that are extremely contagious. After I solve this problem, I will let people know how they can prevent themselves from getting the disease.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Blog 3: Interview Preparation
1. Who do you plan to interview? Why?
I plan to interview Matt Mogk, Head of The Zombie Research Society because he has been researching everything about zombies since 2007. So, you could pretty much say that he's an expert at what he does.
2. You have to ask 5 questions. What additional questions do you plan to ask?
I plan to ask him:
-What made you want to start an organization/society that researched all that has to do with zombies?
-How were you able to create this society? What steps did you have to take in order to get the society to where it is at now?
-How do you like your role in this organization? Have you gone through any difficulties because of your belief in zombies?
-What projects have you worked on recently? Which project has been the most memorable?
-What is the main purpose of your organization? What message are you trying to send?
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Blog 2: Zombie Survival
A. My senior topic is Zombie Survival. I chose this topic because I believe that survival is an important thing we all should learn about and also because I am a huge fan of zombies. I thought it'd be interesting to make my senior project about survival and incorporating zombies, which could be used as an attention-grabber for my audience. With this topic I could also have a reason to study neuroscience and anything that has to do with diseases that are close to zombieism.
B. I hope to accomplish these things:
B. I hope to accomplish these things:
- As an effective learner, I plan to teach my fellow peers what I know about the diseases that closely relate to becoming "zombie-like" and how to overcome it or prepare for such a global disaster in which an infection has become extremely contagious.
- As an effective user of technology, I plan to pick up skills in using certain gadgets that experts in the neuroscience field use that will come in handy in future studies.
- As an iPoly Citizen, I plan to spread the teachings of survival to other students and teach why it is important to prepare for a disaster due to the possible outcomes of it.
- As an effective communicator, I plan to connect with experts in the fields that fit well with my senior topic so that I could get a better experience and understanding in what is required in order to survive a Zombie apocalypse. I also plan to give my mentors all of my attention to show them that I am truly interested in learning about their profession and to take note of what is important to know.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Blog 1: Summer Mentorship Component: Zombie Survival
Literal (Know)
· Log of specific hours
Literal (Need to know)
- What is the most accurate definition of a zombie?
- Which disease could be considered the closest to a zombie infection?
- Which would be worse? A quick spread of the infection or a slow one?
- How would we be able to tell if someone was going to turn into a zombie?
- How would the infection be spread?
- Is there any other way to kill a zombie besides taking out the brain?
Interpretive
The most important thing I have gained from this experience was the knowledge of which supplies are needed to survive a zombie apocalypse, which locations are the best to go to, what weapons are the most effective, why audiences from all places and times have been so interested in zombies, where there have been said to be "zombie" outbreaks, how zombies have changed throughout time in shows and films, how the idea of zombies was brought up and what the most common symptoms are in a zombie.
Applied
My experience helped me choose a topic by grasping my attention with how several people really believe that something like the zombie apocalypse could actually happen. This experience also helped me choose a topic because I found it really amazing that there is an actual society out there that legitimately researches all things zombie with members that are neuroscientists, trying to discover if there are any zombie-like infections in the world. The Zombie Research Society also amazes me with the way they are trying to spread the teachings of basic survival because if you pay close attention, the procedures for a zombie apocalypse are somewhat similar to that of what you would do in case of a natural disaster.
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