Clumsy Zombies?

[Flyndaran]

The deadites from Evil Dead aren't zombies. They're willful undead only vaguely reminiscent of the classic mindless forms.

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by fredtheobviouspseudonym

And there's the always-popular worker for ___-Mart. See Shaun of the Dead.

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

The deadites from Evil Dead aren't zombies. They're willful undead only vaguely reminiscent of the classic mindless forms.

1) A lot of people would argue with you about that. Don't open that particular box.

2) Shaun of the Dead is not Evil Dead?

[Flyndaran]

What is a zombie? A mindless hungry rotting corpse. Most deadites just look dead-ish, and don't fit the other criteria. But mythical creatures aren't as clearly defined as real beasts for obvious reasons, so most aspects are up for grabs.

I thought the poster was referencing Evil Dead for the blank-mart employee part. The Shaun Of The Dead part didn't have anything to do with my post, as they were classic undead, so I just ignored it.

[evileeyore]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

What is a zombie? A mindless hungry rotting corpse.

That's certainly one definition. It's not the only definition however.

[Flyndaran]

That's why added the bit about how myths vary.
But what is the minimum traits for a zombie? When does it start to intrude into other monsters like vampires as many early vampire myths kind of resemble Romero zombies?
Mummies, liches, vampires, and zombies all have some cross over.
So what makes something the last but not the previous?

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

That's why added the bit about how myths vary.
But what is the minimum traits for a zombie? When does it start to intrude into other monsters like vampires as many early vampire myths kind of resemble Romero zombies?
Mummies, liches, vampires, and zombies all have some cross over.
So what makes something the last but not the previous?

Well, they're not really created as a non-redundant systatization of undead, but...

a) Zombies frequently, but not always, operate on an extremely low level of self awareness, motivational complexity, and cognition. Like an insect or maybe a snake, not a mammal. This can be true even when they have significant tool use capability, usually explained as remembered behaior from life. Most other undead (except the mindless skeletons common in games, which are basically flesh-less zombies). Most undead are usually modeled in the moderately smart animal to human range. Note again, this is not absolute, zombies of higher animal or even human intelligence are somewhat common. (The difference between a smart zombie and a lich in the sense you're likely to see today tends to be in the details - lichdom is normally voluntary, usually has a respawn mechanic, and tends to be a bit less meaty.)

b) Zombies typically have a closer resemblance to a normal human corpse than many other undead types, like vampires. The major (and dramatic) exception to this is the mutant and/or amalgamated zombies that are somewhat common these days.


...Also, the difference between a mummy and a zombie is largely ethnic cool.

[evileeyore]

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

...Also, the difference between a mummy and a zombie is largely ethnic cool.

The zombie/mummy split is more a measure of dampness.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by evileeyore

The zombie/mummy split is more a measure of dampness.

In the literal sense, yes. But thematically, they have different powers and level of mental faculty.

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

In the literal sense, yes. But thematically, they have different powers and level of mental faculty.

Not with any great consistency.

[Warlockco]

A Zombie is technically any animated corpse with or without intellect (typically unintelligent) as long as it isn't a Skeleton.

A Mummy is mummified (usually via embalming, though environment can do so too).
A Mummy can be a Zombie.

Mummify [muhm-uh-fahy]
verb (used with object), mummified, mummifying.
1. to make (a dead body) into a mummy, as by embalming and drying.
2. to make (something) resemble a mummy; dry or shrivel up: The dead lizard was mummified by the hot desert air.