The Ed Techie

More brains! The perpetuation of the zombie scholar

With Jim Groom I'm writing a chapter for the Zombies in the Academy book. It's at an early draft stage, but thought I would share it in this wiki.

My argument is that the context we have set up in education for all aspects of scholarship is like a contagion that works against innovation. This was an idea I explored in my researchers and new technology post and which forms a theme of my upcoming book (but with no zombies). There is an analogy here with the manner in which zombies turn all-comers into one of their own, which is exemplified by this clip from Dan O'Bannon's Return of the Living Dead:

 

The scholarly discipline is in ever more need of fresh brains to feed itself.

But I propose that, unlike zombification, there may be an antidote: the adoption of the fast, cheap and out of control technologies espoused by Brian Lamb.

Anyway, take a look at the paper and if you feel like contributing let me know.

Zombify it

(Warning: this post contains no educational technology benefit whatsoever).

As friends on Twitter will know, I have a bit of a zombie film obsession. Sure, I like arthouse cinema, The Double Life of Veronique and Wages of Fear are amongst my favourite films, but given the choice, I'd opt for a Romero most nights.

Anyway, the other night, rather than watch some rubbish TV, I created my top ten zombie films in a wiki. A small point - this is why TV is in trouble, because people can do this kind of thing easily, and it's much more fun.

I also commented in a tweet that there were very few films which wouldn't be improved by the introduction of zombies into the plot at some point, in my view. Don't believe me? Just think how much more interesting these films become when we zombify their tag lines:

• Sex and the City: Get carried away. And eaten.
• Bolt: A hero is unleashed, along with a deadly chemical that brings the dead back to life.
• Confessions of a shopaholic: All she ever wanted was a little credit, now she's dying for a refund
• He's just not that into you - erm, actually this doesn't need changing, just reimagine the title.

So the next time you're stuck watching a dull film (a romcom, or heaven help us, a musical) play this game: How could zombies be introduced into the plot? I guarantee that it will become much more enjoyable.