Running Head: World War Z: The Modern Appeal of Dystopia 1
World War Z: The Modern Appeal of Dystopia
Zebulon W. McCauley
Ferris State University
World War Z: The Modern Appeal of Dystopia 2
Abstract
This paper explores the concepts of dystopia and its allure in social psychology. The research
conducted within is from online sources, as well as science-based journals and discussions
regarding the psychological implications of dystopian themes. While the movie World War Z is
presented as the main film depicting this scenario, other films are briefly noted. My research
lead me to faculty members of leading universities such as Dr. Schlozman of Harvard University
and Dr. Cook of Whittier College, delving into the social effect and responsibility of dystopian
themes in popular culture. In order to better grasp the psychological themes found in this essay,
it also draws from key terms found throughout the text book Psychology, such as Maslow’s
hierarchy of needs. This essay reviews the medium of dystopian films as a way to cope with
stress while allowing the viewer to see the world in a more naturalistic sense.
Keywords: dystopian psychology, secular apocalypse
World War Z: The Modern Appeal of Dystopia 3
World War Z: The Modern Appeal of Dystopia
As of late, there seems to be a fascination in popular culture with dystopia. While this
concept is certainly not new to the 21st century, the concept of a dystopian world has been
embedded into the brains of most Americans through popular mediums such as novels and
movies. The success of this genre has hyper-accelerated our exposure and defined a
counterculture. But what is allure of a dystopian world? Why are humans attracted to the notion
of “the end”? The roots of dystopian themes in novels could be argued infinitely, yet modern
film has less than 100 years’ experience in this dramatic genre. The pinnacle of 21st century
movie dystopia is the zombie apocalypse. This theme has been played out in movies and
television from Night of the Living Dead [ CITATION Geo68 \l 1033 ] to World War Z
[ CITATION Mar13 \l 1033 ]and continues to draw people to the box office. In 2013, World War
