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Commitment to Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Clark HR Council believes that in order to truly realize our mission, we must have a deep commitment to not just diversity, equality, and inclusion, but also being anti-racist in both the way we operate as an association and how we approach our work. Systemic racism keeps us from fully realizing our mission as today’s societal challenges are rooted in systemic discrimination and disproportionately affect people along racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines. When communities are not involved in decisions that directly impact them, negative outcomes can be perpetuated, additional harm can be caused, and money and time can be wasted. Clark HR Council is therefore actively becoming an anti-racist association, both in the way we operate our association and in how we partner with communities. Under the leadership and support of our Board of Directors, President, and the entire Council, we work alongside communities to address challenges such as job discrimination, workforce and economic mobility, and physical and mental health, as well as the systems that prevent equitable access and deliver services that lead to disproportionate outcomes. In order to positively impact these complex issues, we must seek out and elevate diverse local perspectives, foster an inclusive environment where those voices are centered in the decision-making process, and embrace an equality-centered approach that uses our privileged position to meet the needs of the marginalized and historically underserved. - Elevating diverse perspectives: We value and respect diversity in its many forms: race, ethnicity, national origin, ability, class, faith, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, and experience. Diverse perspectives lead to better solutions, but those perspectives are often silenced. In our internal team practices, we seek to create an inclusive environment that dismantles hierarchical structures and ensures there is diversity at the table. In our engagements with local communities, we acknowledge the power of local wisdom and lived experience to create lasting social change, and in our privileged position, we seek to create the space for that wisdom and experience to influence us as an association, the practices we engage in, and the communities in which we serve. - Fostering an inclusive environment: Building a diverse team and engaging community members is not enough. In order to learn from and co-create with people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives, we seek to foster an inclusive and collaborative environment where team members and community members can fully participate in decision-making processes, prosper, and reach their full potential. - Embracing an equality-centered approach: We recognize that those in positions of power and privilege have created a system that functions by excluding and oppressing others. Racial and ethnic minorities, in particular, have less access to the resources, services, and opportunities needed to thrive. In order to direct resources and services where they are needed most, we seek to apply an equality-centered approach that questions and addresses the structures that disadvantage certain people. We strive to work in partnership with non-profit providers and the people they serve to adapt to community-specific contexts and address the root cause of disparate opportunities. Equal opportunity is not possible until equality is achieved, and this requires making deliberate efforts to reach the traditionally underserved, ignored, and systemically disenfranchised and include them in the decision-making process as equal parties. Clark HR Council is committed to continually working to improve our efforts to elevate diverse local perspectives, foster an inclusive environment, and embrace an equality-centered approach. We recognize that because we stand in a privileged position in this work, it is our responsibility to engage in diversity, equality and inclusion work both internally and with our partners. We work to identify and execute action plans to uphold our commitment. These action plans include intentional ways to measure our progress and learnings, creating learning environments for our entire team to continue to grow in their own journey, and engaging in root-based analysis work to ensure we are addressing the root of inequitable structures. We are a learning association that encourages our team members and partners to continuously improve in pursuit of better outcomes for communities. As such, we continuously welcome outside feedback and support in reaching our diversity, equality, and inclusion goals and approach.
https://clarkhrcouncil.org/diversity/
Tips for Running a Successful HOA Board Serving on an HOA board can be very rewarding. Being able to listen to the opinions and perspectives of your fellow board members can be a positive experience, but it is a privilege that should not be taken lightly. Achieving optimal operation of your Tacoma, WA, HOA board requires all its members to work together to create an environment that fosters growth, communication, and mutual appreciation. While it’s inevitable that there will be differences in your board, here are some tips on how to ensure the success of your HOA board. Ensure Everyone Feels Heard It’s no secret that most HOA boards will have a diverse array of personalities. This often results in an equally diverse amount of opinions flying around during meetings. When this occurs, it’s important to encourage healthy dialogue with the goal of looking out for the best interests of the community. Keep an open mind when hearing the opinions that differ from your own and actively listen to each board member’s concerns. Never be dismissive of someone’s ideas or opinions; instead, ask for further clarification to help you better understand the issue at hand. Refer to Your Governing Documents There may be cases in which major decisions need to be made, leaving little to no room for personal opinion and speculation. In these cases, it is best to let your community association’s governing documents help make the decision for you. These documents were created to serve as an objective resource when addressing pertinent issues within your HOA. In addition, your governing documents may have important information regarding state laws and regulations that may come into play with the decisions your HOA board has to make. If your Tacoma HOA board is having trouble understanding the verbiage found in these documents, it’s recommended to reach out to an experienced community association management company such as The Management Trust to help you make sense of it all. Always Be Respectful and Transparent The best-run HOA boards are those that prioritize respect and transparency amongst their members. It can be very easy for small misunderstandings to turn into large arguments when personal feelings get in the way of objective decision-making. To avoid this issue, make sure to encourage open communication during your board meetings and stay away from having board-related issues outside of your meeting times to prevent gossip and further discord. Always remember that no matter what decisions need to be made, none of them are personal; so make sure you maintain impartiality and professionalism at all times. Check-In with Your HOA Community Management Company If all else fails and you find yourself in a difficult situation, reach out to a seasoned HOA community management company to lend a hand. Employees of an excellent community association management company are properly trained in managing people and their needs, making them experts in giving insight and support when needed. Some of the community management services you and your board can get help with include: - Assigning a community manager who will prioritize the needs of your community - Making sure board members are on the same page and encouraging open communication - Mediating internal conflicts if necessary - Creating proactive and creative ways to bring different personalities together Creating a harmonious and productive HOA board can prove to be exciting, yet challenging. Save yourself time and stress by contacting the experts at The Management Trust to handle all of your HOA management needs in Tacoma, Washington. Our team of employee-owners has successfully communicated important issues with homeowners associations throughout the country, and they are more than willing to do the same for you. If you are ready to take the next step in community management services, contact us today to see how we can help.
https://managementtrust.com/tips-for-running-a-successful-hoa-board/
Strategic Planning: A Status Update and Call to Action Dear Precious Sangha, The Strategic Planning Input Team has evolved since our last update. After delivering our report on the input submitted by the community, Jennifer Chang joined the Team and we undertook the search for an appropriate strategic planning consultant. We interviewed representatives from three consulting firms and screened several more, and we ultimately selected Christine Rontal of Solid Ground Consulting to shepherd us through the strategic planning process. Since then, we provided background information about KCC to Christine and met with her several times to learn about her process, a prospective timeline, and what steps we must take to embark on this process. Strategic Planning Coordinating Committee Our next step – and surely one of the last for the Team – will be to form a Strategic Planning Coordinating Committee. Members of this committee will support the consultant and the KCC Board through the following: - Providing community cultural insight to the consultant - Providing input into the design, organization and implementation of community engagement events - Potentially attending engagement events - Ensuring community perspectives are reflected in the proposed foundations of the draft plan - Leading the Board’s strategic plan review and adoption process, including review by the sangha Christine will conduct interviews and community engagement sessions with sangha members in early 2023, and will then develop and present recommendations for KCC’s strategic plan. Committee members will be responsible for ensuring that her recommendations accurately reflect the community’s perspectives. The Committee will neither formulate the plan, nor be the entity to adopt the plan. Recruiting Coordinating Committee Members from the Sangha We seek broad representation on the Coordinating Committee from a small number of volunteers: long-term and new members from different demographic backgrounds ranging widely in involvement within KCC operations and governance. Good listening skills and sufficient time availability are required. Time Commitment - Meet twice a month for one hour to oversee progress and provide direction (exact details to be agreed upon by the committee upon formation). - Review draft materials prior to meetings. - Initial meeting will hopefully occur in early December. - If available, attend and/or actively support community engagement sessions with consultant. - Committee duration is expected to be six months. Qualifications The KCC Board is committed to implementing an inclusive planning process. Prospective committee members should be skilled listeners who can objectively represent diverse viewpoints that may differ from their own so that a diversity of perspectives are reflected in the resulting plan. Contact KCC Board Member Jennifer Chang () by November 14, 2022 to express your interest in participating on the Coordinating Committee. We look forward to convening with the sangha for engagement sessions in the coming months! Sincerely,
https://kcc.org/kcc-strategic-planning-update-and-recruitment-for-coordinating-committee/
Diversity is a unique word. It is extremely versatile and is often used in many different contexts. At the core, diversity literally means “having variety,” or “range.” Taken at face value, then, one would assume that diversity can be attributed to almost anything, whether it is a group of people or a collection of cars. Deeper within the meaning, however, the word takes on more importance. It is easy to spot diversity or to strive toward it, but it is harder to realize where it leads you. Realizing the essence of diversity should inform you about something rather than just telling you that particular thing is different. When diversity leads you past something, it has accomplished its goal. It is not news that Brandeis is teeming with diversity. Diversity, as well as a plethora of other qualities, is what makes everyone at this school special. The diversity exhibited here, however, is not because people have different socioeconomic backgrounds, religion or culture, but because they have individual traits and perspectives. These traits, such as passions and interests, have been honed for years and viewpoints have developed in light of them. One’s background and exposure definitely influences these perspectives and interests, but they differ from individual to individual. It is easy to conflate diversity with religion or culture, but the crux of diversity transcends these barriers and only serves to sharpen individuality. One of the ways in which diversity is exhibited here is through the array of opinions people have about issues they hold dear. Whether they pertain to social justice, the environment or the arts, everyone has a voice. One of the caveats that often comes with diversity, however, is trying to polarize other’s viewpoints. Opinions are not actually “diverse” when they are simply completely different from someone else’s opinion on the matter. Having a diverse opinion means that you have taken into account the other side and evaluated it for yourself. It is for the individual to decide whether they concur or disagree with a certain view. During the Israeli-Apartheid week, for instance, there were many polarized opinions despite that the issue is not clear-cut. There are perspectives to be considered from a broad spectrum, and it is crucial not to label any one idea as completely one-sided. When pointing out this flaw, diversity loses its importance as it just serves to divide the populace and not assist in evolving its thinking. When debating about such complex political or global matters, it is always important to take into account how opinions are formed. People’s backgrounds differ and their ideas have been influenced in several ways. It is not wrong for ideas to mesh and then to reach a common solution. As long as that solution serves the common good or leads to something better, it doesn’t matter how it conflicts from another point of view. Diversity isn’t solely evidenced through opinions, though. One of the main ways in which it is shown is through the skill sets that people possess, the skill sets that are the result of different interests sparked by one’s environment and background. When growing up in a certain culture or environment one may develop a strong penchant for music and this may lead them to pick up a violin or guitar. As they pursue these different avenues they may find they have a passion for it. The same is true of academia, the arts, books and sports. How we develop our passions and the skills that we acquire through pursuing our interests is what makes us diverse. Even if it is on a trip to a new place or through immersion in a foreign culture, a passion may be sparked. Just immersing yourself in new cultures and traveling does not reinforce diversity, though. Taking something meaningful away from each unique experience and pursuing it is what does. The concept of diversity is intricate. It cannot be applied to everything. For something to display diversity or for someone to have a diverse viewpoint, it has to make a statement. Sometimes, this point can be made through artistic expression or debate or even other modes of communication, but in the end it helps us evolve as people. When diversity reinforces the virtue of a collective society, only then can we fathom its true meaning.
http://www.thebrandeishoot.com/articles/14065
An open letter to my future college-going friends: Consider the source. During your four or more years in college, you will sit through a lot of class periods—a lot of them! According to various national figures, if you attend the average mainstream institution, upwards of 80-90% or more of the instructors running those class periods will be non-Hispanic white. Meanwhile, the real America is far more mosaic in terms of racial/ethnic composition, with non-Hispanic whites representing 63% of the population. And this is to say nothing of diversity worldwide. Simply put, the information flow of most American higher educational institutions is controlled disproportionately by white people. Please understand. I am not degrading the white voice. I am a white male! What I am suggesting is to consider the source of all that information you will amass during those endless class periods. No information is bias-free; it is naturally coated with the opinions and perspectives of its deliverer. Yes, this includes allegedly objective college professors like me. And, like it or not, some of our opinions and perspectives are shaped by our race/ethnicity. The question for you, my future college-going friend, is: How would you like your hard-earned information? Served up narrowly with only a small slice of diversity? Or dished out with healthy portions of racial/ethnic variety to keep things interesting and better prepare you for life? If you prefer diversity, I would like to invite you to investigate my neck of the woods: one of our nation’s historically Black colleges or universities (HBCUs). It is easy to write off HBCUs under the assumption that we are “all Black” (as if that is a bad thing?). In actuality, we are more diverse than you might think. I will leave student demographics for another time, but I do want to underscore our wonderfully colorful faculty. Robert Bruce Slater, writing in the Autumn 1993 issue of the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, wrote accurately that “the only significant diversity in academic ranks in this country exists in Black colleges and universities.” (p. 67). Overall, white instructors comprise some 30% of the HBCU teaching force, with the remainder coming from other racial/ethnic groups. Since there is no shortage of white perspectives in the real world, you won’t miss anything. Instead, you will gain much in terms of alternate racial/ethnic perspectives on information you once thought was settled. Early results of an original qualitative study I am conducting with a colleague on the experiences of non-Black HBCU graduates suggest that you will gain a different twist on historical and current events that is absent from many white-dominant schools. You will discover a cultural warmth and helpfulness among our faculty that is impossible to capture with words on a page. Essentially, you will experience new levels of open-mindedness that inevitably produce rare opportunities for self-learning, including learning about your own biases and cultural heritage. Again: Consider the source. I am a white male of a race and gender that has, and continues to, hold sway in American society and around the world. (We call this hegemony in academic-speak.) Survival instincts would prompt me to direct you to higher educational centers filled with white male voices so I can further solidify my power. But those would be unenlightened survival instincts. In truth, the world is a crowded place with many voices. The true leaders are those who draw information from multiple perspectives, including different races/ethnicities. If I want to be a leader in this world, I must actively place myself in situations where I allow those perspectives to influence my life. You would be wise to do the same. What better place than college for this to happen? Where better than an HBCU? See you next semester! P.S. – If attending an HBCU is impractical for your particular situation, then you might investigate one of the nation’s many other minority-serving institutions, or MSIs. Although all MSI faculty bodies might not be as diverse as HBCUs, the key is to make your college experience a diverse one to prepare you for the real world. An up-to-date list of MSIs can be found here. Andrew T. Arroyo is assistant professor of interdisciplinary studies at Norfolk State University and an affiliate at Penn’s Center for Minority Serving Institutions.
https://msisunplugged.com/2014/03/18/consider-the-source/
In companies and organizations, it’s a recognized truth that the road to the final decision ends with the leader. But that doesn’t mean a leader has to walk that road alone. In fact, as leaders are quick to note, it’s better if they don’t. Like anyone else, they still have plenty to learn. The more perspectives, experiences, and viewpoints that go into a decision, the more likely it is that the decision will be in the best interests of the company and everyone it serves. Below, 12 leaders from Fast Company Executive Board share how they ensure their perspective isn’t the only one that influences their decisions. 1. MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS INVOLVED IN IMPORTANT DECISIONS I do my best to empower the incredible people on my team to make decisions and speak their minds about the direction of our company. While our goal is to serve our customers, I know that we can’t get there without our team members. When it comes to decision-making, I believe it’s important to make sure that everyone feels involved in the process so that even if we have to make a decision that some disagree with, they know that their voice was heard. And when it comes to decisions, you don’t have to stick with a bad decision just because you took a long time to make it—when new information presents itself, make new decisions. – Harold Hughes, Bandwagon 2. CREATE A “KITCHEN CABINET” Leaders need to be personally responsive and nimble in our ever-changing world. For some, this means being overprepared with systems, checklists, and the like. For me, it is about personally being prepared for whatever may come my way. To be ready, I regularly meditate and journal my days as a means of self-reflection. I look for areas of strength that I want to continue and areas of weakness that I need to improve upon. Recognizing my own biases, I also have my own “kitchen cabinet,” comprised of family, friends, and colleagues that I go to for help with precarious situations, overall guidance, and the like. Most importantly, I expect them to “check” me when needed as well. – Melissa Bradley, Ureeka 3. BEGIN DIVERSITY EFFORTS WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM I have surrounded myself with diverse perspectives, beginning with our executive team. The C-level leaders at The Trevor Project come from a variety of backgrounds––race and ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, nonprofit and for-profit work experience, age range, geographic location, and more. This allows our leadership team to be mindful of any biases and make decisions that are in the best interests of the organization as a whole. It’s a hiring practice that extends into our executives’ teams as well—The Trevor Project holds mandatory full-day diversity and inclusion training for our entire staff. This creates a shared language and foundation for our staff and allows us to hold each other accountable as we expand our organization. – Amit Paley, The Trevor Project 4. SEEK OUT CONTRADICTORY DATA AND OPINIONS I’m a big believer in the power of diversity of all kinds, and I advocate for a diversity of thought in leadership. My No. 1 practice is to ask for solutions, opinions, insights, and data from a diverse group of people and resources: formal team members, formal and informal advisors, and a broader, diverse network. I also intentionally seek contradictory data and opinions, as I think it is incredibly important to understand and embrace other perspectives about a decision or point of view—especially from those bringing a different experience than my own—to effectively check biases and strengthen decision-making. This is why I believe so strongly in diverse leadership teams, boards, founders, and management at all levels, as well as making sure that industry-led conversations, panels, and events are equally diverse. – Jason Dorsey, The Center for Generational Kinetics 5. QUANTIFY YOUR INCLUSIVITY AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS I think a bottom-up and top-down creativity model is always important. Whenever I am in a one-to-one, a random asynchronous chat, or an all-hands, I practice active listening and encourage equal contribution to agenda planning. We seek to create more high-impact value by consistently quantifying the inclusivity and collaborative nature of our teams. We are also constantly reading, training, and asking questions through accountability check-ins. – Riana Lynn, Journey Foods 6. BUILD A FEEDBACK LOOP INTO YOUR PRODUCTS I firmly believe that checking your biases and privilege is not a one-off process. I make sure to promote debate amongst my team, encourage dissenting opinions, and acknowledge my own weaknesses, mistakes, and flaws. When it comes to our product, we have a built-in feedback loop to make sure we aren’t just making decisions based on interviews or our intuition but on actual data regarding how people engage with our products. We all know the stories of products not being designed with inclusivity in mind, so at Flare, we intentionally bring a diverse set of voices into the room when designing and testing our products and features. Safety is very much tied to your identity and privilege, so it has been vital for us to make sure that our product works for those who are statistically the most vulnerable. – Quinn Fitzgerald, Flare 7. SEEK THE COMPANIONSHIP OF OTHER LEADERS Being an entrepreneur is like crossing the Atlantic in a one-person fishing boat. Managing the dynamics of a growing business and keeping a mindset of efficiency everywhere is super difficult. Having a support network is key to not slipping into the dreaded caves of burnout. Seek companionship with heart among other entrepreneurs, and share stories. Learn from one another! – Ziver Birg, Turbulence, Inc. 8. APPROACH LEADERSHIP AS A SERVICE I remind myself daily that leadership is about service. When you approach leadership as a service, you constantly challenge yourself to give more than you demand. The most effective leaders ask, “How can I support, how can I contribute, and how can I be an asset?” The “how” of leadership is more important than the “who” of leadership. That is why Carter G. Woodson reminded us, “Let who is greatest among you serve.” This quote is about service more than about being “great.” – Kezia Williams, The Black upStart 9. TURN TO YOUR TEAM MEMBERS FOR INSIGHTS Take the time to regularly reflect, and try to understand where you may have biases and where they’re coming from. To strengthen decision-making, I do regular one-to-ones with all members of my team—from executives to entry-level staff—to ensure everyone feels seen and heard and understands the mission we’re chasing. This feedback is incredibly useful. Often patterns emerge, and they bring my attention to something I wouldn’t have noticed otherwise. I also call on team members who seem quiet in a meeting to ensure they are represented, and I open up a conversation with them on Slack afterward to engage them further. – Brit Morin, Brit + Co 10. ENSURE YOU HAVE A “CHIEF CONTRARIAN” I trust my instincts. Instincts are a muscle that gets exercised by making decisions, and awareness and reflection make that muscle stronger. To make good decisions with speed, I surround myself with people who are different from me, and I build trusting relationships so they are willing to speak honestly. I have also cultivated the habit of accepting a “chief contrarian” as part of the team because there is always something to learn from a different opinion. Staying informed along the way also helps when making decisions. – Ximena Hartsock, Phone2Action 11. WORK TO UNDERSTAND WHY YOU THINK AS YOU DO I set aside thinking and writing time to work through different thought frameworks and points of view. This helps me separate my opinions and the facts to see the options in front of me more clearly. I also challenge myself constantly on why I think something is or isn’t possible. Is it because a person, the market, or some other entity is telling me that, or is it coming from my gut or other data I have collected? Understanding how my own mind thinks about possibilities is powerful. – Greta McAnany, Blue Fever 12. REMEMBER YOU STILL NEED TO LEARN As a leader, I am always asking for feedback, guidance, and criticism. It is important for me to understand that I am learning and growing—just like everyone else. I do not always have the right answers. So I look to seek wisdom from the people around me and from the peers whom I respect. – Richard Makerson, BlueFletch Fast Company Executive Board is an invitation-only professional organization of company founders, executives, and leaders who are defining the future of business through design, innovation, creativity, and impact.
https://www.fastcompany.com/90613220/12-ways-to-overcome-bias-and-strengthen-decision-making-skills
“Empathy: The First Step Towards Inclusion” was co-written by Dr. Adetoun Yeaman and Dr. Sreyoshi Bhaduri. Even as the world grapples with the debilitating COVID-19 pandemic, the past few weeks have found many in our communities struggling with the repercussions of another long, vicious pandemic – that of racism. Some of us had the privilege to switch off the news and take a break from social media. But for about 25% of the United States, which includes people of color, even stepping away to seek respite and bolster mental health is a privilege that few can afford. In these times, more than ever, empathy is an important skill which can help individuals work towards better inclusion. Empathy is the ability to see the world through another’s perspective. Casually, empathy is defined as the act of putting oneself in another person’s shoes. Through being in another person’s shoes, an individual may have the opportunity to gain a deeper or more meaningful understanding of what someone else may have lived and experienced. This ability thus allows individuals to be sensitized to others’ needs and sufferings. The way past indifference and towards allyship aimed at inclusion is illuminated primarily through empathy. Author Chinua Achebe, in his collection of essays, hints at lack of empathy being a result of an unimaginative brain. Like any other professional development skill, empathy is one that needs to be developed and once developed, continually honed. For engineers, this skill is twice-blessed; it allows engineers to connect not only with the people they impact but also the individuals they work with, as they work in teams to solve problems, engage in design and innovate on technologies. While empathy is a human ability, possessed by everyone, studies suggest it can be enhanced or diminished in various instances. In the United States, empathy found prominence in conversations on race and racial disparities through the works of Kenneth Clark in the second quarter of the 20th century. There has been more recent discourse on empathy and its importance in the engineering field in the 21st century. Many intentional efforts are being made to incorporate empathy into engineering curricula and prepare future engineers to be more empathic. Some conceptualizations of empathy relevant to engineering include the framework for empathy in design, which describes empathy as a process of discovery followed by immersion, connection and detachment; and the model of empathy in engineering, which presents empathy as a way of being, a practice orientation and a learnable skill. People can learn to be empathic! But is empathy enough for true inclusion? Empathy is a good starting point on the journey to inclusion in engineering. However, empathy alone will likely not be enough, and at times, may be grossly inadequate. The argument against empathy puts forth the rationale that differences in power dynamics disallow individuals to truly put themselves in another’s shoes or understand their lived experiences. These power dynamics are exacerbated when people interact with individuals who have significantly diverse lives because of intersections of race, gender or socio-economic status, among others. Consider as an example, a manager, M, who needs to decide among two team members, A and B, to lead a high-visibility project. A, although better skilled than B for this project, is also a new parent. M was a new parent once and puts themselves in A’s shoes. M recalls their own lived experiences as a new parent and remembers how difficult managing time was for them during those days with the new baby. Empathizing with A, M may then decide to give the project to B, intending to not add unnecessary stress for A. However, while this act may arise from empathy-backed intentions, the outcome may not always be for the better. A’s lived experiences are different from the manager’s (M‘s). Going beyond empathy, and asking A to decide for themselves, while giving them the option to back out, may have been a better solution since it allows more autonomy for the employee who is directly impacted by such decisions. Thus, empathy alone may often not be enough for inclusive decision-making or working in teams. However, empathy is a good first step sensitizing individuals to struggles that others around them may be facing and informing considerate decision making. At an individual level here are some of many ways we can begin to incorporate empathy in our actions, as we attempt to be more inclusive: - Be open to/respectful of views and lived experiences that don’t align with your own. In our everyday lives, living as empathic individuals requires listening to others, keeping an open mind, and respecting other people’s perspectives even when they differ from ours. The goal is to learn and be willing to compromise to pursue mutual benefit. - Break silos and seek out scholarship from engineers, authors and thought leaders from communities who have been systematically marginalized. Recognizing the limits of a singular narrative, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of diverse points of view through interacting and engaging with a wider range of perspectives. This includes collaborating with diverse team-members and also actively seeking out scholarship by thought leaders from marginalized communities. - Recognize your own biases and steer away from investing in stereotypes. Every individual has a set of biases and preconceived notions based on their lived experiences. It is important to address those biases, and not be led astray by stereotypes. Harmful stereotypes abound within engineering, and the act of putting oneself in another’s shoes may be adversely impacted by one’s own biases. Educating oneself and asking questions are ways in which an individual can steer away from stereotypes. We must be careful to not stop at empathy alone. Empathy helps us get to allyship, where we are sensitized towards and lend support to those who have been systematically marginalized and disadvantaged. However, true inclusion can only happen when we go beyond empathy and extend allyship to accompliceship, where, in the latter, we actively partake in dismantling oppressive structures. Inclusion can be thought of as a journey of a thousand miles, and empathy its first step. Are you actively honing your empathic skills today?
https://alltogether.swe.org/2020/07/empathy-first-step-towards-inclusion/
Written by: Kalen Anderson (CanU Vice President) and Jo Flatt (CanU Caucus Co-Chair) Last week in Winnipeg the Council for Canadian Urbanism held its ninth summit, #CanU9. As we head towards our tenth, #CanU10 in Montreal, we have an opportunity to re-think how the diversity of Canadians and our cities is reflected from coast-to-coast. As with all summits, the purpose in Winnipeg was to create a conversation about the state of city-making in Canada today. The #CanU9 summit supported many productive national and local conversations, but not all for the reasons we might have expected going into it. In addition to rich content centered around the theme “city-making math: the art and science of urban design,” and an exploration of the beautiful host city, there was also a discussion about the nature of the summit itself. We’re referring to commentary that emerged about the lack of diversity in the speaker line-up, particularly as it related to gender balance. Of the over 30 speakers registered on the program less than one third were women, and none were visible minorities. The fact that a wide range of folks engaged actively with the organization to call for better is an incredibly promising sign about the state of our conversations and the importance of great urbanism to all Canadians. Building better places for, and with, people is the work. And this only actually “works” if all Canadians are contributing to the conversation, as leaders, experts, and participants. All conversations about how we build and rebuild our communities together are impactful and send a strong signal about what we think matters. Achieving genuine and effective diversity means actively changing the status quo and making a concentrated effort to recognize different knowledge, experience and skills. We can do this by broadening our outreach and engaging, cultivating and holding space for critical dialogue. This requires integrating a wide-range of voices and opinions that are reflective of our current and future communities. And it can’t happen overnight. To this end the Council for Canadian Urbanism will work to ensure that it is fostering the diverse conversations that make our communities thrive. In Edmonton last year at #CanU8, in the keynote panel on reconciliation between Mayor Don Iveson and Chief Billy Morin concluded by inspiring positive, inclusive, change. They reminded us that the journey is not necessarily an easy or straightforward one and there are many voices and intersectional perspectives that need to be leading the way. Making proactive and committed efforts to notice and seek out those who are not in the room, and to ask “why” and “how,” is the first step. We are starting work on Montreal summit now to ensure that the lessons learned here don’t fade. Our Board and Montreal organizers welcome the opportunity to hear from new voices who want to be involved. This is a call to those who want to help us ensure that as we discuss city-building, research, and education we are doing so with a community that is reflective of the diversity across Canada. Join the movement, share your opinions, participate in local discussions and lead the national ones. Let’s work together to talk about what matters, and why.
http://www.canadianurbanism.ca/towards-a-more-inclusive-conversation/
Last January, Netflix released The Social Dilemma, a groundbreaking documentary, directed by American filmmaker Jeff Orlowski, that offers a scathing critique of social media and the tech companies that created it. While Orlowsi explores numerous implications of widespread social media use, he specifically highlights the fundamental algorithms that underpin our most popular social media platforms and systematically “widen the gaps between our knowledge base, politics and personal worldviews.” Social media, while giving us the illusion of access to a wide range of perspectives, often does little more than hold up a mirror to reflect the worldview we already hold. Our preferred news sources and social media platforms act as epistemic bubbles, “informational networks from which relevant voices have been excluded by omission” or worse, as echo chambers, where relevant voices are actively discredited. The choices we make in the media we consume, consciously and unconsciously, reveal how these two phenomena operate concurrently to create self-reinforcing, closed information networks. Both echo chambers and epistemic bubbles exaggerate individuals’ confidence in previously-held beliefs. C Thi Nguyen, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Utah Valley University, explains that while the omission of dissenting voices can be purposeful, more often it is largely inadvertent: “Even if we’re not actively trying to avoid disagreement, our Facebook friends tend to share our views and interests. When we take networks built for social reasons and start using them as our information feeds, we tend to miss out on contrary views and run into exaggerated degrees of agreement.” The fact is that, whether we are aware of it or not, we often develop our opinions and make decisions based on limited information. The Power of Multiple Perspectives If our news media environment is set-up to filter the information we receive, it is up to us to seek out the perspectives that are missing. The good news is that there are numerous examples, on the local and national scale, of people creating opportunities to connect with those with whom they disagree. Based in Portland, OR, the August Wilson Red Door Project is an arts organization dedicated to provoking conversations about race. Since 2016, the organization has been best known for Hands Up, an emotionally-raw compilation of “seven searing monologues about racial profiling and police violence,” each told from the perspectives of a person of color.” In 2018, Project founders Lesli Mones and Kevin Jones premiered Cop Out, a sister show featuring monologues from the perspective of police Cops interviewed for the show described pervasive burnout, being beaten up while on duty, and the challenge of deciding whether or not to fire a weapon. “Our mission [at the Red Door Project ] is to change the racial ecology through the arts,” Lesi Mones said. “That means different parts of the ecology need to be represented, and those voices need to come into interaction with each other.” Founded in 2003, StoryCorps’ mission is to preserve and “share humanity’s stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world.” Since being founded in 2003, the organization has recorded and archived over 60,000 conversations. These recorded conversations usually take place between friends, family members, and loved ones, but the organization’s most recent project, One Small Step, uses the interview model to “begin undoing the idea of ‘us’ vs. ‘them,” by asking people to speak to strangers with different political views. During the 2018-19 pilot project, more than 800 Americans in 40 U.S. cities recorded conversations with strangers on the opposite end of the political spectrum. After the program, 82% of surveyed participants said that “they had taken some action or made changes in their lives as a result of the One Small Step experience,” and almost half the participants reported “reexamining their assumptions about another person or group of people.” Both of these organizations highlight the power of seeking out perspectives other than our own. The August Wilson Red Door Project and StoryCorps have not only impacted the lives of the individuals involved in the projects, but in creating opportunities to build empathy through authentic listening, they are shifting the culture of contempt and dehumanization that has characterized our increasingly polarized political landscape. But this work does not need to happen on a city-wide or nation-wide scale to be impactful. Take One Small Step We can each begin to shift the culture of polarization through small daily actions. In spite of the algorithms that curate our newsfeeds, we are in charge of how we consume media. Here are five ways to start taking back control: 1. Follow sources that feature perspectives other than your own. By following diverse perspectives on social media, you can start to alter your own media ecosystem. - AllSides is a news platform with a commitment to “strengthen . . . democratic society with balanced news, diverse perspectives, and real conversation.” The All Sides Bias Media Chart categorizes media sources on a wide political spectrum, and can be helpful to seeking out media sources from across the political spectrum. - News and News describes itself as “an independent and non-partisan news source.” Their experienced journalistic team is based in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. The site offers a “Bias Meter,” which “quantifies the political leanings of all the posted articles. - Check out the comment thread on this LifeHacker article for recommendations from readers of sources that will help you “break out of your filter bubble.” 2. Keep asking the important questions. When consuming media, ask these critical questions. - Who is writing the story? - Who benefits from the story? - Who is missing from the story? These questions can act as a touch point to help you, and your students, assess the potential bias of any source. 3. Avoid generalizations. While it is human nature to process information by categorizing it, making overgeneralizations often erase the nuances of an argument. When discussing an article you’ve read, avoid words like “always,” “never,” “nobody,” or “everyone.” These kinds of statements are rarely true and often lead to misinformation. 4. Reframe disagreement. Disagreements tend to set-up an oppositional dynamic. The problem with using this “naive model of agreement” is that it encourages us to categorize people into “on-our-side [or] not-on-our-side.” But the more complex and open-ended a question becomes, the more likely people are to disagree about it. Consider the current global health crisis. The pandemic raises a number of complicated questions; many of which have nuanced answers. Therefore, any solution requires government, health, and business leaders to consider a range of variables, from public health guidelines to economic recovery. Agreement will not come easily, and that’s ok. We need to reframe disagreement. It’s not bad; it’s inevitable. If someone disagrees with you, they are not against you. They too are grappling with a complicated and challenging question. 5. Model curiosity. In a polarized society, when we believe our way of life or belief system are under threat, it is natural for our first instinct to be to defend our own way of thinking. By modeling curiosity and asking questions first, we show that our first instinct is to listen to better understand. Only after understanding a different perspective, can we begin to have a productive and informed conversation. Our Kids Are Watching While it’s important to help our students understand multiple perspectives on current issues, we must first model this behavior ourselves. Our news sources and social media platforms are not conducive to seeking out divergent viewpoints. But, by taking small, concrete steps to diversify the news we consume we can start to break down the “filter bubbles” that have contributed to the damaging culture of polarization that has come to characterize our country. Only then can we start helping our children do the same.
https://thejuicelearning.com/media-survival-guide-perspective/
To embody God’s love on earth by growing a welcoming, diverse, caring and passionate community that feeds the mind and fuels the spirit. VISION Our vision is to be a hope filled community that embodies the radical hospitality of Jesus. We seek to discern the presence of God in the face of every stranger, in creativity and beauty, in silence and in listening to every voice. We yearn for relationships that grow beyond casual acquaintances to authentic friendships that transcend differences in age, ability, income, race, gender expression and sexual orientation. We seek to be a growing community where questions are explored from many perspectives and heartfelt discussions are encouraged. We are compelled to stand with those who are suffering and marginalized as we work for a world that more fully expresses God’s dream of justice and peace. We become the Body of Christ through acting on our values outside our walls. VALUES As we share in the work of creating community at FCCBC, we do so from different points of origin. We are diverse in our bodies, perspectives, experiences, interests, beliefs, and priorities. In all of these differences, we share certain values at the center of our life together. These values inform our sense of belonging, how we behave, and how our beliefs are nurtured in this place. HOSPITALITY (belong) We believe that every person is created in the image of God, and is an essential part of the Body of Christ. Therefore we seek to know, honor, respect, make room for, dignify, and delight in the unique presence, gifts, and goodness of every person who is part of our wider community and church. HEALING (behave) We believe that just as individual and communal healing was essential to the ministry of Jesus Christ, so it is essential for His church. Therefore we strive to give and receive healing care and presence. This reflects the love and mercy Jesus gave to His disciples and passed onto us with the words “go and do likewise.” BEAUTY (behave) We believe that God’s creation is full of beauty that inspires joy and deep reflection. Therefore we encourage creative expression in all its forms in worship and within our community. Together we create and behold spiritual testimonies that find expression in creative arts. We strive to maintain beautiful facilities that are inviting and inspiring. SPIRITUAL FORMATION (believe) We believe that Jesus models for His followers a good and faithful life. Therefore we seek to follow in the example of Christ, developing spiritual disciplines for the sake of our own transformation and that of the world around us. We seek to actively grow and live out our Christian faith in the world. DIVERSITY (belong) We believe that human diversity reflects the perfect expression of God’s creation. Therefore we celebrate every seeker, embracing differences of sexual orientation, gender expression, marital status and family structure, age, mental and physical health and ability, racial and cultural identity or background, and education and socio-economic status. JUSTICE (behave) We believe that God calls us to live in right relationship: with God, with one another, and with creation. Therefore we value solidarity and accountability with those who bear the impact of unjust powers and principalities. We value ongoing learning and faithful attention to where pain and brokenness exist in the world. We engage the work of identifying and removing barriers within and beyond our walls. LEARNING (believe) We believe that wisdom comes from God and is best discerned in community. Therefore we engage our curiosity, doubt, and questions, in order to learn and grow in our faith. We bring many voices together to distill individual perspectives into truths held in common about God’s preferred future. We have a deep desire to learn about God, humanity, and living together faithfully.
https://www.fccbc.org/mission
The NY Times has a lovely visual personality test today - take it! My results - Culture Curious (it's mostly correct). You embrace all varieties of culture and love new ideas that push boundaries and explore new avenues of thinking. You love to dress so that your personality shines through and you enjoy sharing your unusual perspectives on life with all who will listen. When all is said and done, you are a bit of an intellect with a tendency to do a spot of soul searching from time to time. You're sophisticated and inquisitive with a real passion for art and culture. You pride yourself on being an early adopter of the latest music and films and always like to have a good book on the go. Your ability to bring together very diverse and even dissenting opinions is rooted in your appreciation for all points of view. You believe in immersing yourself in interesting experiences that make you look at people, places and opportunities from new angles. Being sensitive and creative you want to feel connected to the world around you and actively seek out opportunities to explore it. It's all about broadening your horizons and living life to the full. Anything else would not fulfill your curious nature. You'll love the list of The Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made, the Critics' Picks and Arts Beat.
http://www.laurenhoya.com/2011/10/quiz-time.html
A workplace ally is a colleague who will help, support and encourage you in the workplace. They will offer you friendship, mentorship and advise whilst listening to your thoughts, opinions and concerns. I’m a workplace ally, in fact a lot of people will fall into this role without even being aware or making a conscious decision to become one. Matthew Smith, Condeco UK Project Manager is a staunch supporter of Diversity and Inclusion and an active member of the LGBTQ+ community identifying as gay. As a supporter of Diversity and Inclusion he is a major part of the strategy for a future Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee. One of the key elements to having a diversity and inclusion programme is ensuring we have workplace ally’s. Matthew shares his experience and knowledge on ally’s and how they can make a difference within the workplace. What does being a workplace ally mean to you? MS: It means I can be my authentic self and not adopt a ‘persona’ or hide a part of my personality. I wasn’t aware of the term until a few years ago. Reflecting on my career, I have naturally sought out allies at work who have given me the confidence to be ‘me’ and be openly ‘out’ in the workplace. Having an ally makes it easier, because you don’t only come out once, you must make the decision to come out with different teams, new colleagues, clients and suppliers. The security of knowing I have allies within the workplace who actively support me, has helped make me feel I’m part of an inclusive workplace. It takes courage, in a workplace or any other public environment to be yourself, especially when others can easily be judgmental or prejudice. How do you find the strength to be yourself? MS: There have been times in my career I didn’t find the strength to be myself, in a previous role we took out one of our main clients for lunch. During this meeting, the client assumed that I was straight and had a wife and proceeded to ask me about them. In that moment, I didn’t have the strength to be truthful about my sexuality. For the rest of my collaboration with this client, I had to make a conscious effort to play along with their assumption and the lie which had been crafted. This played on my mind throughout that client relationship and I felt uncomfortable not being my true self. I worked with this client for a 3-year period and I learnt a big lesson from this, making a conscious decision to always be my true self in the workplace. The best way the breakdown stereotypes and myths of people in the LGBTQ+ community (or other communities) is by personally knowing someone. If you don’t know anyone within your social circle, how do you meet people within these communities? MS: Ask your organisation if they have a network group for LGBTQ+ and join. Become involved in local community organisations or volunteer groups, or attend networking event. There are many fantastic organisations who offer insightful and thought-provoking conversations, such as The Network of Networks. Being an ally isn’t just for one community, can you explain the other groups of individuals who will benefit from a workplace ally? MS: On the diversity and inclusion journey I am encouraged to see a rise in BAME and Accessibility networks but I have also found that within the LGBTQ+ community, those who identify as trans and bisexual, are in need of allies. I was shocked to learn 40% of transgender people have attempted to take their own life at some point and discovering this I could no longer remain quiet. I have actively attended panel networks covering trans topics increasing my network and making connections/friends along the way, asking questions, reading blogs and research articles. I have previously presented to 150 of my peers on being a ‘Trans ally’. Using my social media channels such ‘Twitter’ and ‘LinkedIn’ to raise awareness on trans social matters and supporting days such as ‘Transgender Day of Remembrance’. A key aspect of being ally is to be visible and opening up discussions and debate. How do you become an ally? Is this done at a company level or on an individual basis? MS: Many of us are allies naturally in our work and personal life. Reflect back, if you have ever stood up and spoken out when you have seen injustice or discrimination, whether it was in the school playground or you stood up for a stranger. You in that moment have been ally and had a positive impact on someone else. At business level, I have begun to see many companies adopt rainbow lanyards, a visually simple way to show support. Organisations with strong diversity and inclusion programmes are setting up ally networks and training along with guides. Whilst not all organisations will be in a position to have separate allies’ programmes, actively seek out allies if starting a network and ensure you include allies when creating a strategy. Having different perspectives and voices at the table will enhance any strategy. Where can someone go to find out more information about being a workplace ally. MS: There are many fantastic online resources, The ‘Stonewall’ website is always a great LGBT resource, they also have two great guides, Global Allies; Engage, Educate, Empower and ‘Straight Allies’. Don’t be afraid to seek out articles and blogs on the subject through channels such as ‘LinkedIn’. Or if your company has networks, talk to their leaders or members and ask them about being an ally. Joining a new workplace can be daunting, meeting new people and understanding different personalities within the office. When you first stared at Condeco, how did you identify me as a workplace ally? MS: First and foremost, you were so welcoming when I joined the company. You took the time and made an effort to get to know me. I felt comfortable and I could be open and be myself with you. This was through involving me on workshops that you ran whilst I was in my induction period (we bonded over our love of Twitter as a powerful social media tool) and from talking at Friday drinks. You showed real and authentic interest when I let you know how I had been involved in diversity and inclusion programmes, and that I was actively attending a range of different panels and networks in my evenings along with my own personal journey. We engaged at the office on a number of different inclusion and diversity topics and I know some of these made you think of things from a complete different perspective (I have learnt a lot from you on being a working parent) and you have become a great ally coming along to different panel events on LGBT+ focused matters and for being an active and visible member of the steering group we are forming as part of our diversity and inclusion strategy and outreach. Not only do I see you as a great workplace ally but as a great colleague and friend. Stepping out and being who you truly are is what defines us as individuals, and anyone who has the courage to stand up for what they believe in should be encouraged, especially in the workplace, where some office environments it could be very difficult. We are lucky enough to work with people from all walks of life, and through their experiences, outlooks and skills we make a very united, but very diverse team. Thank you to Matthew Smith for his contribution to this article.
http://blog.condecosoftware.com/seven-ways-you-can-be-a-lgbtq-workplace-ally
WAVERLY HIGH SCHOOL: Global Voices DIVERSITY CLUB During my time at Waverly High School, I started the Global Voices Diversity Club. In addition to taking trips abroad, I had more than fifty guest speakers come from diverse sectors of the world including Argentina, Ukraine, Armenia, Swaziland, Norway, the Maldives, and many more locales. This organization was a Waverly High School specialty group that focused on current and global issues. The group continues to this day and I have supported the continuation of this group. Our goal is to explore new cultures and subcultures through presentations, discussions, and research. We hope to gain new perspectives on current issues within Waverly and throughout the world. We pledge to learn from others as well as collaborate and share knowledge. To learn more visit the organization's webpage: http://whsglobalvoices.wixsite.com/whsclubs. Mission Statement: To establish an environment where students are invited to experience and explore diverse cultures, perspectives, and current societal issues in the local and global community to ultimately determine who they are and what they are passionate about by sharing their opinions and listening to others. Students would be challenged to make connections between discussions and relevant life events as well as WHS curriculum. Impact: - Students will explore who they are in relation to others within the WHS community and beyond and be confident in expressing their identities. - Students will serve as leaders by researching, presenting, and sharing information about diverse cultures. - Students will engage in opportunities to experience different cultures as students use critical and creative thinking to empathize and seek to understand multiple perspectives as well as view their world via diverse lenses. - Students will be informed about local and global issues and guide them as they discuss and develop their personal perspectives and viewpoints. - Students will be challenged to be involved in solving local and global problems. - Students will learn how to constructively express their opinions and how to respond to the expressed opinions of others. - Students will engage in critical thinking and prepare to engage in a diverse post-secondary world.
http://senorazapato.weebly.com/waverly-high-school-diversity-club.html
18 Hours delivers events and education with a focus on global citizenship and diversity Clients include The British Council, Hastings Borough Council, Rother District Council, University of Brighton, Hastings Storytelling Festival, Big Local, Streets of Rother Festival, Big Local and St Leonards Festival. We also produce Journeys Dance Festival, our own annual event. As the Development Education Centre (D.E.C.) for East Sussex, 18 Hours works with teachers to give them the skills, confidence and practical approaches to incorporate active global citizenship into schools. 18 Hours is not-for-profit. 18 Hours wants to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. A diverse team means a more innovative, creative and successful organisation so we actively seek to work with a diverse pool of staff, artists and audiences. Different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued. We encourage everyone to grow and are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments needed to make this happen. We’re recruiting a voluntary Advisory Board from a diverse range of cultural, professional and social backgrounds to help shape our work.
https://18hours.org.uk/consultancy/
Western Institute for Social Research admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability in the admissions or in the administration of its educational policies, scholarships and loan programs and all other school administered programs. WISR actively encourages interested members of ethnic and racial minority groups, women, and other underserved persons to discover whether its programs and methods fit their special, personal and community interests and goals. In addition, WISR seeks actively to build an inclusive and diverse, including multiracial, multicultural, learning and teaching community, in which the central values are built on the worth and distinctiveness of each person’s background, going beyond our differences to celebrate qualities and needs that we all share as humans. In building and nurturing such a community, WISR affirms the importance of free and open dialogue, and to that end, students, faculty, staff, alumni and Board are all expected to 1) refrain from making comments that would infringe on the safety, dignity and respect for any group, and 2) welcome assistance in learning how to improve their interactions with groups with whom they are less experienced or comfortable. WISR core values include: - Developing a multicultural, inclusive perspective. This means developing and using inclusive and multicultural perspectives to inform one’s purposes, and one’s views of social issues and challenges and opportunities in one’s chosen fields or arenas of endeavor—profession, workplace, community. - Developing a sense of empathy, compassion and community toward, and with, others. - Appreciating and understanding the broad spectrum of perspectives and consciousness, and how those arise out of people’s culture, gender, economic background, religious and sexual orientation. - A culture of learning that respects and promotes the dignity of every person. - The belief that no individual or group may rightfully prosper at the expense of others. - The use of language that conveys respect for persons whose gender identity, culture, religion, sexual orientation, economic background, or political interests may differ from our own.
https://www.wisr.edu/welcome/wisr-statement-of-affirmation-of-diversity-values/
A world without stereotypes or limits Recent national events remind us that complacency about the insidious effects of historic and pervasive inequities and structural racism on our society is no longer an option. As one of the leading schools of nursing in the nation, we must seek to understand our role in advancing diversity in nursing and in leading the transformation of the academic and clinical paradigm that provides quality and equitable healthcare for all of society. To begin our work together, faculty and staff commit to building and sustaining a culture that is welcoming, inclusive, and equitable for all students, faculty, and staff—especially those from under-represented populations. We will do this by: - Creating a safe and supportive learning environment that upholds our academic excellence and compels our students, faculty, and staff to recognize and interact with one another as whole persons and not simply as one-dimensional and often stereotypical aspects of our being. - Examining the personal perspectives of our own biases and socializations and be open to adjusting these perspectives, beliefs, and behaviors. - Actively listening to one another in order to develop true empathy. We will recognize and honor the differences between beliefs, practices, and cultural norms and encourage all to accept and respect each person’s uniqueness. - Understanding that this may, at times, lead to difficult conversations, but dialogues we will have in the safety of a caring and supportive school and university. - Taking action every day—as an institution and as individuals—in advancing our diversity strategic plan that celebrates change and honors tradition until our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion becomes an integral part of our everyday lives and not merely a set of initiatives. We will live what we say as a means to fully achieve our core values of respect, responsibility, trust and dialogue. Building a long-term diverse and inclusive culture will take time, perseverance, and resolve; but we also realize that building this culture is not an option. It is a necessity that will open a world of endless possibilities for our students, as well as our graduates, faculty, and staff. We all benefit by having an open lens, inclusive nature, and a high level of cultural humility. Specifically, delivering on our diversity strategic plan will enable us to: - Attract, admit, and support a racial and culturally diverse student population; - Recruit and retain the best and brightest as members of a faculty and staff that is representative of our racial and culturally diverse student population; - Educate the next generation of nurses to provide high quality nursing care to an increasingly diverse society; - Conduct leading edge research utilizing the latest findings in evidence-based practice to identify and address inequities that lead to disparities and to understand how interventions affect all populations; and - Influence and create healthcare policies that will reduce inequity at the local, state, and national levels.
https://nursing.iu.edu/about/diversity-inclusion/index.html
Goal ~ To increase the size, skill set, and diversity of the interpreting profession and advance the field of interpreting education. Mission ~ The National Consortium of Interpreter Education Centers builds and promotes effective practices in interpreting education. The National Consortium draws upon the wisdom and energy of experts, consumers and other stakeholders to advance the field. The National Consortium is dedicated to challenging the status quo by promoting innovation, strong partner networks and multiculturalism throughout its programming. As responsible stewards of public funding, the Consortium is committed to products, programs and services that maximize resources and are replicable, measurable, sustainable and non-proprietary. Vision ~ A diverse community of interpreters fluent in sign language and culture, engaging in critical thinking, and responsible for meaning transfer. Diversity ~ We recognize that people have different cultural, linguistic, social, class, ethnic backgrounds or national origin. Each of us is enriched by the lives and experience of others. We actively seek input, counsel and involvement from many communities and from stakeholders who are under-represented in our field. Cultural and Linguistic Sensitivity ~ We demonstrate appreciation for others through active listening and respect for one another's values and norms. We keep our minds open to new perspectives and challenge our own thinking. Education ~ We value the broad range of ways in which people learn and in which education may be delivered. We seek to provide programming which meets the varied needs of interpreters and interpreter educators. Access ~ We strive to design our materials to be accessible to the broadest audience possible.
https://www.gallaudet.edu/department-of-interpretation-and-translation/gallaudet-university-regional-interpreter-education-center/about-us
Fracking and its role in the UK is a hugely important issue for politicians grappling with the energy challenges we are faced with now and in the future. However, the debate is dominated by industry representatives, politicians and campaigners, with citizens often left watching from the sidelines. Opinion is polarised on each side and the public watches through the lens of media reports, lobbying and public campaigns. At Shared Future, when approached by Cambridge University, we jumped at the opportunity of bringing our experience of deliberative democracy to this crucial issue. Our desire was to explore what happens when a process attempts to move people from ‘raw’ public opinion, to what the American academic James Fishkin describes as ‘refined’ public opinion. That is, ‘opinion after it has been tested by the consideration of competing arguments and information conscientiously offered by others holding contrasting views’. The process we used drew on both deliberation and dialogue to create a space for a diverse group of people to share experiences and stories and in turn encourage them to look beyond set positions to identify the interests and values which underpin them. This is different from other approaches as it moves away from conversations as the trade of monologues and the emphasis of people persuading each other of their own argument. The Fracking Citizens Deliberation aimed to bring together a diverse ‘mini public’ to share their initial opinions, listen to each other and external ‘commentators or expert witnesses’, to ask questions and then deliberate their way towards a set of ‘refined’ conclusions. Surveys and opinion polls give us a clue what individuals think. However they don’t help us understand what citizens will conclude if they are given the time and space to be able to deliberate at length with each other and consider a range of differing perspectives; to share opinions, to challenge and disagree with each other, to appreciate other viewpoints and ultimately come to their own conclusions. the recruitment of a diverse group (in terms of age, gender, ethnicity and educational background) of 15 citizens from central Preston with a range of opinions on Fracking. The establishment of an Oversight Panel made up of the key stakeholders in the Fracking policy community to ensure that the process was fair, unbiased and balanced. Five sessions (totalling some 16 hours), during which participants used a range of approaches to enable them to share opinions, challenge each other and ‘deliberate’ on the issue before producing a set of prioritised recommendations. Usually our Citizens Inquiries are 9-10 sessions in length and although this is preferable we believed there was something to be gained from testing out this more compact format. The use of external ‘commentators’ (agreed by the Oversight Panel) who present to the participants and are in turn ‘cross examined’. The process we used drew on both deliberation and dialogue so creating a space for a diverse group of people to share experiences and stories and in turn encourage those that took part to look beyond set positions to identify the interests and values which underpin them. Our report is a summary of the process followed and a record of the conclusions of the group. Our role has been purely to facilitate the considerations of the participants. At no point does the report seek to interpret any of the information gathered. As the facilitators of the process we have taken every effort to be impartial and to document a citizen led deliberation about a complex and often highly contested issue of public concern. We thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to test this approach as a way of both influencing and democratising public policy making on a crucial topical issue, especially at a time when so many are questioning the role of the public in deciding what the future of our country should look like.
https://sharedfuturecic.org.uk/fracking-citizens-deliberation-preston-2016/
This is a topic suggestion on Forensic Anthropology from Paper Masters. Use this topic or order a custom research paper, written exactly how you need it to be. Forensic science involves the application of physical science to areas of the law. Accordingly, forensic anthropology applies scientific techniques to analyze human remains and to determine whether a crime has been committed. Such scientific techniques and applications are most often used to determine age at death, population, stature, gender, trauma, cause of death, existence of disease, and other physical attributes to skeletal material. However, forensic anthropologists can also assist in remains identification of burned, decomposed, or fragmentary remains which can result from mass fatality accidents such as occurred on 9/11. Forensic anthropologists typically work with medical examiners and coroners; however, they are not solely utilized by prosecutors or exclusively in criminal cases. As there are several types of anthropology, all can be applied in a forensic setting. For example, archeology and paleontology can be referred to as forensic anthropology if applied to the law. Further, forensic anthropology utilizes techniques from multiple disciplines including physics, chemistry, anatomy, law enforcement, and pathology in its scientific analysis. One of the most interesting current applications of forensic anthropology occurs in the realm of facial reconstruction in which an anthropologist essentially builds a model of a decedent’s face based upon skull and facial features for identification purposes.
https://www.papermasters.com/forensic-anthropology.html
are the fastest growing careers? Key Words: Forensic dentistry, forensic odontology, bite mark analysis See Also: FORENSIC DENTISTRY FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY DNA FINGERPRINTING FORENSIC SCIENCE SCIENCE OF FINGERPRINTING Forensic anthropology is the application of the science of physical anthropology and human osteology (the study of the human skeleton) in a legal setting, most often in criminal cases where the victim's remains are more or less skeletonized. A forensic anthropologist can also assist in the identification of deceased individuals whose remains are decomposed, burned, mutilated or otherwise unrecognizable. The adjective "forensic" refers to the application of this subfield of science to a court of law. Overview Forensic anthropology borrows methods developed from the academic discipline of physical anthropology and applies them to cases of forensic importance. These techniques can be used to assess age, sex, stature, ancestry, and analyze trauma and disease. Forensic anthropologists frequently work in conjunction with forensic pathologists, odontologists, and homicide investigators to identify a decedent, discover evidence of trauma, and determine the postmortem interval. Though they typically lack the legal authority to declare the official cause of death, their opinions may be taken into consideration by the medical examiner. They may also testify in court as expert witness, though data from some of the techniques commonly used in the field such as forensic facial reconstruction are inadmissible as forensic evidence. In the United States Physical anthropology is one of the divisions of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. Two of the most important research collections of human skeletal remains in the U.S. are the Hamann-Todd Collection, now housed in the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and the Terry Collection, now housed in the Smithsonian Institution. These collections are an important historic basis for the statistical analysis necessary to make estimates and predictions from found remains. More modern collections include the William M. Bass Donated Skeletal Collection at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Practitioners There are few people who identify themselves as forensic anthropologists, and in the United States and Canada, there are less than 100 Anthropologists certified as Diplomates of the American Board of Forensic Anthropology. Furthermore, there are only about 50 who are currently active in the field. Most diplomates work in the academic field and consult on casework as it arises. References External links Questions or Comments? Copyright © 1999 EdInformatics.com All Rights Reserved.
https://www.edinformatics.com/forensic/forensic_anthropology.htm
Essay on forensics sciences - forensic scientists apply the studies of science to areas of crime and law enforcement they are essential in the solving of all - anthropology - lucy in hadar in a search to find our ancestors, several anthropologists have found evidence to support their conclusions. Forensic anthropology is the application of the anatomical science of anthropology and its various subfields, including forensic archaeology and forensic taphonomy, in a legal setting. Forensic anthropology is the study of skeletal remains, used to determine information about the identity and manner of death of the deceased though practice of forensic anthropology dates back for centuries, the theories and methods did not truly coalesce into a scientific practice until the early. Forensic anthropology is the investigation of human skeletal remains for law enforcement officials to resolve the identity of unidentified bones you are here: home / essays on define what a forensic anthropologist does, and how does forensic anthropology assist law enforcement officers. Forensic anthropology -using biological anthropology to describe findings, create theories and establish conclusions the nook book (ebook) of the dead men do tell tales: the strange and fascinating cases of a forensic anthropologist by william r. - forensic anthropology is an important part of forensic science because without any knowledge of bones in forensic science, you wouldn't really be able to learn very much information about any victims that had decomposed down to bone, or lost their flesh in any sort of way. Forensic anthropology - essay example comments (0) add to wishlist delete from wishlist what is forensic anthropology basically, forensic anthropology is the application of anthropology in forensics it is simply the marriage between anthropology and forensics. Body farm or forensic anthropology forensic anthropology is non a new construct it was started long-back when anthropologists investigated the forensic anthropologists assist the crimination instances by making following activities some of these activities include sing offense scene to roll up. Read this full essay on forensic anthropology throughout high school i spent a lot of time focusing on deciding a career path practicing anthropologists study one, if not more, of the four subcategories of anthropology these areas include cultural anthropology, the study of different. If you are writing an analytical essay on forensic anthropology, there are many things that might constitute a great thesis or even sufficient evidence to substantiate a claim made in your thesis having a list of facts can be quite helpful in your brainstorming efforts. Angi christensen, nicholas passalacqua, eric bartelink forensic anthropology: current methods and practice—winner of a 2015 textbook excellence award (texty) from the text and academic authors association—approaches forensic anthropology through an innovative style using current practices. Forensic anthropology is the application of the science of anthropology and its various subfields, including forensic archaeology and forensic taphonomy, in a legal setting a forensic anthropologist can assist in the identification of deceased individuals whose remains are. Essay on forensic anthropology submitted by carolynassaf2 words: 1013 assaf 1 carolyn assaf ms desalvo writing 8-mic 4 april 2014 forensic anthropology wolf wolf i was in the pet market buying food for my dog when i heard a dog barking outside. Forensic anthropology plays an important role in today's society it help figure out and put to justice those who take people's lives these forensic anthropologist do a couple of different things like identifying the victim, figuring out how long the victim has been dead, and finding cause of death. Forensic anthropology theme: a forensic anthropologist examines the skeletal remains which makes significant contributions to an investigation forensic anthropology is the application of the science of physical anthropology to the legal process. Forensic anthropology essaysdue thursday may 23rd between 8-10am in room 3305j three case scenarios are provided below anthropology- hominids in the studies that have been done on primate and early human evolution, there is strong evidence that eating meat played a large role in. Forensic anthropology media observation it's been many weeks that class started and i've learned more about bones and how sex, height, race and age are determined it's been interesting to see how much information can be obtained by analyzing bones. Forensic anthropology can be defined as the study of human skeletal remains in the course of a legal inquiry it is a sub-discipline of physical this essay aims to discuss the theory and methods guiding the practice of forensic anthropology this will be achieved by highlighting the body of knowledge. There are three periods in forensic anthropology, formative, consolidation and modern i'll quickly brief you on each of the periods, perhaps mentioning he was the first to write articles and essays and give lectures on human skeletal identification, the original designation of forensic anthropology. Forensic anthropology applies the science of physical or biological anthropology to the legal process forensic anthropologists analyze human remains, typically in criminal investigations their study of human remains aids in the detection of crime by working to assess the age, sex, stature. Forensic anthropology degree programs are perhaps best suited to those who combine a love for science and investigation with an interest in seeing justice served the degree should help hard-working students to develop the foundational skills required to succeed in both the field and the lab and. Forensic anthropologists are commonly portrayed in the media as forensic scientists and/or crime scene technicians, but this is not accurate over the past century, physical anthropologists have developed methods to evaluate bones to understand people who lived in the past. Books shelved as forensic-anthropology: bones are forever by kathy reichs, dead men do tell tales: the strange and fascinating cases of a forensic anthro popular forensic anthropology books (showing 1-50 of 176. Forensic anthropology 6 pages 1527 words what is forensic anthropology from within the specialized area of osteology--the study of bones—comes the application of the methods and techniques of analyzing skeletal remains for cases that will apply tf legal importance. Kathy reichs is one of only eighty-two forensic anthropologists ever certified by the american board of forensic anthropology she served on the board of directors and as vice president of both the american academy of forensic sciences and the american board of forensic anthropology. 2018.
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The purpose of the Forensic Anthropology Center is to provide research, training and service with compassion. The Body Donation Program is the heart and soul of the Forensic Anthropology Center, and we ensure that all of the families and donors are treated with the utmost respect and compassion. What is the main focus of forensic anthropology? The main focus of a Forensic Anthropologist is to process the crime scene, examine and process remains, create a biological profile, provide appropriate documentation of their findings, and testify in the court of law. What does the Forensic Anthropology Facility Study? The Forensic Anthropology Research Facility (FARF) is a human decomposition research laboratory where questions related to outdoor crime scenes and decomposition rates for human remains under various topographical and climate conditions are investigated. What is a forensic anthropologist do? Forensic anthropologists are tasked with examining human skeletal remains in a medicolegal context. Typically such work can include identifying the sex, age, ancestry, and stature of an unidentified set of remains. Why is forensic anthropology important to crime solving? The inclusion of forensic anthropologists early in an investigation helps to ensure maximum recovery and protection of the human skeletal remains and allows the evidence response team members to focus upon other lines of evidence (fingerprints, fibers, DNA). What is an example of forensic anthropology? Forensic anthropologists also study the living, identifying individual perpetrators from surveillance tapes, determining the age of individuals to define their culpability for their crimes, and determining the age of subadults in confiscated child pornography. Do Forensic anthropologists testify in court? Along with forensic pathologists, forensic dentists, and homicide investigators, forensic anthropologists commonly testify in court as expert witnesses. Using physical markers present on a skeleton, a forensic anthropologist can potentially determine a person’s age, sex, stature, and race. What can forensic anthropology students learn from the Body Farm? Students at forensic pathology schools like the Body Farm learn to recover human remains and determine the age, sex, ancestry, and stature of unknown victims. Identifying human remains requires some potentially unpleasant research: Examining teeth and bones. Studying rate of decomposition and insect development cycles. What happens to the eyes 3 hours after death? body is warm to the touch for three hours after death, body then cools and takes surrounding temperature at 24hrs. 1) surface of eye dries out. 2) Thin film starts to form within 2 to 3 hours if eyes were open and 24 hours if closed. 3) Eyes become softer and opaque due the build up of potassium. Do body farms smell bad? In a field of bodies, you’d expect the facility to smell like…death. Well, surprise, surprise, it does. Corpses emit some pretty strong odors as they decompose, so you can imagine the stench that comes with rows and rows of human remains. Fortunately, you stop noticing it after a while. What skills do you need to be a forensic anthropologist? To be successful as a forensic anthropologist, you should demonstrate good communication and teamworking skills, an ability to maintain composure, and provide unbiased analyses. Can a forensic anthropologist work for the FBI? Applied setting: Forensic anthropologists are employed by museums, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), state bureaus of investigation, and by medical examiner/coroner offices. Many forensic anthropologists also work at the Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii (CILHI–pronounced “seal-hi”). Is forensic anthropology a good career? If you are fascinated by human biology, appreciate science, and have a desire to help solve perplexing crimes, forensic anthropology may be the perfect criminology career for you. What are the three fields of forensic anthropology? The American Board of Forensic Anthropology (ABFA) defines its field as the application of the science of physical or biological anthropology to the legal process. Forensic anthropology is made up of several sub-disciplines: cultural anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, and physical (biological) anthropology. What do forensic anthropologists do on a daily basis? Career Description, Duties, and Common Tasks The daily work of forensic anthropologists is highly varied, but most spend much of their time in the laboratory, examining direct evidence and remains through observation, X-ray analysis, and other technological means, as well as checking dental and medical records. What are the benefits of being a forensic anthropologist? For example, one of the benefits of being a forensic anthropologist is that you can help solve crimes. These anthropologists study unidentified human remains, decomposed bodies or skeletal remains and work with law enforcement to bring justice.
https://colorado-criminal-law.com/crime-theory/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-forensic-anthropology-center.html
Forensic anthropologists with the Centre d'Études Alexandrines, directed by Jean-Yves Empereur, have recognized signs of mummification of the skeletal remains at the Gabbari necropolis in Alexandria, Egypt. The Hellenistic era (323-146 B.C.) necropolis was discovered during road construction in the western part of the city; so far, 42 collective burial chambers have been excavated (see "Diving on a Sunken City," March/April 1999). Numerous mummies have already been found at the site, but their state of conservation is poor; all that remains are bones and occasional vestiges of cloth so fragile that they turn to dust with a breath of air. The disappearance of body tissue and cloth could be a result of the late era and poor quality of embalming, but the more likely reason is Alexandria's humidity, which tends to destroy perishable matter. Despite a close examination of the bones, the anthropologists have had trouble determining exactly how the embalming was performed. Preservation of the body by evisceration leaves few if any traces, and while embalming of the head leaves clear marks on the skull, they were missing on a majority of the mummies. The anthropologists observed a variety of mummification practices. In one tomb a child of around eight years of age was found lying on a small trapezoidal plank. Traces of cloth and reeds discovered near the abdomen suggest that the plank was integrated into a system for wrapping the body. For this type of conservation, the body is less well preserved and the length of conservation is shorter than with a more careful preparation. In certain cases the embalming is finer. One mummy was discovered in its bindings, upon which a lozenge pattern can still be discerned, and another which was clearly eviscerated and then covered, at least on the face, with gold leaf. The imprint of bodily features reveals that the leaf was applied directly on it. In Roman Egypt, applying gold leaf on the face or members of the mummified body was considered an effective method of preservation. While observation of the bones, their conservation and position in the ground have shown that these fleshless bodies were once mummified and can be dated from context to the late Roman period, information about funeral practices is still scant, and it is unclear how widespread embalming was in the necropolis. Only further excavation, documentation, and analysis of the inhumations will provide the answers.
https://archive.archaeology.org/online/news/gabbari.html
Conventionally, forensic anthropology is defined as the application of physical anthropology to the legal process. As experts in osteology, skeletal biology and archeology, forensic anthropologists assist in the recovery and analyses of human remains, especially when they are skeletonized, burned, mutilated, or otherwise unrecognizable. Forensic anthropologists use knowledge of skeletal biology to develop a biological profile, aid in identification, reconstruct trauma, and estimate the postmortem interval. In the past three decades forensic anthropology has been growing rapidly and developing as both a forensic science and as an area of research in physical anthropology with the number of both academic and non-academic positions in forensic antropology increasing in the United States. Forensic anthropologists are increasingly involved in numerous aspects of crime scene, mass disaster, and human rights investigations, including search and recover, analysis of remains, and expert testimony. Simultaneously, forensic anthropology has also matured into a dynamic field of research that is generating new research questions and new methods for reexamining older anthropological and forensic hypotheses. This overview discusses the role of forensic anthropology as an applied forensic science and as an academic research area within physical anthropology.
https://www.minervamedica.it/en/journals/minerva-medicolegale/article.php?cod=R11Y2009N03A0155
Fundamentals of Skeletal Radiology E-Book , 5th Edition Trusted by thousands of radiology residents, students, and clinicians, the "pink book" continues to be the perfect first book for essential, easily accessible information in skeletal imaging. Fundamentals of Skeletal Radiology, 5th Edition, provides an authoritative introduction to x-rays, MR, and other skeletal imaging modalities, offering a quick, effective review of musculoskeletal imaging in a concise, easy-to-read style. Key Features - Depicts musculoskeletal imaging concepts and techniques through hundreds of high-quality digital radiographs, MRIs, bone scans, and CT images. - Uses a succinct, highly accessible writing style for easy, straightforward understanding of complex material. - Updates include numerous new, high-quality MR images and extensive coverage of MRI of the spine and joints, including imaging protocols, common pathologies, and detailed specifics on reading and interpretation. - Presents full-color imaging examples to help you discern subtleties and nuances for efficient and accurate interpretation. - Discusses radiation dosage concerns, early detection, avoiding unnecessary exams, and common skeletal conditions, including a chapter on trauma.
https://www.store.elsevierhealth.com/asia/fundamentals-of-skeletal-radiology-e-book-9780323611664.html
Previously unseen film footage released by the University of Leicester reveals for the first time details of the potential killer blow that claimed the life of King Richard III. The sequence – showing the dramatic injury to the base of the skull as well as the inside of the top of the skull – was taken by University video producer Carl Vivian who is chronicling the key events in the Discovery, Science and Reburial of the last Plantagenet king. The footage shows the moment when Professor Guy Rutty of East Midlands Forensic Pathology Unit, based at the University of Leicester, found the potential killer blow. Drawing on 19 years of experience as a Home Office Forensic Pathologist, Professor Rutty examined the skull and linked marks on the vertebra, the smaller of the two wounds to the base of the skull and a mark on the inside of the skull, suggesting that weapon had been thrust up from the base of Richard’s neck and into his head. Professor Rutty said: “I approached this examination as that of any patient – just because he was a King did not make a difference. Everyone is treated the same with the same doctor/patient relationship, the same respect in death and the same level of professional investigation. The key to this sequence is that alongside my role at the University of Leicester, I am a Home office forensic pathologist. Thus I was able to look at the large injury in the base of the skull and, through experience, I was able to identify the key injury. Using the specialist lighting equipment we have in the forensic mortuary at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, which was key to the examination, I then was able to put the three injuries together on pathological grounds and we all realised I had identified the potential lethal injury to King Richard III. It was one of those eureka moments which Carl Vivian happened to capture on film which we will all remember.” The video shows the initial examination of the trauma to the skeleton by Professor Rutty working with Dr Jo Appleby of the University’s School of Archaeology and Ancient History. Osteologist Dr Jo Appleby, who led the exhumation of the skeleton from the Greyfriars car park where Richard was discovered in 2012, said: “Following the identification of a major sharp force trauma to the base of the skull, which was probably inflicted by a sword or the top spike of a bill or halberd, we were interested to determine the angle of the blow. During filming, Professor Rutty noted a small traumatic lesion on the interior surface of the cranium, directly opposite the sharp force trauma. Careful examination showed that the two injuries lined up with one another, and also with an injury to Richard’s first cervical vertebra. The combination of all three injuries provided evidence for the direction of the injury and also the depth to which the weapon had penetrated the skull.” The researchers, who examined the remains in a clinical environment at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, have already published in The Lancet their research into the trauma inflicted on King Richard III’s body at the Battle of Bosworth Field on 22 August, 1485. Using modern forensic analysis of the King’s skeletal remains, they discovered that three of his injuries had the potential to cause death quickly- two to the skull and one to the pelvis. The forensic imaging team, working with the Forensic Pathology Unit and the University’s Department of Engineering, used whole body CT scans and micro-CT imaging of injured bones to analyse trauma to the 500-year-old skeleton carefully, and to determine which of the King’s wounds might have proved fatal. They also analysed tool marks on bone to identify the medieval weapons potentially responsible for his injuries. Professor Sarah Hainsworth, Professor of Material Engineering at the University, said: “Using modern forensic examination, we have discovered that Richard’s skeleton sustained 11 wounds at or near the time of his death – nine of them to the skull, which were clearly inflicted in battle. The injuries to the head suggest he had either removed or lost his helmet. The other two injuries that we found were to a rib and his pelvis.” The Dig for Richard III was led by the University of Leicester, working with Leicester City Council and in association with the Richard III Society. The originator of the Search project was Philippa Langley of the Richard III Society.
https://ulasnews.com/2015/02/13/new-film-footage-reveals-discovery-of-killer-blow-to-king-richard-iii/
Forensic anthropology is a very limited and competitive field, so interested students should do their best in their classes, especially science and math, in order to be considered for openings in college and university-level academic programs. Is forensic anthropology a good career? Even though the real world is quite a bit different from Hollywood, working in the field can be a very rewarding experience intellectually, emotionally, and financially. The duties of someone in this field can vary, as forensic anthropology careers can actually cover a few different territories. How hard is it to be a forensic anthropologist? It absolutely can. Unfortunately, forensic anthropology is an extremely competitive field and it would help to have a more specialized degree. Is there a high demand for forensic anthropologists? Because there is not a huge demand for forensic anthropologists, the job outlook growth rate is slower than average and competition for open positions, especially if they are full-time, is highly competitive. What should you major in to become a forensic anthropologist? Current minimum requirements necessary to become a forensic anthropologist include a Bachelor’s degree in anthropology or a closely related field, a Master’s degree in anthropology, and a PhD in physical anthropology. Who hires forensic anthropologists? Applied setting: Forensic anthropologists are employed by museums, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), state bureaus of investigation, and by medical examiner/coroner offices. How many years does it take to be a forensic anthropologist? To be a practicing forensic anthropologist you need a master’s degree or doctorate with a major in anthropology and a focus in biological, physical, or forensic anthropology, which usually takes a total of six to ten years. How do you become a FBI forensic anthropologist? Although a bachelor’s degree in forensics or anthropology is a good start, most employers, including the FBI, require forensic anthropologists to hold a doctoral degree. Experience in either academic or applied anthropology, or a combination of both, is also necessary to be competitive in the FBI hiring process. Do Forensic anthropologists go to medical school? Forensic anthropologists usually hold a doctorate degree (Ph. … Forensic pathologists hold a doctor of medicine degree (MD), which requires a bachelor’s degree with “pre-med” courses, four years of medical school, followed by a residency in pathology, then further training in forensic pathology. What do forensic anthropologists do on a daily basis? What a forensic anthropologist DOES do to aid in a case: Assist law enforcement with the location and recovery of human remains at crime scenes. Cleans the bones so that they may be examined. Analyze skeletal remains to establish the biological profile of the individual. Do forensic anthropologists determine cause of death? The examination of any fractures on the bones can potentially help determine the type of trauma they may have experienced. Cause of death is not determined by the forensic anthropologist, as they are not qualified to do so. How long does a PhD in anthropology take? Though length can vary between individual programs, a common timeline for PhD programs in anthropology includes two years of full-time study done as coursework (or sometimes three years for students seeking less intensive semesters); these can range from around 36 to 72 credits based on how the university counts them. What skills do you need to be a forensic anthropologist? To be successful as a forensic anthropologist, you should demonstrate good communication and teamworking skills, an ability to maintain composure, and provide unbiased analyses. Do Forensic anthropologists travel? Their work primarily takes place in classrooms, offices, laboratories, and lecture halls. Other forensic anthropologists are employed at a medical examiner or coroner’s office, at museums, or by the military or other governmental agencies. Fieldwork may be local or may involve traveling to other counties or states. What is the best school for forensic anthropology? Best Colleges for Forensic Anthropology - The University of Southern Mississippi. - Texas State University. - Boston University. - The University of Montana. - Western Carolina University. - Michigan State University. - University of Florida. - California State University. 29.09.2018 Do Forensic anthropologists work with the FBI? FBI forensic anthropologists work in FBI offices and laboratories throughout the country and in the field or at crime scenes when necessary.
https://austlawpublish.com/criminal-law/question-is-it-hard-to-become-a-forensic-anthropologist.html
Main description: Trusted by thousands of radiology residents, students, and clinicians, the "pink book" continues to be the perfect first book for essential, easily accessible information in skeletal imaging. Fundamentals of Skeletal Radiology, 5th Edition, provides an authoritative introduction to x-rays, MR, and other skeletal imaging modalities, offering a quick, effective review of musculoskeletal imaging in a concise, easy-to-read style. Depicts musculoskeletal imaging concepts and techniques through hundreds of high-quality digital radiographs, MRIs, bone scans, and CT images. Uses a succinct, highly accessible writing style for easy, straightforward understanding of complex material. Updates include numerous new, high-quality MR images and extensive coverage of MRI of the spine and joints, including imaging protocols, common pathologies, and detailed specifics on reading and interpretation. Presents full-color imaging examples to help you discern subtleties and nuances for efficient and accurate interpretation. Discusses radiation dosage concerns, early detection, avoiding unnecessary exams, and common skeletal conditions, including a chapter on trauma. Enhanced eBook version included with purchase. Your enhanced eBook allows you to access all of the text, figures, and references from the book on a variety of devices. Contents:
https://www.wisepress.com/fundamentals-of-skeletal-radiology-9780323611657/
The latest findings from the examination of the Richard III skeleton are revealed in a new film He is the most forensically investigated monarch in British history, and now the "eureka moment" when scientists discovered evidence of the fatal blow that dispatched Richard III has been released on film. © University of Leicester The new film footage, released by the University of Leicester, shows the dramatic injury to the base of the skull as well as the inside of the top of the skull. It is part of a package of films charting the scientific and archaeological investigations led by the project team from the University of Leicester. Among the 26 sequences released in the series is a film showing the moment when Professor Guy Rutty, of the East Midlands Forensic Pathology Unit based at the University of Leicester, found the potential killer blow. Drawing on 19 years of experience as a Home Office Forensic Pathologist, Professor Rutty examined the skull and linked marks on the vertebra, the smaller of the two wounds to the base of the skull and a mark on the inside of the skull, suggesting that the weapon had been thrust up from the base of Richard’s neck and into his head. Professor Rutty, who said he approached the examination of the Plantagenet king “as that of any patient”, said: “The key to this sequence is that alongside my role at the University of Leicester, I am a Home office forensic pathologist. Thus, I was able to look at the large injury in the base of the skull and, through experience, I was able to identify the key injury. “Using the specialist lighting equipment we have in the forensic mortuary at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, which was key to the examination, I then was able to put the three injuries together on pathological grounds and we all realised I had identified the potential lethal injury to King Richard III. “It was one of those eureka moments which we will all remember.” King Richard III died in 1485 in the Battle of Bosworth Field – the last decisive battle of the Wars of the Roses. His remains were found in 2012 following an an archaeological excavation on a Leicester City Council car park using ground-penetrating radar. Since the confirmation of his identity, in February 2013, a series of findings have been released covering everything from his diet to the manner of his death. In the forensic examination, marks on the bone were analysed to identify the medieval weapons potentially responsible for the injuries. Osteologist Dr Jo Appleby, who led the exhumation of the skeleton from the Greyfriars car park in 2012 and was present at the examination, said the major sharp force trauma to the base of the skull “was probably inflicted by a sword or the top spike of a bill or halberd”. The examination also determined the angle of the blow. “During filming, Professor Rutty noted a small traumatic lesion on the interior surface of the cranium, directly opposite the sharp force trauma,” she explained. “Careful examination showed that the two injuries lined up with one another, and also with an injury to Richard’s first cervical vertebra.” “The combination of all three injuries provided evidence for the direction of the injury and also the depth to which the weapon had penetrated the skull.” Modern forensic analysis of the King’s skeletal remains also revealed that three of his injuries had the potential to cause death quickly- two to the skull and one to the pelvis. In all, the skeleton revealed 11 wounds at or near the time of his death – nine of them to the skull, which were clearly inflicted in battle. The injuries to the head suggest he had either removed or lost his helmet. The other two injuries that found were to a rib and his pelvis. Working with the Forensic Pathology Unit and our Department of Engineering, the forensic imaging team used whole body CT scans and micro-CT imaging of injured bones to analyse trauma to the 500-year-old skeleton carefully and determine which of the King’s wounds might have proved fatal. What do you think? Leave a comment below. More from Culture24's coverage of Richard III: Gray Friars skeleton is last Plantagenet king, say Leicester team on trail of Richard III Richard III body infected with roundworms, say University of Leicester archaeologists Richard III DNA tests to reveal hair, eyes and diseases of the King Bread Angel creates Richard III food range to celebrate Leicester archaeological triumph Richard III: Archaeologist Claire Calver on the search for the King's body in Leicester The DNA of a King: Dr Turi King on the genome sequencing of Richard III Richard III to be buried in Leicester, High Court rules Experts see Richard III's battle injuries as infirmary remains help create new skeleton Richard III skeleton reveals his prodigious alcohol consumption and rich diet "Compelling" new forensic evidence shows grisly sustained attack on Richard III at Battle of Bosworth Richard III cortege journey route revealed as Leicester Cathedral prepares to bury body In Pictures: The archaeology and science which identified King Richard III in Leicester Leicester Cathedral reveals "distinctive" Richard III tomb "imbued with spirituality"
https://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/royal-history/art517437-newly-relased-film-footage-reveals-eureka-moment-when-killer-blow-to-king-richard-iii-was-found
Sometimes, during human development a lateral (sideways) curvature of the spine develops. If the curvature is larger than 10 degrees, it is called scoliosis. Curves less than 10 degrees are mostly insignificant postural changes. How is scoliosis evaluated? Evaluation begins with a thorough history and physical examination, including postural analysis. If a scoliotic curvature is discovered, a more in-depth evaluation is needed. This might include a search for birth defects, tumors, and other factors that can cause structural curves. Patients with substantial spinal curvatures very often require an x-ray evaluation of the spine. The procedure helps us determine the location and magnitude of the scoliosis, along with an underlying cause not evident on physical examination, other associated curvatures, and the health of other organ systems that might be affected by the scoliosis. In addition, x-rays of the wrist can be performed. These films help determine the skeletal age of the person, to see if it matches an accepted standard, which helps the doctor determine the likelihood of progression. Depending on the scoliosis severity, x-rays may need to be repeated as often as every 3 to 4 months to as little as once every few years. Is scoliosis progressive? Generally, it is not. In fact, the vast majority of scolioses remains mild, is not progressive, and requires little treatment. In one group of patients, however, scoliosis is often more progressive. This group is made up of young girls who have scolioses of 25 degrees or larger, but who have not yet had their first menstrual period. Girls generally grow quite quickly during the 12 months before their first period, and, if they have scolioses, the curvatures tend to progress rapidly. In girls who have already had their first periods, the rate of growth is slower, so their curves tend to progress more slowly. What is the treatment for scoliosis? There are generally 3 treatment options for scoliosis— careful observation, bracing, and surgery. Careful observation is the most common “treatment,” as most mild scolioses do not progress and cause few, if any, physical problems. Bracing is generally reserved for children who have not reached skeletal maturity (the time when the skeleton stops growing), and who have curves between 25 and 45 degrees. Surgery is generally used in the few cases where the curves are greater than 45 degrees and progressive, and/or when the scoliosis may affect the function of the heart, lungs, or other vital organs. Spinal manipulation and stability exercises may be helpful for those with scoliosis. No non-surgical therapies have been shown in the scientific literature to either reduce scoliosis or to make the curvatures worse. Yet for patients with pain along with the scoliosis, manipulation and exercise is the treatment of choice. Most people with scoliosis lead normal, happy, and productive lives. Those with scoliosis should remain fit, stay flexible, and avoid smoking.
https://colepaintherapygroup.com/evaluation-and-treatment-of-scoliosis/
Asked by: Ndiaga Relvasasked in category: General Last Updated: 28th February, 2020 What is the starting salary for a forensic anthropologist? Keeping this in view, how much does an forensic anthropologist make? The BLS reports that anthropologists and archeologists earn a median salary of $62,280 per year. Because there is not a huge demand for forensic anthropologists, the job outlook growth rate is slower than average and competition for open positions, especially if they are full-time, is highly competitive. Similarly, is forensic anthropology a good career? Forensic Anthropologist Tasks and Responsibilities Having emotional separation from the work, as well as a good work ethic, is important as well. With these skills, forensic anthropologists will be better able accomplish their regular tasks and responsibilities, such as: collecting and examining skeletal remains. Regarding this, how much does a forensic anthropologist make per hour? While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't provide job data for forensic anthropologists, it does state that the median salary for anthropologists and archeologists is $57,420 per year or $27.61 per hour. What does a forensic anthropologist do? Forensic anthropologists analyze human remains, typically in criminal investigations. Their study of human remains aids in the detection of crime by working to assess the age, sex, stature, ancestry and unique features of a skeleton, which may include documenting trauma to the skeleton and its postmortem interval.
https://askinglot.com/what-is-the-starting-salary-for-a-forensic-anthropologist
. Contact Related Websites Journal Home Letter from the editor Aims and Scope Editorial Board Last Issue Archive Sales and services Manuscript Submission Guidelines for Authors Guidelines for Reviewers Register & Log-in Log-in Register as Author <- Home <- Arhive <- Vol. 29, Issue 2, June 2021 Rom J Leg Med29(2)172-178(2021) DOI:10.4323/rjlm.2021.172 © Romanian Society of Legal Medicine HIERARCHICAL MICRO-CT TOP-DOWN EXAMINATION OF CRANIAL GUNSHOT INJURIES V. Kovacova, P. Urbanova Abstract: Micro-CT examination has been considered a valuable tool for investigating the bone microstructure in various contexts. To date, however, there has not been a sufficient body of work examining the employment of micro-CT modalities for assessment of skeletal wounds within the forensic context. The present study explores the potential of micro- CT examination in assessing selected qualitative and quantitative characteristics of gunshot injuries in the human skull. For this purpose, two cases bearing gunshot entrance wounds occurring under different conditions (in fresh or dry bone) were scanned at multiple hierarchical levels (ranging from 140 μm to 6 μm) using a micro-CT device. The aim was to find the best imagery (e.g., voxel size) relative to a measured volume and physical dimensions of the samples, and suitable for (micro)- trauma assessment of cranial cracks and microcracks. The best setting for recording trauma-related microcracks with respect to the display level, processing efficiency and necessary trade-off of the sample physical dimensions (several centimetres in this case) was associated with a voxel size of 12 μm. At this resolution, the size, the shape, the course, and the spatial arrangement of the observed microcracks of adequate captured extent of damage can be assessed with sufficient accuracy. This also permits evaluating and comparing various types of injuries (such as peri- and post-mortem) and conducting their differential diagnostics. Keywords: 3D digital models, cranial gunshot injury, micro-CT, microdamage, scanning conditions optimization, trauma timing.
https://rjlm.ro/index.php/arhiv/874
Forensic anthropology is a scientific discipline that applies methods of physical anthropology to the identification of human remains in a medicolegal context or a disaster victim identification incident. The forensic anthropologist is primarily involved in retrieving biological information from the skeletal tissues of the body that are pertinent to establishing the identity of the deceased. This is done by constructing a biological profile of the human remains which provides an estimation of ancestry, sex, age, stature, and an assessment of any skeletal anomalies, pre-existing ante- or peri- mortem trauma, or hard tissue disease processes. The involvement of the forensic anthropologist in a criminal investigation is particularly important in cases where human remains are severely decomposed, skeletonised, burnt, fragmented, or may be commingled with more than one individual. They can also assist in the comparison of ante-mortem and post-mortem data, the estimation of the post-mortem interval, and the identification of taphonomic processes that may have affected or modified the human remains after death. In addition, forensic anthropologists can assist in cases where age estimation of living individuals is required (i.e. people trafficking, asylum and immigration cases, etc.).
https://alectoforensics.com/service/anthropology/
BOSTON, MA – Forensic anthropologists analyze skeletal remains to help identify people. A new study points out how this work, dealing specifically with ancestry, may inadvertently support the idea that racial differences are biological. “While forensic anthropologists understand that race is social, our literature does not articulate it in a problematic way. Any research that focuses on documenting differences (or similarities) in human populations should use appropriate terminology that does not support white supremacy or racial claims, ”says corresponding author Sean Tallman, PhD, RPA, Assistant Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM). While modern practitioners have moved the terminology from “race” to “ancestry” to describe regionally patterned human skeletal variation, the extent to which they have changed or criticized long-term classification approaches remains uncertain. Forensic anthropology has lagged behind other anthropological sub-disciplines in its conceptualizations and engagement with “race” and “ancestry” and the processes behind human population variation, which may unwittingly propagate the disproved notion that racial differences are biological. Researchers performed a content analysis of forensic anthropological literature from 1966 to 2020 that discusses “race” and “ancestry” and found that the two terms – used to describe regional patterned human skeletal variation – were rarely defined (13% and 12% respectively) and while “ancestry” first supplanted “race” in the early 1990s, it remained in use until 2013, long after the domain was more vast body of biological anthropology has stopped using it. Additionally, the researchers found that only 59% of the authors used population histories, population structures, or micro-evolutionary forces to explore the processes that cause regionally patterned human biological variation and have the potential to create differences. between human populations. About 25 percent of the authors criticized the use of “race” or “ancestry” to explore variations in human population or incorporated more nuanced theoretical frameworks like the theory of incarnation (four percent ) to explain how structural societal inequalities are physiologically embodied. According to Tallman, all research that examines the documentation of differences (or similarities) in human populations should use appropriate terminology. “In essence, our oversimplification of the complex processes that characterize human skeletal variability has made field research vulnerable to be used to support biomedical claims for biological differences between social racial groups in health care and treatment,” he adds. Researchers believe it is important to be aware of how majority white perspectives can limit the relevance of forensic anthropological research and propagate the exclusion of Blacks, Indigenous people, Latinxes, and others. color. “The field needs to do better in deploying terminology, in discussing the forces modeling human skeletal variability, and in ensuring inclusion,” says Tallman.
https://orus-int.org/some-forensic-anthropologies-may-wrongly-support-misconceptions-about-race/
Can States delegate responsibilities to Artificial Intelligence? Introduction Recently the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy expressed the need for a new “bill of rights” to guard against powerful and uncharted use of artificial intelligence technology in day-to-day life. The concerns about the misuse of this technology which can potentially infringe upon the basic rights of individuals were raised by the chief science advisor to the Joe Biden Government, Mr. Eric Lander1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a machine’s capacity to duplicate or replicate intelligent human behavior. It is an umbrella term that encompasses multiple technologies including machine learning, neural computing, deep learning, computer vision, natural language processing (NLP), machine reasoning, and strong AI2. However, there is no universally accepted definition of AI. With growing technology and advanced data science, the ambit of AI is ever increasing. Use of AI in day-to-day life has not been a new phenomenon but its active use by the State Governments for maintaining law and order in society has come with its own challenges. Regulating the use of AI in a State’s internal governance functions becomes imperative as the powerful technologies created by AI poses many ethical and legal challenges. Despite the rampant use of the AI technology, there have been no regulatory framework for the method, extent, conditions of use of AI in governing law and order situations. Challenges posed by AI Conclusion With the development of AI, there is a need to revisit the applicable rules which are in tune with the international law on Human Rights. It is important to determine the extent and use of AI and regulate the conduct of States and individuals. It is imperative to analyse the extent of the duty of due diligence to be used by the State before taking aid from AI technology for governance functions. Both the right to life and the right to privacy demand a regulation of the use of AI in domestic law enforcement that must meet with the standards of the domestic law or law of the land of the State. The Governmental actions would have to be predictable and also provide adequate and effective guarantees against abuse of the power that the AI technology provides. Transparency in the use of AI in governance is of utmost importance. The States taking aid of AI cannot delegate the responsibilities for law and order control to AI entirely. The chances of AI technology being misused for certain benefits cannot be kept aside and thus an effective regulatory framework for legal use, method of use and rationale behind the use of AI in governance needs to be developed. Issues of liability and responsibility for the use or misuse of the AI have to be addressed by such regulatory framework in order to enable the individuals of a state to take necessary actions against misuse of the AI technology. You can direct your queries or comments to the authors 1 See AP News, White House proposes tech ‘bill of rights’ to limit AI harms, available at https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-science-technology-business-biometrics-b9dbf5fee3bf0e407b988b31e21f5300 2 See PR Newswire, Artificial Intelligence Market Forecasts, available at http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/artificial-intelligence-market-forecasts-300359550.html. 3 See Human Rights Committee, General Comment No 31 The Nature of the General Legal Obligation Imposed on States Parties to the Covenant, UN Doc CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add. 13 (26 May 2004) para 8, available at https://undocs.org/CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.13 4 See Spagnolo Andrea, ‘Human rights implications of autonomous weapon systems in domestic law enforcement: sci-fi reflections on a lo-fi reality’, available at http://www.qil-qdi.org/human-rights-implications-autonomous-weapon-systems-domestic-law-enforcement-sci-fi-reflections-lo-fi-reality/ 5 Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India, 1978 AIR 597 6 See International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, available at https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?chapter=4&clang=_en&mtdsg_no=IV-4&src=IND 7 See International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ‘Article 17 1. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his honour and reputation. 2. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.’, available at https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/ccpr.aspx 8 K.S. Puttuswamy v. Union of India, (2017) 10 SCC 1 9 See Recommendation CM/Rec(2010)13 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the protection of individuals with regard to automatic processing of personal data in the context of profiling, Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 23 November 2010 at the 1099th meeting of the Ministers’, available at https://rm.coe.int/16807096c3 10 See Jeffry Dastin, Amazon Scraps secret AI recruiting tool thatshowed bias against women, available at https://www.reuters.com/article/us-amazon-com-jobs-automation-insight-idUSKCN1MK08G 11 D.H and Ors. V. The Czech Republic, Application No. 57325/00, Judgement dated 13.11.2017, available in English at http://www.errc.org/uploads/upload_en/file/02/D1/m000002D1.pdf Disclaimer The contents of this hotline should not be construed as legal opinion. View detailed disclaimer.
https://www.nishithdesai.com/generateHTML/4923/4
Technology is changing policing in ways that can help save lives, but also raise concerns about protecting people’s rights. So agreed two retired cops who continue to help steer the conversation about the future of their profession. The two ex-cops — retired State Trooper James Scott and former Assistant New Haven Police Chief John Velleca — teach criminal justice at Albertus Magnus College. They tackled questions about the future of policing during a joint appearance on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven” program. They agreed that technology is changing policing. Citizens spend more time behind computers than out on the street. Drug dealers now set up deals online. AI and other tech advances, from facial recognition to drones, enable officers to track more potential crimes from a distance. “We have a unique opportunity to make some changes,” especially with calls to increase police accountability, Scott said. “We’re at the brink of another era of policing,” agreed Velleca. The two agreed with the creation of community crisis intervention teams to handle many nonviolent calls. They agreed about the need to hold cops more accountable for misconduct, to train officers to deescalate rather than escalate conflicts, to judge the success of policing based on interacting positively with the public rather than piling up quality-of-life arrests that mire people in debt and incarceration. Read more: New Report Finds Problems with FAA Unmanned Traffic Management Effort They disagreed about the use of drones, which police departments nationwide have embraced. A proposal to use drones to track dirt-bike riders in New Haven was shelved amid community opposition. Scott advocated using drones as an alternative to high-speed chases. “If you had a drone up in the air, it would be much easier to find a car you might be looking for,” rather than risking people’s lives with a pursuit, he argued. Velleca argued that potential misuse and threats to privacy outweigh the benefits of easier arrests. “I’m not a proponent of drones,” he said. “They work all too well. The capabilities are so vast; I don’t know how you’ll be able to rein them in. I don’t believe they have a place in law enforcement. … I don’t want to open the door.” Similarly, while drones might catch drug dealers in the act on a street corner, it would be hard to enforce policies that limit what else cops could use that surveillance for, Velleca argued. “We have trouble enforcing” already existing policies restraining police overreach. Click to read this article in its entirety. About For more information and to read more of this story, click here.
https://kameratalk.com/drones-ai-pose-police-policy-choices/
For Finextra's free daily newsletter, breaking news and flashes and weekly job board. The Pontiff is the latest public figure to offer an opinion on the ethics of using artificial intelligence (AI), issuing a set of principles on the use of new technology. The Vatican has produced the Rome Call for AI Ethics, which calls for AI technology to respect privacy, work reliably and without bias, operate transparently and "consider the needs of all human beings". Tech giants Microsoft and IBM have been recruited to act as technology sponsors for a project that apparently grew out of concerns raised by Pope Francis more than a year ago about the societal impact of AI "His major concerns were, will it be available to everyone, or is it going to further bifurcate the haves and the have-not's?" said John Kelly II, executive vice president of IBM and one of the signatories for the document, in comments reported by Reuters. The document was promoted as part of the Vatican's Pontifical Academy for Life conference on AI ethics held this week. It remains to be seen how or if the papal principles will be adopted by businesses, although IBM's Kelly did tell Reuters that IBM has turned down business when they have felt uncomfortable about how their AI technology would be used. The ethical use of technology has gained greater prominence in recent months. Concern over civil liberties, privacy and bias have been raised over news that law enforcement agencies are looking to use facial recognition technology to identify criminals. Meanwhile the lack of transparency into the various AI black boxes used in trading, banking and wealth management platforms, have long been a concern for the financial services industry. Sponsored: [New Report] The Future of Regulation: 2020 Predictions Write a blog post about this story (membership required) 24 Mar 1 8 8 23 Mar 1 18 17 24 Mar 1 12 17 25 Mar 1 10 14 24 January 2020 1 21 January 2020 0 5 2 RBC backs university programme on ethics in AI and data analytics 22 Nov 2019 Scotiabank to train execs on AI ethics 19 Nov 2019 Filtering the ethics of AI 03 Sep 2019 Avoiding artificial stupidity 27 Aug 2019 US Congress launches fintech and AI task forces 10 May 2019 to/into six-figures base, double ote 16 Mar Find your next role:
https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/35372/pope-weighs-in-on-ai-ethics-debate/identity
On 6 October 2021, the European Parliament (“EP”) voted in favor of a resolution banning the use of facial recognition technology (“FRT”) by law enforcement in public spaces. The resolution forms part of a non-legislative report on the use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) by the police and judicial authorities in criminal matters (“AI Report”) published by the EP’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (“LIBE”) in July 2021. The AI Report will now be sent to the European Commission, which has three months to either (i) submit, or indicate it will submit, a legislative proposal on the use of AI by the police and judicial authorities as set out in the AI Report; or (ii) if it chooses not to submit a proposal, explain why. The AI Report acknowledges the potential opportunities and advantages presented by the use of AI in law enforcement (e.g., FRT, speaker identification, aural surveillance (i.e., gunshot detection algorithms), social media monitoring, etc.), particularly in allowing law enforcement agencies to combat certain types of crimes more efficiently (e.g., financial crime, money laundering and terrorist financing, and cybercrime). However, the AI Report stresses the potential risks posed by AI applications, such as opaque decision-making, bias, intrusion into private lives, and challenges to the protection of personal data, human dignity, and freedom of expression and information. To balance the opportunities and risks presented by AI, the AI Report sets out some key recommendations including (among others): - Calling for a ban on the use of FRT for law enforcement purposes until the technical standards can be considered fully fundamental rights compliant; results derived are non-biased; the legal framework provides strict safeguards against misuse; and there is empirical evidence of the necessity and proportionality for the deployment of FRT. - Permanently prohibiting law enforcement from using automated analysis of other human features, such as gait, fingerprints, DNA, voice, and other biometric and behavioral signals. - Subjecting the use of biometric data to remotely identify people for law enforcement purposes (e.g., border control gates that use automated recognition) to additional requirements and safeguards. - Banning the use of private FRT databases by law enforcement and intelligence services. - Opposing the use of predictive policing based on behavioral and historic data about individuals or groups. - Supporting a ban on mass-scale social scoring systems, which seek to rate the trustworthiness of citizens based on their behavior or personality. - Emphasizing the need for human supervision and strong legal powers to prevent discrimination (e.g., human operators must always make the final decisions and subjects monitored by AI-powered systems must have access to remedy). In parallel to the EP’s vote on the AI Report, in April 2021, the European Commission proposed a Regulation laying down Harmonized Rules on Artificial Intelligence (“AI Regulation”) (see our previous blog post here). The proposed AI Regulation contains specific provisions on the use of real time remote biometric identification systems by law enforcement authorities. The concerns raised in the AI Report indicate the positions the EP is likely to take in upcoming negotiations with the European Commission and the Council on the AI Regulation. The use of AI and FRT by law enforcement is already subject to regulation under data protection law regimes, and is being closely examined by government and data protection authorities around the world. Some developments we have covered in our previous blogs include: - The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) published its opinion on the use of live FRT by police forces (see our previous blog post here). - The French Supervisory Authority (“CNIL”) issued strict guidance on the use of FRT at airports (see our previous blog post here) and general guidance on the use of FRT (see our previous blog post here). - Washington state in the U.S. passed a bill that regulates state and local government agencies’ use of facial recognition services (see our previous blog post here). We will continue to closely monitor the EU’s regulatory and policy developments on AI and FRT and will be updating this site regularly – please watch this space for further updates.
https://www.insideprivacy.com/artificial-intelligence/european-parliament-votes-in-favor-of-banning-the-use-of-facial-recognition-in-law-enforcement/
What are the ethical and social implications of contemporary developments in information technology? The Ethics in the Information Age event series draws together scholars from Indiana University and nationally to explore this question. Our aims are to foster insights through interdisciplinary dialogue, explore potential for scholarly collaboration, and generate student engagement on topics of clear relevance to us all. Co-Organizers: Angie Raymond; Business Law and Ethics, Kelley School of Business, Bloomington, angraymo@indiana.edu Scott James Shackelford; Business Law and Ethics, Kelley School of Business, Bloomington, sjshacke@indiana.edu Previous Co-Organizers: Fabio Rojas; Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences, Bloomington, frojas@indiana.edu Joseph A. Tomain; Maurer School of Law, Bloomington, jtomain@indiana.edu IU Bloomington Campus, Social Sciences Research Commons, Woodburn Hall second floor In 2019, the use of algorithmic reasoning in law enforcement and commercial contexts has already triggered public outrage: Not only about the unreliability and inherent biases (e.g., racial and gendered) programmed into AI but also the Constitutional issues it presents in criminal proceedings. In an effort to more usefully catalyze and curate community concerns about this technology – in a language understandable to legislators, lawyers, policymakers, and programmers – the Institute for Digital Humanity has begun a national pilot to foster inter-cultural and inter-faith conversations on digital ethics. Moving beyond merely decrying “algorithmic discrimination,” our method (a) taxonomizes legal and ethical data concerns (via rhetorical theory’s categories of unreliability) and (b) triangulates these individual/community judgments with specific constitutional values (in criminal contexts) and a common civic nomenclature (for commercial contexts). Far from the typical academic “show and tell,” this public presentation is a training for interested professors, graduate students, and activists on how to (quickly) implement our discussion method (in classrooms and public venues) and, for interested parties, how to become part of our emerging pedagogical advocacy network as we build cross-partisan political coalitions dedicated to reforming and re-programming our post-digital world. Fred Cate Vice President of Research at Indiana University Jay Edelson Founder and CEO of Edelson PC Zackary Heck Associate Lawyer at Taft Law, Dayton OH Zachary Heck's practice focuses on privacy and data security. Specifically, Zach assists clients in the areas of privacy compliance, defense litigation, class action defense and guidance in the aftermath of an information security event, including data breach. Jay Edelson is considered one of the nation’s leading plaintiff’s lawyers, having secured over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts for his clients. law360 described Jay as a “Titan of the Plaintiff’s Bar“. Jay has been recognized as one of “America’s top trial lawyers” in the mass action arena. And he has been appointed to represent state and local governments on some of the largest issues of the day — ranging from opioids suits against the pharmaceutical companies to suits against Facebook for the Cambridge Analytca scandal. IU Bloomington campus, Maurer School of Law, Moot Court Room Dr. Jody L. Madeira; Maurer School of Law, Indiana University Professor Erin E. Murphy; NYU Law, New York City Matthew B. White; sharing his experience as a child of fertility fraud and parent of donor children. Bloomington campus, Maurer School of Law, Moot Court Room Technological development continues to advance uses of DNA in our society. From catching the Golden State Killer, to reuniting families separated by ICE, to identifying the parents of donor children, uses of DNA raise some of the most challenging legal and ethical questions today. The sensitive nature of DNA, as well as the positive and negative ways in which its uses can affect individuals and society, require us to consider how the law ought to respond to these challenges. An expert panel will help us answer these questions. After providing a broader framework involving DNA, law, and ethics, this panel will focus on familial DNA searches for criminal justice purposes, as well as the advent of direct-to-consumer technology and its unique consequences in the fertility fraud context. *1.0 Ethics CLE Credit* Don Howard, Philosophy, University of Notre Dame IU Bloomington, Hodge Hall, Room 1038 We face a rapidly growing arrays of serious ethical challenges with the ever more widespread employment of big data analytics and artificial intelligence. Prominent problems include algorithmic bias that can reinforce or exacerbate patterns of discrimination in the criminal justice system or the hiring and promotion practices of corporations and government agencies, the risk of the misuse of data analytics and AI for purposes of political repression and control by authoritarian regimes, and the integration of such technologies in automated weapons systems. In most of the literature on such ethical challenges, the focus is on the ethical responsibilities of individual makers and consumers of technology. This talk will suggest that a helpful complement or alternative to this individualist ethical perspective is the perspective of civic virtue. But technology making and technology deployment is usually the work of whole communities of makers and users, and the ethical impacts often affect not just the individual maker or user but the well being and well functioning of the communities within which those individuals live and work. With reference to a few specific applications of data analytics and AI, we will ask what are the impacts that are either corrosive to or promote the flourishing of relevant communities, what are the virtuous habits of action of whole communities and individuals in community that are maximally conducive to human well being, and how we engineer the relevant communities to maximize the likelihood that such virtuous habits of action will emerge and be sustained. Virginia Eubanks Associate Professor of Political Science at the University at Albany, SUNY. She is the author of Automating Inequality: How High-Tech Tools Profile, Police, and Punish the Poor; Digital Dead End: Fighting for Social Justice in the Information Age; and co-editor, with Alethia Jones, of Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around: Forty Years of Movement Building with Barbara Smith. Jessica Eaglin Professor of Law, Indiana University Angie Raymond Business Law and Ethics, Indiana University Bloomington Campus, Faculty conference room, Maurer Law School Co-hosted by the Maurer School of Law, the Ostrom Workshop, and the Kelley School of Business, Business Law and Ethics Karen Levy; Information Science, Cornell University Bloomington Campus, Social Science Research Commons, Grand Hall Of late, much attention has been paid to the risk artificial intelligence poses to employment, particularly in low-wage industries. The question has invited well-placed concern from policymakers, as the prospect of millions of low-skilled workers finding themselves rather suddenly without employment brings with it the potential for tremendous social and economic disruption. Long-haul truck driving is perceived as a prime target for such displacement, due to the fast-developing technical capabilities of autonomous vehicles (many of which lend themselves in particular to the specific needs of truck driving), characteristics of the nature of trucking labor, and the political economy of the industry. In most of the public rhetoric about the threat of the self-driving truck, the trucker is contemplated as a displaced party. He is displaced both physically and economically: removed from the cab of the truck, and from his means of economic provision. The robot has replaced his imperfect, disobedient, tired, inefficient body, rendering him redundant, irrelevant, and jobless. But the reality is more complicated. The intrusion of automation into the truck cab indeed presents a threat to the trucker—but the threat is not solely or even primarily being experienced, as it is so often described, as a displacement. The trucker is still in the cab, doing the work of truck driving—but he is increasingly joined there by intelligent systems that monitor his body directly. Hats that monitor his brain waves and head position, vests that track his heart rate, cameras trained on his eyelids for signs of fatigue or inattention: these systems flash lights in his face, jolt his seat, and send reports to his dispatcher or even his family members should the trucker’s focus waver. As more trucking firms integrate such technologies into their safety programs, truckers are not currently being displaced by intelligent systems. Rather, they are experiencing the emergence of intelligent systems as a compelled hybridization, a very intimate incursion into their work and bodies. This paper considers the dual, conflicting narratives of job replacement by robots and of bodily integration with robots, in order to assess the true range of potential effects of AI on low-wage work. [This paper is a chapter from Karen's book-in-progress, Data Driven: Truckers and the New Workplace Surveillance.] Maurer School of Law, Room 122 Dr. Alexander Duisburg, partner at Bird & Bird in Germany, will give a lunch talk titled “AI, Ethics and the Law – a European Perspective” at noon in Room 122 today, as part of his visit to the Ostrom Workshop. Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Autonomous” Systems are transforming our lives at an incredible pace. Smart data, machine learning and autonomous cars are just a few of many appliances that will change the way we work and interact. In Europe, the GDPR has set a new standard on how to deal with personal data, as part of the wider efforts to build the European data economy. At the same time, the ethical debate on science and new technology is shaping up. It is an important element to how Europeans set their agenda, including towards law and regulation on robotics and autonomous systems. The presentation reflects the current state of debate on these issues. The practical example about autonomous vehicles shows how accountability, control and liability for self-learning systems is fit into the complex regulated environment of road traffic. Alexander Duisberg is a partner of Bird & Bird in Munich, who specializes in data protection, digital transformation projects, Internet of Things, and complex technology transactions, with a particular focus on automotive, industrial and insurance sectors. He covers a range of matters, including agile development, platforms and the data economy, cloud, cyber security, licensing and technology disputes. Computer Science and Informatics, IU Bloomington Bloomington campus, Woodburn Hall, SSRC/200 As social media become major channels for the diffusion of news and information, it becomes critical to understand how the complex interplay between cognitive, social, and algorithmic biases triggered by our reliance on social networks makes us vulnerable to misinformation. This talk overviews ongoing network analytics, modeling, and machine learning efforts to study the viral spread of misinformation and to develop tools for countering the online manipulation of opinions.
https://csres.iu.edu/pages/Initiatives/Ethics%20in%20the%20information%20age.php
American AI Initiative will likely have a salient impact on campus On Feb. 11, President Trump signed an order titled “Executive Order on Maintaining American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence,” one of the first major bureaucratic steps in managing and overseeing continued advances in artificial intelligence research and development. The order aims to further prioritize research, development, and integration of artificial intelligence. As Carnegie Mellon has established itself as a world center of AI research, now even offering a dedicated undergraduate major in the field, the order will undoubtedly have an impact on the future of university research. The executive order notes the creation of new educational grants, with eligibility from high school up to early career researchers, as well as grants to “encourage the integration of AI technologies into courses in order to facilitate personalized and adaptive learning experiences for formal and informal education and training.” Further, it maintains that certain guidelines are to be established to ensure the safety of developed technology, and directs federal agencies to make more of their currently private data and models open to researchers. In a university statement responding to the initiative, Carnegie Mellon announced that it “enthusiastically supports” the efforts of the executive action, saying that “responsibly leveraging data as a national resource and investing in an AI-ready workforce will bring new energy to our national innovation ecosystem.” The press release continued, “we look forward to continuing to work with public and private sector partners to drive innovation in the field, educate tomorrow’s AI talent, and promote public policies that will lead to broad societal benefit and economic opportunity,” thus implicitly placing the university at the center of the future of American AI research and development mentioned in the initiative. Carnegie Mellon has maintained a research relationship with various federal entities for upwards of 70 years, most recently seen in the Army AI Task Force established at Carnegie Mellon’s National Robotics Engineering Center last month. As Carnegie Mellon recently moved to “accelerate collaborations” with defense contractor Lockheed Martin this past week in a new research partnership, citing the company’s “significant investments in AI” as motivation, AI research at Carnegie Mellon continues to have broad federal importance. Due to this, it is possible that the university will be both the beneficiaries of an injection of research and development funding, and perhaps subject to the regulatory guidelines to be established by the National Science and Technology Council Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence. In terms of funding, David Danks, Philosophy Department Head & L.L. Thurstone Professor of Philosophy and Psychology, told The Tartan that “the Executive Order is likely to be generally helpful in securing funding and data access for AI development in the US, [but] it is also very high-level, and so it is difficult to predict the exact impacts.” He continued, “much will depend on the decisions of particular agency heads, as well as subsequent guidance and enforcement. The details will matter, and they are simply not spelled out in the Executive Order.” Regarding the potential of job displacement, Tae Wan Kim, Carnegie Mellon professor of AI and business ethics told Fortune that “there’s not much information about how to address the trade-off between AI-powered [technology] and unemployment” in the executive order. The concerns of a lack of regulatory guidance don’t end as job loss, however. In terms of the ethical considerations specified in the executive order, Danks stated that “the executive order does involve some attention to ethics, but almost never as an integral part of the research, design, development, and deployment processes.” While the order does mention maintaining “safety, security, privacy, and confidentiality protections,” as well as “protecting American technology, economic and national security, civil liberties, privacy, and values,” ethical implications of AI advances are never specifically mentioned in the order, as Danks noted. Danks, who earned an Andrew Carnegie Fellowship for his research “focused on the human impacts when autonomy is introduced into a technological system” told The Tartan that “the Executive Order should have emphasized the importance of integrating considerations of ethical and social impacts throughout all stages of AI creation.” Danks argues that the above approach “would focus on understanding an AI’s potential to advance or harm people’s values and interests, rather than a purely legalistic approach that emphasizes prohibitions and checklists of requirements.” Considering that none of the regulatory and oversight agencies have been established, and how funding is yet to be decided by Congress, the potential outcomes of the “Executive Order on Maintaining American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence” are vast. But as Carnegie Mellon continues to make significant strides in AI research, future federal research priorities and guidelines will only continue to have importance to the university.
https://thetartan.org/2019/2/25/news/american-ai
Value from health data creates dilemma for society We’ll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest Artificial intelligence news every morning. The power of artificial intelligence to transform every field it touches is one of the unchallenged truths of our time — but when it comes to healthcare, the technology’s potential is often seen through a western lens. From hopes of faster drug discovery to systems that will help people manage chronic diseases better, the emphasis is frequently on how it can support, or otherwise make life easier, for those in the developed world. But attention is increasingly turning to how AI can address the pressing problems of poorer nations as they seek to move towards universal health coverage. In some cases, these are challenges that are distinct to the global south, but in others the problems faced in developing regions are to some extent shared by patients, physicians and payers across the globe. The Lancet’s collaboration with the Financial Times on a commission on the convergence of digital health, AI and universal health coverage will concentrate on international governance and regulatory regimes. The Governing Health Futures 2030: Growing up in a Digital World Commission will run until December 2021. It will examine how digital developments can contribute to health and wellbeing across the board but will have a particular focus on children and young people from low and middle-income countries. Underpinning its deliberations is an awareness that much remains to be done if AI is not to introduce a new form of inequality, in which its potential is fully realised only in richer countries. The backdrop is unforgiving. Health workers are in short supply everywhere, even in rich nations, as governments and other health providers struggle to keep up with the scale of demand driven by population ageing and technological advances. But a Global Burden of Disease report, published in The Lancet two years ago, highlighted not only scarce numbers but the unequal distribution of staff, which it suggested could undermine the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. It found that only half of all countries had the workers required to deliver good quality healthcare, estimated at 30 physicians, 100 nurses or midwives, and five pharmacists per 10,000 people. Countries across sub-Saharan Africa, south-east Asia, south Asia, and some in Oceania were estimated to have the greatest shortfalls. The commission will focus in particular on the toll this asymmetry is taking on the health of younger people. In an article in the BMJ medical journal last year, a number of experts in childhood wellbeing, including Stefan Germann, chief executive of Fondation Botnar — one of the funders of the commission — raised ownership of patient data as a key area that must be tackled “before global health governance and equity can be secured”. While there were many reasons to be optimistic that AI could prove transformative for healthcare, including in resource-poor settings, “the extent to which everyone will benefit remains to be seen”, Mr Germann wrote, alongside Fondation board member Flavia Bustreo and Siddhartha Jha, its AI programme manager. The potential is enormous — and unprecedented. Through the ubiquity of mobile phones in the developing world, an opportunity exists for the first time to collect patient data at scale in regions where there was previously limited understanding of different patterns of need and demand. But, as the BMJ writers acknowledged, this goal could clash with the determination of big tech companies to keep the data private to maximise commercial returns. A key conundrum for the commission, therefore, is how to assure that the value created with health data flows back to society, to strengthen the health system for everyone. Data can show people the relationship between their own behaviour and the costs to the system overall. By showing patterns of need and demand, it could also help to target resources where they are most needed but in a way that would command public support. Reliance on information generated by patients will undoubtedly trigger concerns about privacy and data ownership. But it might also raise questions about whether privacy concerns loom as large if the corollary is greatly improved healthcare — or healthcare where none was previously available. In other words, while it is easy to assume that a desire to protect and even profit from data are common to all societies, this proposition, although accepted in the western hemisphere, has yet to be fully tested in the developing world. Other key questions will be who protects and regulates the data for the good of all, and whether big tech companies are partners in, or threats to, that process. How to collect the right data for effective decision making — both about an individual’s treatment and to understand the burden of disease at population level — and the capacity of people to enter and send data correctly, are also challenges to be debated and resolved. Nor is the commission alone in pondering how best to realise the potential of technological advances. The World Health Organization last week held the first meeting of a group of global experts to develop a “road map” to advance digital health. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the organisation’s director-general, said the plan “focuses our efforts on helping the world benefit from digital health technologies and solutions while safeguarding the misuse of people’s data and protecting their health.” Gaining maximum advantage from AI will call for new skills, particularly in procurement. Governments in the developing world are used to striking hard bargains to acquire a pill, or other immutable objects or goods — but acquiring tech solutions, which are constantly evolving, may require a very different approach if the best value is to be obtained. The process of paying for care could also be transformed by cashless and paperless digital payment, which could render far less significant the question of whether care is provided by public or private institutions. This could increase capacity significantly while removing capital expenditure from the balance sheet of public health systems. As the commission embarks on its work, the opportunities to harness AI for good in the developing world have never been greater — but the solutions it will be considering have never been more urgently needed. Tell us about the possibilities and pitfalls of digital health How is digital health helping tackle disease? Do the hidden biases in artificial intelligence discriminate? Will limited bandwidth leave the poor further behind? The FT is exploring how technologies, products and applications can improve the health of the poorest and hardest to reach young people and children in the world. We are looking for examples that should already — or have the potential to — improve outcomes in low and middle income countries. We also want to hear instances of and broader concerns about technology; and proposals for governance, regulation and pricing to limit the risks. This will help inform our reporting in the coming months. • Submit your suggestions using the form here.
https://www-ft-com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/content/4b13402a-f65a-11e9-9ef3-eca8fc8f2d65
Dr. Ricardo Monreal, the Majority Leader in the Senate of Mexico and a former professor of Constitutional Law, has introduced detailed legislation to update the national Federal Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law to regulate social media. Dr. Monreal pointed to the powerful role of digital platforms, especially social networks, and concerns about freedom of expression and access to the Internet. Monreal’s Initiative examines the current law on freedom of expression and democracy, the reasons for the new initiative, and the impact on federal agencies in Mexico. According to the Initiative, “those authorized are given the opportunity to use algorithms or automated technologies for the purpose of suspending accounts or deleting content. This is supported by the fact that, given the number of users who have a social network, the authorized users need to optimize times and processes to analyze all the content that is published.” However, the law would prevent the use of algorithms, or other similar techniques, to permanently cancel accounts. Article 175 states that “The authorized person must create in its internal structure an area that specifically resolves such challenges. For this purpose, it is forbidden for challenges to be resolved through the use of algorithms or any other technology, the authorized person being obliged to have their resolutions issued by individuals duly trained in the field of human rights and freedom of expression.” As Monreal explains, “since it is a fundamental pillar of democracy, such decisions must be taken by qualified personnel.” Senator Monreal also explains that “the right of access to information and communication technologies, including the internet, has been recognized by the United Nations.” He said that “with regard to freedom of opinion and expression, privacy and other human rights, the potential of the Internet should be realized as a facilitator of development and innovation, with full cooperation between governments, civil society, the private sector, the technical community, and academia.” Monreal proposes also to extend algorithm accountability to other activities, such as transparency measures for online platforms, including the algorithms used for recommendations. Senator Monreal is encouraging public comment on his proposal. [CAIDP is now promoting this public comment opportunity on the Public Voice page] The proposal to ensure human review of automated decisions by AI systems that could limit access to the Internet (or make “black box” recommendations) is important and should be considered by other governments that are updating national laws for social media. The Digital Services Act of the EU, for example, proposes similar methods for algorithmic accountability. However, freedom of expression and privacy advocates have expressed concern about a proposal to eliminate Mexico’s National Institute for Transparency and Access to Information and Data Protection (INAI). The INAI is the leading federal agency in Mexico to promote access to information and to ensure data protection. The INAI a critical mechanism to ensure AI accountability. Announcements - New Report: “UNESCO Launches the findings of the Artificial Intelligence Needs Assessment Survey in Africa” (Feb. 4, 2021) - CAIDP Highlights “Public Voice” Opportunities. The Center welcomes news of upcoming opportunities for the public to provide comments on AI policy. - CAIDP Promotes AI Policy Events. The Center also provides a calendar of upcoming AI policy events. Marc Rotenberg, Director Center for AI and Digital Policy at Michael Dukakis Institute The Center for AI and Digital Policy, founded in 2020, advises governments on technology policy.
https://dukakis.org/center-for-ai-and-digital-policy/leading-mexican-senator-seeks-to-promote-internet-access-limit-ai-cancellation/
Tech Summit 2023 was a highly-anticipated event that brought together some of the biggest names in the tech industry. The conference, which was held at a prestigious venue in San Francisco, featured keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops on a wide range of topics, including artificial intelligence, virtual reality, blockchaining, and more. One of the highlights of the conference was the keynote speech given by a prominent tech CEO. In his speech, the CEO discussed the future of technology and how it will continue to shape the way we live, work and communicate. He also touched on the importance of ethics in the development and implementation of technology, and the responsibility of tech companies to address the potential negative impacts of technology on society. Another highly-anticipated event was the panel discussion on the future of artificial intelligence. The panel, which was moderated by a well-known AI expert, featured leaders from various tech companies and research institutions. They discussed the latest advancements in AI and the potential applications in various industries, from healthcare to finance. They also addressed the concerns about job displacement and the need for responsible AI development and governance. There were also several workshops and demos throughout the conference, showcasing the latest developments in virtual reality, blockchain, and other cutting-edge technologies. Attendees had the opportunity to get hands-on experience with the latest VR headsets, and learn about the potential uses of blockchain technology in various industries. Overall, Tech Summit 2023 was a huge success, with attendees praising the high-quality content and the opportunity to network with leading figures in the tech industry. The conference organizers have already announced that the next Tech Summit will be held in the same venue next year, and it’s already generating excitement among attendees and industry experts alike.
https://technologies.org/tech-summit-2023-has-been-a-huge-success/
A report from a Government advisory group has found that net job losses are not expected as a result of the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs said many jobs will change as certain tasks are taken over by AI and that the technology has the potential to bring substantial productivity increases. It comes amid concerns that automation will lead to job displacement and unemployment as machines take over jobs once done by humans. Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation Robert Troy has welcomed the publication of the report. It highlights the need for everyone, regardless of whether they work in tech or not, to have some level of knowledge and understanding of AI.
https://veille-cyber.com/artificial-intelligence-not-expected-to-lead-to-net-job-losses-study/
Citation: Sonia K. Katyal, Private Accountability in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, 66 UCLA L. REV. 54 (2019). Abstract This Article explores the impending conflict between the protection of civil rights and artificial intelligence (AI). While both areas of law have amassed rich and well-developed areas of scholarly work and doctrinal support, a growing body of scholars are interrogating the intersection between them. This Article argues that the issues surrounding algorithmic accountability demonstrate a deeper, more structural tension within a new generation of disputes regarding law and technology. The true promise of AI does not lie in the information we reveal to one another, but rather in the questions it raises about the interaction of technology, property, and civil rights. For this reason, it argues that we are looking in the wrong place if we look only to the state to address issues of algorithmic accountability. Instead, given the state's reluctance to address the issue, we must turn to other ways to ensure more transparency and accountability that stem from private industry, rather than public regulation. The issue of algorithmic bias represents a crucial new world of civil rights concerns, one that is distinct in nature from the ones that preceded it. Since we are in a world where the activities of private corporations, rather than the state, are raising concerns about privacy, due process, and discrimination, we must focus on the role of private corporations in addressing the issue. Towards this end, this Article discusses a variety of tools to help eliminate the opacity of AI, including codes of conduct, impact statements, and whistleblower protections, which it argues carry the potential to encourage greater endogeneity in civil rights enforcement. Ultimately, by examining the relationship between private industry and civil rights, we can perhaps develop a new generation of forms of accountability in the process. Lunch will be served. This event is pending approval of Minimum Continuing Legal Education Credit by the State Bar of California. UCI Law is a State Bar-approved provider. About the Colloquium Machine learning and automated decision-making technologies (colloquially dubbed "artificial intelligence" or "AI") are an increasingly integral feature of social systems. These technologies raise novel legal questions regarding oversight, individual rights, liability and justice. The UCI Law Spring 2020 Colloquium on AI & Law brings to campus leading thinkers engaged with these issues. Free UCI USERS: You may login with your UCINetID. No account creation is necessary ALL OTHER USERS: When creating an account, please create it with your first and last name, otherwise it may be deleted NOTE ON EVENT SUBMISSION: In order to submit events, users must have an UCI email address (@uci.edu). All events submitted by non-UCI users WILL be deleted.
https://calendar.law.uci.edu/event/artificial_intelligence_law_colloquium_sonia_katyal
Artificial intelligence is changing how we live and work — and it’s changing the practice of law. “It is being applied so broadly. It is removing decisions from humans and putting them into the software. We don’t understand much of the legal implications around it just yet,” says Henry Greenidge, J.D. ’10, until recently an executive in the autonomous vehicle industry. We do know some things already. Privacy issues come to the fore in a data-driven world. Liability law changes when robots make decisions. Automation impacts labor law. The legal profession is changing, too, as AI algorithms replace human labor in the vetting of contracts and other labor-intensive tasks. In order to be effective advocates, tomorrow’s lawyers will need to have some understanding of the way these emerging technologies operate. How do machines make decisions? How does bias creep into the system? “We have an ethical obligation under our rules of professional conduct to be familiar with the tools that we are using,” says James Denvil, J.D. ’12. The point is more than merely theoretical. Though still in its infancy, AI already is raising real-world questions that are not covered under existing jurisprudence. AI in Action UB Venable Professor of Law Michele Gilman has witnessed this phenomenon firsthand. As director of the Saul Ewing Civil Advocacy Clinic, she saw an elderly client’s medical benefits get cut when the state began using an AI algorithm to evaluate eligibility. “When we got before a judge, the witness for the state could not explain what factors went into the algorithm, how they are weighed, what outcomes the algorithm was programmed to find,” she says. Greenidge has seen it, too. As a former public affairs director for autonomous-driving company Cruise Automation, he rode through New York in a prototype driverless car and came upon a construction site, where a flagman was directing cars to cross the double-yellow in order to avoid the workers. What’s an AI-driven car to do? “The cars have to assess that situation and they may have to break the law — to go through a red light, to cross a double yellow line,” Greenidge says. “We as drivers do that all the time, but it’s different when you are asking the car to make those decisions.” These examples help to demonstrate the breadth and complexity of the legal issues that may arise as new technologies come into play. Privacy, for example, will be a front-line battleground in the coming years. Data lies at the heart of most emerging technologies, and yet the law is often far from clear on how that data may be collected and utilized. “We are seeing increasing regulation and legislation around personal data. That’s a trend that will continue,” Gilman says. “Personal data has been the Wild West for a long time, in terms of how it is collected and used by corporations and government, without individuals consenting to the use of that data. Now that tide is starting to shift.” Consider again the driverless car, in many ways the epitome of the emerging AI vision. It needs sensors and cameras in order to navigate safely. “Now suppose the car sees a child and uses facial recognition to identify that child as someone on a missing-persons list,” says Denvil, a senior associate in the privacy and cybersecurity group at Hogan Lovells. A human in this situation would call the police, but what should a car do? “Do we want these tools to become government-surveillance devices? Now all those ‘slippery-slope’ arguments you heard in a moral philosophy class are not just theoretical,” he says. Then there are issues of liability. Fundamentally, who is at fault when AI is in charge? “If I am in my autonomous vehicle and an accident happens, new issues arise,” Denvil says. “Who is responsible for that at the end of the day, and how do we allocate responsibility when an autonomous system crashes? Is it the owner, the manufacturer, the person who developed the code?” The very uncertainty inherent in those questions suggests a massive shift may be pending. “One of the ways we manage risk is by allocating liability and having some certainty around that,” Denvil says. Today that certainty is lacking. While privacy and liability rank high, emerging machine-driven technologies raise a host of other legal concerns that are no less pressing. Gilman points to the disproportionate impact these tools may have on minority communities, and the consequences for poverty law. “People are being digitally profiled, then sold to marketers and insurers and other industries,” she says. “The consequences of that can be more harsh for low-income people. These profiles are the digital gatekeepers for whether you get a job, whether you get into college, whether you can buy a car. That can be self-reinforcing, trapping people in a digital loop of hardship.” Criminal law already is seeing the impacts. “There is a lot of algorithmic decision-making around whether someone is likely to reoffend, whether someone should be granted bail,” says UB Law Professor Colin Starger, who is associate director of the Center for the Law of Intellectual Property and Technology (CLIPT). “There are a lot of discussions about whether these algorithms have biases baked in that will just exacerbate inequalities.” Legal Practice Even as machine-thinking promises to reshape our understanding of the law, the same digital tools are reshaping legal practice. In the most immediate sense, AI promises to lessen the grunt work, automating a range of routine tasks and freeing human labor for higher and better pursuits. “A lot of the commodified tasks that lawyers have done — basic contracts, simple wills, anything that is fairly standard — those can be automated,” Denvil says. But that same evolution comes with a caveat. “I have an ethical obligation to know how this tool is being used,” he continues. “Can unauthorized people steal the information I am processing? If I am using a contract-drafting tool, does it impose biases that I don’t want in my work product?” While some are eager to see the ways in which automation might improve the workflow in law offices, they nonetheless raise questions about the practical details. Starger, for instance, looks at computer-assisted lawyering as analogous to computer-aided design, or CAD, in the architectural world: Machines can do some things faster and more efficiently. The details get tricky, though. A lawyer may know something as fact: We have so many days to file something. But there’s judgment implied. What was the true start date? His point is that not everything in the law can be reduced to a formula. From a bottom-line point of view, automation in legal practice could raise profound questions for those who make their living doing relatively routine work. There’s a very real possibility that demand for such services may diminish. “The challenge becomes: Where can I as an attorney add value? I need to leverage these automated tools, without driving myself out of business,” Denvil says. There also are some specific questions swirling around patent law. What happens when a company uses AI to help develop a new process or a piece of software? “A person didn’t quite ‘invent’ what the AI came up with, but a person came up with the algorithm that the AI used,” says Nick Mattingly, J.D. ’12, a patent attorney at Mattingly & Malur. “Who is the true inventor? Is it the person who came up with the algorithm, or the person who came up with the data to train the algorithm, or the person who applied the algorithm?” AI already is being leveraged to make patent searches easier and cheaper, but even here, the picture is hardly clear. “In principle, you just put in some keywords and the algorithm spits it out, and because it’s AI it gets better and better every time,” Mattingly says. That’s the theory, at least. In practice, we’re not quite there. “A human is still so much better,” he says. “The technology is not yet meeting the level of what a seasoned patent searcher can do.” JAMES DENVIL, J.D. ’12 Senior associate, privacy and cybersecurity group, Hogan Lovells How did you get interested in AI? “First, I had developed a general interest in artificial intelligence, partly through science fiction. Then, in the late 1990s, I was at the University of Arizona studying for an advanced degree in philosophy. I became interested in the work of one philosopher there who was trying to develop an artificial intelligence in order to develop insights into how humans think. That was my initial introduction.” What makes it interesting? “The core of the challenge — culturally, legally, philosophically — is that we are building things that are both extraordinarily familiar and absolutely strange and unknown. Every company has an HR department trying to find the right resources, trying to support people in doing certain tasks and making corrections when things go wrong. How do we import the controls that we’ve developed over how we manage people, and apply them to machines? “How do I know that this AI is good for the job? How can I help it to do the job better and address it when things go wrong? It’s the same questions we’ve asked about people, just on a larger scale and in a different language.” Advice for others? “I would encourage people who want to get involved in the legal issues surrounding AI to read as much as they can on the technological side, as much as they can dig into. Really get familiar with what the technology is doing, and also read all the material from the AI skeptics, the people who have grave concerns about all of this. This is a really unfamiliar landscape, and you need a broad set of knowledge and some critical-thinking tools if you are going to help others to manage the risk.” Facing the Future UB Law is taking steps to ensure the next generation of lawyers is ready to face the complexities of this rapidly changing landscape. Faculty are tackling the tough questions, and adapting course materials to meet the challenges. Earlier this year, for example, Starger launched a new clinic, Legal Data & Design, to train students in how to use data in the practice of law. “This is an area of the curriculum where we need to provide students with solid grounding. There are a lot of professional opportunities, and it’s going to be a growing area in the private bar. It’s good that UB Law is ahead of the curve,” Gilman says, noting course offerings such as Cyberspace Law and a seminar in Privacy and the Law. She points to efforts aimed at helping students to establish not just a firm legal foundation, but also a solid technological understanding. “There are ‘value’ questions that computer programmers shouldn’t be resolving on their own,” she says. “We need attorneys who understand how data sets are cleaned and trained. We are seeing more classes in the law school where students use computer applications and data tools to benefit clients from a legal perspective. And we will see more of that, as the technical and legal sides work together to drive improvements.” In fact, tomorrow’s lawyers will have not just a professional duty, but also an ethical obligation, to have at least a basic fluency in the emerging technologies. “Technological literacy is a requirement,” Starger says. “You don’t have to be the first adopter, but you do have to recognize that this is happening, and you have to be involved with people who understand it and can talk about it.” Ultimately, attorneys need to embrace the emerging technologies as a means to an end. Despite the challenges and potential pitfalls, automation and machine-driven intelligence can help lawyers to deliver a better end result for their clients and for society as a whole. “Maybe you are passionate about making the tax code better, or you’re passionate about making family law better,” Denvil says. “We’re not just there to manage tasks. We are part of the government in certain ways. As officers of the court it is our job not just to enforce the law, but to guide it and make it better. We’re never going to automate that.” HENRY GREENIDGE, J.D. ’10 Fellow-In-Residence at NYU McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research; former regional director for public affairs at Cruise Automation, a division of General Motors How did you get interested in AI? “UB Law was instrumental in getting me to the FCC, where we dealt with new technology, talking about broadband and access issues. It was all about the next generation of technology. Then I left the FCC and went to the Department of Transportation, where I also focused on new technology. “While I was there, the Google self-driving car project brought in one of their cars. It was really impressive to see what they were able to do. It looked like the future to me. When Cruise Automation launched a driverless pilot program in New York, they hired me, and I’ve been involved with this ever since.” What makes it interesting? “This will fundamentally change the way we live and work. This is going to change life as we know it. There are so many benefits to the technology, but there are also costs. I want to be at the table as we talk about how this could be difficult for some people. “We have to talk about what it will do to jobs and the workforce. As a person of color, I am interested in how this impacts people of color, who could be disproportionately impacted by this technology. We have to talk about things like equity and access.” Advice for others? “In law school you need to cover privacy, intellectual property, cybersecurity — anything you can cover while in school. Then you have to recognize that this is an ever-evolving field. You’ll never know everything, just because it is changing so rapidly. You have to be able to look at a problem and figure out ways to solve it. “In many cases, you will be covering new ground. There isn’t a lot of case law to help you with that. But that’s really the essence of being a lawyer.” Adam Stone is a writer based in Baltimore.
https://blogs.ubalt.edu/lawmag/smart-law-for-intelligent-machines/
Questions regarding use of biometrics in AI raised during federally sponsored forum Concerns about privacy, including ways in which biometrics used in artificial intelligence (AI) could be used by law-enforcement agencies to violate civil liberties, was one a number of concerns about the use of biometric raised at a recent technology assessment forum convened by the Comptroller General of the United States, according the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, Artificial Intelligence: Emerging Opportunities, Challenges, and Implications, prepared for the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. The Comptroller General sponsored the forum in order “to gain a better understanding of the emerging opportunities, challenges, and implications resulting from developments in AI.” The attendees represented industry, government, academia, and nonprofit organizations representing cybersecurity, automated vehicles, criminal justice, and financial services. “Some of the participants … raised concerns about privacy, including ways in which AI could be used by law-enforcement agencies to violate civil liberties, and said that this is an area that needs policy solutions,” GAO’s report on the forum stated. For example, “According to one participant, law-enforcement agencies’ use of facial recognition software raises concerns that the people being captured by the software could have their civil rights violated, including the right to freely speak and assemble. Some privacy researchers and advocates have said that such remote biometric identification could have ‘chilling effects’ on human behavior and threaten free speech and freedom to assemble.” A 2011 privacy impact assessment prepared by the International Justice and Public Safety Network said, “[t]he mere possibility of surveillance has the potential to make people feel extremely uncomfortable, cause people to alter their behavior, and lead to self-censorship and inhibition.” Georgetown Law’s Center on Privacy & Technology October 18, 2016, study, The Perpetual Line-up: Unregulated Police Face Recognition in America, pointed out, for example, that, “By tapping into driver’s license databases, the FBI is using biometrics in a way it’s never done before,” adding, “Historically, FBI fingerprint and DNA databases have been primarily or exclusively made up of information from criminal arrests or investigations. By running face recognition searches against 16 states’ driver’s license photo databases, the FBI has built a biometric network that primarily includes law-abiding Americans.” “This is unprecedented and highly problematic,” the study said, noting that, “Across the country, state and local police departments are building their own face recognition systems, many of them more advanced than the FBI’s.” But, “We know very little about these systems. We don’t know how they impact privacy and civil liberties. We don’t know how they address accuracy problems. And we don’t know how any of these systems—local, state, or federal—affect racial and ethnic minorities.” “We can begin to see how face recognition creates opportunities for tracking—and risks—that other biometrics, like fingerprints, do not,” the study continued. “Along with names, faces are the most prominent identifiers in human society—online and offline. Our faces—not fingerprints—are on our driver’s licenses, passports, social media pages, and online dating profiles. Except for extreme weather, holidays, and religious restrictions, it is generally not considered socially acceptable to cover one’s face; often, it’s illegal. You only leave your fingerprints on the things you touch. When you walk outside, your face is captured by every smartphone and security camera pointed your way, whether or not you can see them. Face recognition isn’t just a different biometric; those differences allow for a different kind of tracking that can occur from far away, in secret, and on large numbers of people.” Another concern over the potential implications of biometric AI developments raised by attendees was, GAO said, “exactly how the data should be used, understood, and analyzed.” As one forum participant noted, “machine learning and credit analytics could be used to collect what is called alternative data to help improve access to credit for individuals who do not meet traditional standards of credit worthiness or who have little or no credit history.” GAO reported that the financial sector “may benefit from the adoption of AI … where it could be used to improve decision making and, in turn, improve fairness and inclusion for consumers. One participant stated specifically that machine learning could be used to help establish a potential consumer’s identity, which is required before they can gain access to banking and credit.” But, “Establishing identities for this purpose is especially difficult in some parts of the world, though there is now a massive change underway to collect data for the purposes of identification,” GAO said. While GAO pointed out that AI “holds substantial promise for improving human life and economic competitiveness in a variety of ways and for helping solve some of society’s most pressing challenges … according to experts, AI [also] poses new risks and could displace workers and widen socioeconomic inequality.” “To improve or augment human decision making … AI can be used to gather an enormous amount of data and information from multiple locations, characterize the normal operation of a system, and detect abnormalities, much faster than humans can,” GAO said in its report on the meeting, adding, “According to one forum participant, AI is an appropriate technology for the cybersecurity sector because the cyber systems used to provide security generate a vast amount of data, and AI can be used to help determine what are normal conditions and what is abnormal.” But in assessing acceptable risks and ethical decision making, “policymakers need to decide how they are going to measure, or benchmark, the performance of AI and assess the trade-offs,” GAO informed lawmakers. “For instance, what do evaluators compare the performance of AI to?” One “participant stressed that the ‘baseline’ is current practice, not perfection — i.e., how humans are performing now, absent AI.” Furthermore, GAO reported, “this participant [said] we do not have a firm understanding of current practice. On the other hand, as this participant emphasized, “[i]f we have to benchmark [AI] against perfection, as they say, the perfect will be the enemy of the good and we get nowhere. According to this participant, implementing AI will involve trade-offs,” and that these “include accuracy, speed of computation, transparency, fairness, and security.” Other participants noted that regulatory questions should be resolved by a variety of stakeholders, including economists, legal scholars, philosophers, and others involved in policy formulation and decision making, and not solely by scientists and statisticians.
https://www.biometricupdate.com/201804/questions-regarding-use-of-biometrics-in-ai-raised-during-federally-sponsored-forum
In this issue of Inside ATLAS.ti, we interview Dr.Camilo Sanz, a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Michigan. He provides research and administrative support as well as project development for Dr. Elizabeth Robert’s ongoing investigation, Mexican Exposures. He has been using ATLAS.ti less then a year. Could you tell us something about your professional background and research interests? I am a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Anthropology. I provide research and administrative support as well as project development for Dr. Elizabeth Roberts’s ongoing investigation Mexican Exposures. Mexican Exposures seeks to develop a collaborative bio-ethnographic method which combines biological and ethnographic data in understating environmental health in Mexico City. At present we are examining lead levels collected by environmental health scientists over the last 22 years and analyzing them in conjunction with intensive ethnographic data gathered from this same participating. I recently obtained my PhD in Anthropology from UC Davis. My dissertation examined the relationship between time, cancer care and social class, following the neoliberal restructuring of the Colombian health care system in 1993. Mexican Exposures involves a three-year collaboration between Dr. Roberts (a medical anthropologist), and ELEMENT researchers in Mexico City and the University of Michigan. It seeks to develop a bio-ethnographic approach that integrates biological and ethnographic data about the larger histories and life circumstances of working class families that shape disease. Since 1995, the birth-cohort study in Mexico City called ELEMENT (Early Life Exposure in Mexico to Environmental Toxicants) has studied the long-term and intergenerational physiological and neurological effects of in utero and early childhood exposure to chemicals like lead and mercury. ELEMENT researchers have begun to link these exposures to obesity and diabetes. While ELEMENT has made several key findings about chemical exposures, its approach has tended to situate key disease-transmission mechanisms inside individual bodies rather than within larger historical and economic processes. Dr. Roberts’ effort involves building on and expanding correlations between individual health and environment through the inclusion of ethnographic data about the specific historical social and material contexts that shape ELEMENT participants’ lives, as well as data on how participants’ lives are shaped by ELEMENT research itself. The project has two phases: first, a year-long ethnography of six ELEMENT participant families living in working-class neighborhoods, focusing on household and neighborhood environments and histories relevant to the production of bodily states; second, a two-year phase in which ELEMENT researchers and us combine our biological and ethnographic data to produce a multifaceted and more complex account of the links between ill-health and life circumstances. In this phase ELEMENT researchers, Dr. Roberts and I will work to connect her ethnographic data with their data on the effects of lead exposure on health. In both these phases, we will also investigate the scientific process itself: how participants’ lives are shaped by research (including my own), and how researchers attempt to universalize the knowledge gleaned from monitoring individual participants’ bodies. Although ethnographic research is not hypothesis driven we include project questions and specific aims below. In July, 2013 Dr. Roberts conducted ten pilot interviews with ELEMENT participants in their homes in order to determine if a long-term study was feasible. These interviews focused on environment, disease transmission, and the experience of being long-term participants in the study and demonstrated the potential for ethnographic observation to contribute to our knowledge of the relationship of environment and health. Support for this research will come from funds from the University of Michigan Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research and the National Science Foundation. Figure 1. A data collection site. What life circumstances and material conditions affect bodily states? That is, what effects do factors such as economic conditions, urban infrastructure, religious practice, and kinship relations play in exposure to toxins like lead? What other phenomena might interact with toxins or influence bodily states such as obesity, diabetes, and ADHD? How do research participants themselves understand the forces that shape their well-being? These questions will be addressed through ethnographic research among ELEMENT participant families. How is scientific knowledge constructed? STS approaches view expert knowledge itself as an object of study, a phenomenon that affects the dynamics being studied. How is generalizable “universal” scientific knowledge produced from concrete, local data from specific bodies? How do local data and scientific findings circulate? What are the effects of this process on participants? How do they interpret their experience of participation in the research? Dr. Roberts’ preliminary research with the ELEMENT project suggests that participation in ELEMENT may produce looping effects on the participants’ life circumstances and conditions. How can ethnographic and biological data be combined in accounts of bodily states? Dr. Roberts’ preliminary research suggests some directions for this exploration. This project requires refashioning received categories, such as the concept of exposure and the nature/culture divide, and will draw on her ethnographic research, ELEMENT data, existing theoretical literature, and collaboration with ELEMENT scientists. She has produced more than 7,000 fieldnotes on the participants’ life in Mexico. Each fieldnote is a detailed description of the conversations and ethnographic observations that Dr. Roberts had with the study participants. By now we have already imported all the mentioned data into ATLAS. In January 2016 we started coding each fieldnote and organizing the list of codes– doing weekly housekeeping. Figure 2. A coded transcript. In September 2016 we are planning to teach a lab-class on coding, where undergraduate students will have the opportunity to get training on ATLAS.ti– as they help us code the material– and develop their own research in relation with MEXICAN EXPOSURES. Students will be given chunks of these notes for coding, which later will be merged into the “mother” ATLAS project (since all students will be coding simultaneously, we decided to split it into chunks). Recently we gladly came to know about the new ‘merging’ option. This will help us distribute codes to students and then merge them together. The codes will help us organize the data, find patterns, make connections. This will allow us to write scholarly articles and, finally, a book.
https://atlasti.com/2016/09/01/exposures/
historical collection. o Establishes new controls on historical artifacts loaned to Army museums. o Establishes the Army Museum Information System as the central historical artifact accounting program for the Army. o Establishes a Central Control Number for each artifact in the Army Historical Collection. additional historical data from study participants. Finally, we describe how our in-home study was structured to leverage historical awareness. 3.1 Historical Analysis A history is an account of some past event or combination of events. Historical analysis is, therefore, a method of discovering, from records and accounts, what Historical literacy does not require an encyclopedic knowledge of historical facts from every era or global location (Wineburg, 2004) Historical literacy requires the use of historians’ strategies for working with historical evidence. c July 2013 DIGITAL AGE LITERACIES 7 L.G.STAMBLER, Ph.D. Entering a Retroactive Pay Historical Edit 12. Click the Save button to save this historical edit. After clicking the Save button, the timecard will appear. An additional row will have been added by CalTime on the date with the historical edit. In this example that is Friday 8/29. The line that is the historical edit will have a gray background . Coloring book Kansas Historical Society Historical Society. American Buffalo The American buffalo was recognized as the animal symbol of Kansas in 1955. A male bison can weigh over 1800 pounds! Kansas Historical Society 2012 Historical Society. Ornate Box Turtle Grade Mini-Lesson Menu PaGe BLM introduce the Genre 1. Finding topics for historical fiction 2 2. Read aloud a mentor historical fiction story 4 3. Read aloud a mentor historical fiction story 6 4. Analyze the features of a historical fiction story 8 1 5. Recognize how writers sequence ev WV Historical Geospatial Products 19 Sep 2007 . Figure 5b: Portion of the Morgantown North 7.5 Minute quadrangle. Data Inventory. Historical topographic maps are available from federal, state, and commercial sites. A search was conducted for institutions with an historical topographic map collection of the state of West Virginia, Historical trauma - Cumulative emotional and psychological wounding from massive group trauma across generations, including lifespan Historical trauma response (HTR) is a constellation of features in reaction to massive group trauma, includes . historical unresolved grief (similar to Child of Survivors Complex re: Jewish Holocaust survivors and historical and philosophical foundations of education. The first chapter examines how educa-tional biography can be used in teacher and professional education programs. The following sections are included in each of the subsequent 24 chapters: The Historical Contextthat places the educational thinker in the historical, cultural, and Supplement to the Proceedings of the Wesley Historical Society, May 2003 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF METHODIST HISTORICAL LITERATURE . Methodism in the Saffron Walden circuit, 1839-1900', Family & Community History, Vo!. 5, 2002, . Wesley Historical Society Cumbria Branch Journal, No. 49, Spring 2002, pp. 19-25.
https://zbook.org/tag/historical/1
Remembering Rosenstrasse : history, memory and identity in contemporary Germany / Hilary Potter. In February 1943 intermarried Germans gathered in Berlin's Rosenstrasse to protest the feared deportation of their Jewish spouses. This book examines the competing representations of the Rosenstrasse protest in contemporary Germany, demonstrating how cultural memories of this event are intertwined with each other and with concepts of identity. It analyses these shifting patterns of memory and what they reveal about the dynamics of the past-present relationship from the earliest post-unification period up to the present day. Interdisciplinary in its approach, the book provides insights into the historical debate surrounding the protest, accounts in popular history and biography, an analysis of von Trotta's 2003 film Rosenstrasse, and an exploration of the multiple memorials to this historical event. The study reveals that the protest's remembrance is fraught with competing desires: to have a less encumbered engagement with this past and to retain a critical memory of the events that allows for a recognition of both heroism and accountability. It concludes that we are on the cusp of witnessing a new shift in remembering that reflects contemporary socio-political tensions with the resurgence of the far right, noting how this is already becoming visible in existing representations of the Rosenstrasse protest. - Series - German Life and Civilization ; Vol. 64 German life and civilization ; v. 64.
https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/bib269794
They use financial analysis and believe in long-term investment in quality companies. The two main ways analysts derive stock prices and position trades are through technical analysis and fundamental analysis. Technicians use technical analysis to indicate when to buy a stock, whereas fundamentalists use fundamental analysis to determine whether the stock is worth buying. In Asia, technical analysis is said to be a method developed by Homma Munehisa during the early 18th century which evolved into the use of candlestick techniques, and is today a technical analysis charting tool. Instead, technical analysts use charts and other trading tools to look for trends and historical price patterns of the security, which are considered as the main deciding factors on whether or not to invest. Therefore technical analysis only allows you to understand a certain entry price and a possible exit price for a certain trade. This is somewhat limited, and a full scope analysis that involves fundamental and technical analysis needs to be conducted in order to assess an investment or trade. The success rate of technical trading strategies in determining the long-term price of an asset is low. While the patterns or setups may provide an advantage in the short term they are incredibly unreliable in the long run. Here is a look at some of the best technical indicators you can use for trading crypto assets as well as stocks. In several markets around the world, traders have made millions with the help of technical analysis. Whether you are investing in stocks or cryptocurrencies, this guide will explain what fundamental and technical analyses are and which one to choose. Fundamental analysis considers both past and presents data about a stock, whereas technical analysis considers only past data. Financial StatementsFinancial statements are written reports prepared by a company’s management to present the company’s financial affairs over a given period . Using Fundamental Analysis To Pick Stocks There is not a single, generally accepted formula for arriving at the intrinsic value of a stock. Investors who follow these recommendations will expect that they can buy stocks with favorable recommendations because such stocks should have a higher probability of rising over time. Likewise, stocks with unfavorable ratings are expected to have a higher probability of falling in price. Such stocks are candidates for being removed from existing portfolios or added as «short» positions. Investment analysis is researching and evaluating a stock or industry to determine how it is likely to perform and whether it suits a given investor. Technical analysis is a trading discipline that seeks to identify trading opportunities by analyzing statistical data gathered from trading activity. Table 4 indicates that some assets could surpass the returns obtained by a risk-free strategy. In this paper, we investigated the profitability of technical analysis as applied to the stock markets of the BRICS member nations. In addition, we searched for evidence that technical analysis and fundamental analysis can complement each other in these markets. Recent empirical evidence for South Africa verified by Noakes and Rajaratnam suggested that the level of capitalization of traded assets in that country was inversely related to market inefficiency. Moreover, the authors suggested that the degree of market efficiency falls during periods of crisis, as during the financial crisis of 2008. It helps investors determine the right time to enter and exit the market. Thus, it gives a lot of information about the mood and psychology of traders. As it deals with accounting and financial data, it provides a better understanding and confidence of the underlying security. Technical analysis, on the other hand, makes many assumptions, including the key one that says prices will follow a similar trend. Factor For Buying Stock Fundamental analysis tends to give long-term investors the worth of their stock. This includes all the factors that might affect the price of the security. Fundamental analysis is a method of evaluating securities by calculating its intrinsic or true value. Technical analysis uses statistics of a stock’s market activity in order to determine its potential direction in the future. Technical analysis, on the other hand, is not based on the intrinsic value of the stock. The purpose of technical analysis is to find the predicted values of the security. This is more focused on short-term gains through the trading of the security. It focuses on the market trends and the possibilities of an increase/decrease in the share prices. By contrast, technical analysis avoids any fundamental considerations and focuses wholly on price action, believing this has predictive value over the stock. The patterns seen on charts often repeat and technical analysis looks to identify these patterns as they are being formed. When in doubt, sticking with the fundamentals and technicals offers a tried-and-true strategy to manage your investments. Fundamental analysis is often preferred while making long-term investment decisions. Conversely, technical analysis is used for short-term investment decisions. The first step is identifying potential support and resistance levels for a stock. The lowest price a seller is willing to accept on their sell order when trading an asset on an exchange. Fundamental analysis can also help investors identify solid businesses that are likely to appreciate in value in the long run despite fluctuations in day-to-day prices. Whether you’re buying stocks and bonds, real estate, or cryptocurrencies, you’re hoping to buy at a low price so someday you can sell at a higher price, earning a profit in the bargain. Analysis Tools Defined Often, this combination may work best when a security is severely oversold and entering the position too early could prove costly. Financial statements are the medium by which a company discloses information concerning its financial performance. Followers of fundamental analysis use quantitative information gleaned from financial statements to make investment decisions. The three most important financial statements are income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. This study also contributed to the evidence that market age is directly related to market efficiency, as suggested by Chong et al. . - Technical analysis and fundamental analysis are the two primary methods that investors utilize to pick investments and identify the best buy and sell points for stocks and other financial securities. - The tools used for technical and fundamental analysis, respectively, are worlds apart. - In technical analysis charts and tools with trends are used to create conclusions on the price movements. - Fundamental analysis takes into account the intrinsic value of a stock for identifying opportunities for long-term investment. Trend lines are similar to support and resistance, as they provide defined entry and exit points. However, they differ in that they are projections based on how the stock has traded in the past. They are often utilized for stocks moving to new highs or new lows where there is no price history. Table3 shows the average returns per country when buy and hold was implemented. In short, we applied the buy and hold strategy for each asset of the same country, and we extracted the average profitability of the operations for each country. Fundamental analysis uses both past and present data for analysis and future prospects for arriving at the intrinsic value, while technical analysis depends exclusively on past data. The fundamental analysis gives a reasonable estimate of the intrinsic value of a stock. You need to consider both qualitative and quantitative factors to conduct a thorough fundamental analysis. What determines whether an individual chooses to rely on fundamental or technical analysis, as we said at the beginning, is mostly a matter of preference. How To Find Winners Among Small Cap Growth Stocks We can do our best to control the variables we control and this helps to create success (well, that coupled with that little bit of good fortune!) . Success is, however, not just about making good choices but also about avoiding the bad choices and when opportunity presents alternatives, make no mistake the forex trading choice you make will help decide the final outcome. Some traders will call this luck but no matter what they call it, the outcome is determined from the decisions you make. The question, is, are you able to make good choice when the variables you don’t have control upon present you with opportunities? Quantitative And Qualitative Fundamental Analysis These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in oureditorial policy. They might include the quality of a company’s key executives, its brand-name recognition, patents, and proprietary technology. Comments: Fundamental Analysis Vs Technical Analysis Although the goals of both techniques are the same, their methods differ from each other. To understand both techniques, it is very important that we know the differences between fundamental vs technical analysis. The major difference between technical analysis and value investing is the timeframe. Technical analysis is a short-term approach while value investing is a longer-term investing strategy. Value Of Share In Fundamental And Technical Analysis A chartist might reason that the exchange-traded fund is «overbought» when the price reaches the upper end of the band and decide to sell. He or she might also consider the ETF is «oversold» when the price reaches the lower end of the band, indicating that it’s time to buy. There are multiple options when picking the type of analysis to use because each strategy has weaknesses. Breakout– the concept whereby prices forcefully penetrate an Venture fund area of prior support or resistance, usually, but not always, accompanied by an increase in volume. EMH advocates reply that while individual market participants do not always act rationally , their aggregate decisions balance each other, resulting in a rational outcome . Likewise, complete information is reflected in the price because all market participants bring their own individual, but incomplete, knowledge together in the market. Contact Robert today to learn more about his financial planning services. For example, the real estate industry tends to use more leverage, and that can result in higher debt ratios. We research technical analysis patterns so you know fundamental analysis vs technical analysis exactly what works well for your favorite markets. Fundamental analysis takes into account historical as well as present data. Dividends and other important ratios are also very helpful to analyze a company and its earning potential. These traders are focused on gauging market sentiment and identifying in charts the patterns that have occurred in the past and could repeat in the near future. Fundamental analysis is an extremely comprehensive approach that requires a deep knowledge of accounting, finance, and economics. For instance, fundamental analysis requires the ability to read financial statements, an understanding of macroeconomic factors, and knowledge of valuation techniques. It primarily relies on public data, such as a company’s historical earnings and profit margins, to project future growth. This technique can be used to analyze several trading instruments including shares, indices, currency rate and commodities. It uses fundamental data such as the country’s GDP, employment rate, profitability rate of the company and medical related factors of the subject region. As you search, be wary of extremely high dividend-yielding stocks, as they might be too good to be true. A low stock price could be the result of a company’s outdated products, bad management, expired patents, pending lawsuits, etc. Fundamental analysis is used for investment function, whereas technical analysis is used for trading function. A second assumption is that the value reflected from the company’s fundamental data is more likely to be closer to the true value of the stock. Our study suggested that even though the BRICS markets may share similar characteristics, the trading systems lead to very heterogeneous results. In some countries, trading based on moving averages could not exceed the buy and hold strategy. Therefore, there is no clear pattern in the historical data that could be used generally across the markets. Although results support that the weak form of the efficient market hypothesis could be rejected, the trading strategy did not lead universally to better results than the gains generated by the buy and hold strategy.
https://www.aridosabanilla.com/fundamental-analysis-vs-technical-analysis/
Sociology and cultural anthropology research Excerpt coming from Essay: Sociology and Cultural Anthropology Your Time Only $13.90 / page Research Methods used in Sociology Closed or perhaps Structured Forms and Individual Observation are among the many analysis methods found in sociological research. Structured set of questions is a quantitative research approach that was postulated by simply Emile Durkheim. It is positivist in character and is comprised of low investigator involvement and high respondents’ participation. A questionnaire is, in fact , a series of questions presented to individuals intended for obtaining statistically useful info on a certain subject matter. If a set of questions is correctly created and sensibly manipulated, it becomes an imperative application to make accurate and appropriate statements regarding particular groupings or people or entire populace. Social research typically uses questionnaires as it is a helpful approach to collect sufficient information by a large number of people. In order for a survey to hit your objectives, sufficient customer survey creation is very important. Any study that has badly chosen queries, incorrect questions’ arrangement, wrong scaling, or bad formatting can prove to be useless and unimportant as it may not really exactly reveal participants’ view (Trueman). Census is another sociological research way all people and households within a country happen to be counted. It assists in attaining the complete information about the population of your country/area. Census is essential as efforts are made to contain everyone. Is it doesn’t only research method by which an in depth picture with the whole population is attained. It is unique in every feeling as “it covers everyone at the same time and asks similar core concerns everywhere” (Trueman). Due to census, it becomes simpler to contrast and evaluate different parts of the country. The data obtained following conducting a census allows the central and local govt and other main authorities and organizations to focus on their assets and funds more proficiently and program accordingly intended for future advancement and advancement (Trueman). Philosophical Justification of Structured Questionnaire The philosophical justification to get a structured set of questions is that it provides real knowledge that is the resulting of individual observation of objective reality. The sanity of respondents is “used to accumulate data that are target, discernible and measurable” (Crossan). The followers of positivist research strategies claim that details derived through other means must be left behind as transcendental (Crossan). Exploration Methods employed in Cultural Anthropology Historical Research and Cross-Cultural Comparison happen to be among the many research methods utilized by the social anthropologists. Every one knows that the account previous events or combination of events is known as background. Thus, a historical research is a exploration method in which cultural scientists use earlier records and accounts to analyze and interpret what happened in the ancient moments. Historical analysis is drastically useful in qualitative studies as it helps in the establishment of background just before observing or interviewing participants. The researchers categorize traditional data in to primary (oral testimonies, artefacts etc . ) or supplementary (accounts found in historical content, encyclopedias and so forth ).
https://mabuty.com/sociology-and-cultural-anthropology-research/
What is history? Sinaumed’s is certainly no stranger to the term “history”. According to the most common definition, the word history (English) means “the past of mankind”. The word can be compared to geschichte (German), which comes from the word geschehen , which means “something that has happened”. The meaning of the word history is often found in everyday sayings, such as “all history teaches something” or “lessons of history”. What is History? Understanding History The word history (English) comes from the noun historia (Greek) or read istoria which means “knowledge”. Aristotle uses this term as a systematic and non-chronological account of a set of natural phenomena, either in the form of a systematic or non-chronological arrangement. However, the word scientia (Latin) in its development is more often used to refer to systematic accounts, while the word istoria is usually reserved for descriptions of phenomena (especially human affairs) in chronological order. This understanding emphasizes that history concerns both events and time. Therefore, the problem of time is very important in understanding an event. It is here that historians tend to overcome this problem by making periodizations. Based on that, Sinaumed’s can realize that history cannot be reconstructed. Humans’ past for the most part cannot be recalled, even those who are gifted with sharp memories will not be able to reconstruct their past, because in everyone’s life there must be events, people, words, thoughts, places, and images that when they occurred made no impression or are now forgotten. Furthermore, the experience of a generation that has long been dead, most of whose members have left no records, or whose records, if any, have never reached historians, is unlikely to be fully recalled. Thus, the reconstruction of humanity’s total past is a goal they fully realize is unattainable, even if it is the goal of historians. History, babad, saga, history, or tambo in Indonesian can then be interpreted as incidents and events that really happened in the past or genealogies for kings. Understanding History According to Experts According to some experts, the word “history” has the following meanings. 1. J. Bank History is all past events or events. History serves to understand past, present, and future behavior. 2. Robin Winks History is the study of humans in social life. 3.Bernheim History is a science that traces and locates events in time and space regarding human development. 4.Sir Charles Firth History records human life, its continuous changes, ideas, and material conditions that have helped or hindered its development. 5. John Tosh History is a collective memory as well as experience through the development of a sense of human social identity and the prospects for that human being in the future. 6. Motahhari He argues that there are three ways of defining history, namely: - Tarikh naqli (traditional history) is knowledge of events, incidents, and circumstances in the past that are related to the present. - ilmy date (scientific history) is knowledge of the laws that governed past lives through the approach and analysis of past events. - Philosophical history (philosophy of history) is knowledge of changes that occur gradually. 7. Sidi Gazalba History as the human past and its surroundings which are compiled scientifically and completely, includes a sequence of facts with interpretations that give meaning and understanding of something that is happening. 8. Sartono Kartodirjo History is a picture of the past of humans and their surroundings as social beings, which are compiled scientifically and completely. History in it includes the sequence of facts of that period with interpretations and explanations that provide an understanding of something that has passed. Historical Rules History Is Fact Sinaumed’s needs to know that the main difference between history and fiction is the presentation. History presents facts, while works of fiction present imagination, fantasy, and fantasy. As for the chronicles, saga, poetry, and babad which were mostly written long after the events, the standard procedure of historical criticism must be applied. Such, for example, are the books History of Malays, Hikayat Raja-Raja Pasai, Poems of the Berkas War, and Chronicle of Tanah Jawi. For historians, there is not a single historical source that escapes historical criticism. History Is Diachronic, Ideographical, and Unique History is diachronic, while social science is synchronic. That is, history extends in time, while social science extends in space. History will talk about one place from time A to time B. History tries to see everything from a span of time. That is, seeing change, continuity, lagging behind, and leaps and bounds. Meanwhile, social science is synchronic, meaning it extends in space. The space is wide, but the time is short. Like studying a tree, the synchronic sciences are interested in discussing the structure that forms it. History is also diachronic, meaning that it describes (describes, describes, tells) only. Social science is nomothetic (Greek) which means law. That is, trying to put forward the laws. For example, they both wrote about revolution. History is considered successful if it can describe a revolution in detail down to the smallest details. Instead, social science will investigate revolutions and try to find the laws that are common to all revolutions. This is what causes history to be unique, while social science is generic. Historical research will look for things that are unique and unique, applicable only to something at a time. For this reason, history is also referred to as an ideographic science. Historical topics, such as the Revolution in Indonesia, the Revolution in France, and the Revolution in China did not occur anywhere else and only happened once at a time. As for the topics of social science, for example Sociology of Revolution, Sociology of Rural Communities, and Sociology of Urban Areas, they will discuss the general laws that apply to all revolutions. If diachronic and synchronic have merged, history will become social theory. Meanwhile, ideographic and unique elements still remain. The historical approach in the social sciences, on the other hand, has always existed, as has it in political, social, and economic research. For the rest, there is a narrative historical tendency, so it is similar to a novel. History is Empirical This is what distinguishes between history and religious knowledge. History is empirical, while religious knowledge is normative. Because, history rests on real human experience. Religious knowledge that is normative does not mean that it does not have empirical elements, only that which is normative is the reference. For example, unclean boundaries stem from normative law. It’s the same as Hasan Bangil who allows someone to keep a dog, and he has a different definition from the Shafi’i school of uncleanness. There is an empirical element, but the legal basis is syar’i, uncleanness is normative. Meanwhile, history is purely empirical, based on facts, and not based on laws (whether normative, scientific or constitutional). Without empirical, experience, and facts, historians cannot speak. History and Definition of Social Sciences Despite many concerns, the use of natural science generalizations by historians is growing. For example, it is no coincidence that recently there has been a great deal of attention from the histories of cities, railroads, and commerce to the history of prices and social thinking. It is here that the scope of attention of historians tends to be dominated by the law of demand and supply, while the needs of other disciplines for certain types of data encourage historians to try to fulfill that need. Thus, the historians seek to: - Finding single cases that will provide illustrations for social science generalizations; - Finding single cases that would refute a social science generalization; - Applying a social science generalization to a historical trend or series of concurrent events. In these three attempts, historians try to change, strengthen, or propose exceptions to a general idea, which is borrowed from other social disciplines in the hope that sociological propositions will shed some light on the causal relationship between historical phenomena. Also Read - The Concept of Historical Thinking, A Complete Review of How to Analyze the Past - After the Proclamation, Why Should the Indonesian Nation Defend Independence? - Definition of Periodization: Purpose, Types, and Influencing Factors - Definition of History: Elements, Functions, and Benefits - History and Meaning of the Proclamation of Independence for Indonesia Historical Methodology Method is a procedural way to do and do something in an orderly and planned system. So, there are strict prerequisites in a historical research, which are procedural and systematic. This is where methodology is often referred to as the study of methods. The method is more of a person’s way of acquiring knowledge, while the methodology has a higher level because it is a way of knowing. Methodology must consider the framework of concepts, categories, models, hypotheses, and general procedures in developing a theory. The theory is the rule that underlies a symptom and has been verified. By understanding the theoretical framework and concepts, historians can explain phenomena critically. Likewise history can explain theories in the world of philosophy into something concrete because it departs from the reality on the ground. That is why the cultivation of history requires theory and methodology. Methodology as a science and thinking about methods cannot be studied without discussing theoretical and conceptual issues. At least, there are two major groups in the flow of historical writing, namely: - Narrative history ( narrative history ), namely the writing of history in the form of narrative without utilizing theory and methodology. The author simply narrates the events and processes chronologically, without explaining the causes of these events. - History of analysis ( analytical history ) , namely historical writing that utilizes theory and methodology. The author explains the origins, causes, tendencies, conditions, and changes at that time by linking political, social, cultural, and so on issues. The analytical knife used is adjusted to the object to be studied. To make an analysis, a theoretical framework and concept of thought is needed. The theoretical framework is not considered important in narrative history writing because it is included in the description. Instead, the theoretical framework characterizes the writing of analytical history. Narrative explanations of history are only able to answer initial questions and are unable to provide answers to more comprehensive follow-up questions. Historical analysis is considered capable of answering the weaknesses of narrative history. To arrive at the history of analysis, the presence of theories and concepts is a must. In the context of writing the history of this analysis, a method and methodology are needed. Historical Methodology Flow As a procedure, the method proposes the following prerequisites. heuristics Derived from the Greek heuristiken which means to find or gather sources. In relation to history, of course what is meant by sources are scattered historical sources in the form of notes, testimonies, and other facts that can provide a description of an event that concerns human life. This can be categorized as a historical source. Materials as historical sources are then used as a tool, not a goal. In other words, someone must have data beforehand to write history. The study of sources is a separate science called heuristics. Writing history is not possible without the availability of historical sources. Historical sources are divided into four categories, namely: - Material sources , namely historical sources in the form of objects that can be seen physically. These sources can be divided into written sources ( records ), such as documents, archives, letters, diaries, photos, and files. - Physical sources in the form of objects ( remains ) in the form of artifacts such as ceramics, household tools, weapons, agricultural or hunting tools, paintings, and jewelry. The location of the artifacts according to their function is called a site; - Non-material or immaterial sources , namely in the form of traditions, religions, beliefs, and so on; - Oral sources, namely in the form of testimonies, saga, songs, songs, and so on. Source Criticism The sources that have been collected are then verified or tested through a series of criticisms, both external and internal. Interpretation After the facts are compiled, then interpretation is carried out. Interpretation is very essential and crucial in historical methodology. historiography Historiography is the final stage in historical research. It was at this stage that the writing of history became the consciousness of the chroniclers of their time. Compilation of Historical Data Sinaumed’s, it should be noted that the most reasonable arrangement of historical data is chronological arrangement, namely in time periods. This is because chronology seems to be the only objective and constant norm which historians must take into account. Chronology is relatively objective, as periodization can often be arbitrary. This arbitrariness is most prominent in the periodization of the history of thought or movement, for example the mention of the Age of Faith, the Barque Period, the Age of Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution, and the Age of Progress. These terms sometimes lead to misrepresentations, thus offsetting the expected didactic gains. Too easy mentions give the impression that such prominent developments or ideals did not exist in other times in such conspicuous circumstances. The act of giving a historical period a descriptive name is perhaps the best way to understand its values. However, this advantage is lost if the search for other frames of reference is neglected. There is no single era that can be named precisely by giving a single, exclusive character. Such attempts often result in the use of obscure and allegorical terms that provide characterization. Well, that’s an explanation of the meaning, rules, history and understanding of social science, as well as historical methodology. There is a saying that the past is the best teacher, which is why history can be used as a lesson for someone in the future if it is interpreted properly. Appreciating and learning from history is one’s wise way to continue to grow and develop, without the accompanying tendencies. Forgotten history also means turning off conscience and intellect to continue to grow. Sinaumed’s can visit sinaumedia’s book collection at www.sinaumedia.com to obtain references on history, from Indonesian history to world history. Sinaumed’s can also find history textbooks to support learning at school because the books at sinaumedia are in accordance with the applicable curriculum. The following are recommendations for sinaumedia books that Sinaumed’s can read to learn about history so they can fully interpret it. Have a good study. Find other interesting things at www.sinaumedia.com. sinaumedia as #FriendsWithoutLimits will always present interesting articles and recommendations for the best books for Sinaumed’s.
https://sinaumedia.com/what-is-history-this-is-the-understanding-according-to-experts/
I’m going to be blunt from the start: If you are not using a trained, qualified, experienced and knowledgeable analyst for cellular records analysis (i.e., historical cell site location), then you are doing your client a large disservice, regardless of the side you’re representing. Furthermore, if you’re taking what the other side tells you as 100% truth, you’re already behind the curve. Why do I say this? Because I’m coming off the likely second murder acquittal in about a year where the government used analysts to try and pinpoint their suspect’s location using historical cell site location data to illustrate that the Defendant was in or around a relevant location (i.e., crime scene) at or around the incident being investigated and prosecuted. Both of these analysts were from federal 3‑letter agencies and had allegedly analyzed the same records I was provided. I’ll get more into the specifics later. Do I have your attention? Historical Cell Site Analysis at a Glance Before we get into specific case examples, we should define and discuss briefly what historical cell site location records are and are not. There are volumes of articles and at least one book written on the topic, but I’ll try to trim the fat off the conversation to a simple explanation: Cellular companies keep records of activity on their network. This activity often involves the phone’s use (calls, texts and data) and listing of particular cell sites (i.e., towers) used for these events, which are most commonly divided into three sectors in a 360‑degree radius. This means that each sector on most cell sites covers an area of roughly 120‑degrees. Please note, there are exceptions to this. However, with the data that is acquired in the investigation and litigation process from the cellular provider, we can map these cell sites, using their verified GPS coordinates, and use the sector‑ specific information contained in the records to map generalized location of a cell phone that is allegedly tied to a Defendant or litigant. Depending on the timing of the request to the cellular provider, we can also potentially receive and map what are commonly referred to as “specialized location records,” which attempt to estimate the GPS (longitude & latitude) coordinate estimates of the phone itself, within a certain confidence level detailed in the records. These records can be problematic when used as evidence, but this is where the knowledge and competence level of the analyst also becomes crucial. It should be noted that these records were never intended to be used in litigation. They are held by the cellular providers to help increase the user experience and efficiency on the cellular network. It just so happens that the ubiquitous nature of cell phones in daily life has led to the location of a cell phone (and potentially the person carrying it) translating to valuable data in criminal and civil litigation when analyzed and presented competently. Not All Analysts Are Created Equal Just like in the practice of law, medicine, auto mechanics, etc., it is a truism in cellular analysis that not all analysts possess the same work ethic, knowledge, training, capability or level of competence. The vast majority of historical cell site data analysts work for the government, and as such, can present their data and analysis with an air of confidence and authority. But I have seen multiple cases where this simply is not the case. Consider the following examples: Case study #1: A homicide where data records were used to try and tie the Defendant to the phone. Defendant’s primary phone in use was not in question, but the government attempted to illustrate that the “burner” or “drop” phone with which the victim last communicated also belonged to the Defendant by correlating the location of the two phones (known phone and burner phone) together over time, as well as attempting to tie the burner phone and defendant to the area where the victim’s body was located. Defense Counsel hired a private‑sector analyst (me) to conduct an independent analysis of the records and confirm or refute the assertions of the government with regard to this analysis. The problem was obvious ‑ the 3‑letter agency’s analysis contradicted itself without explanation See the below image that was entered into evidence as part of the larger initial analysis: Pretty map, isn’t it? The problem, as is highlighted in the red boxes (upper left and lower right), is that this map puts the burner phone (events cited in the red boxes and wedges) miles apart at virtually the same time. No explanation was provided in the report for this. When this was brought forth in cross‑examination of the government’s analyst, they testified that their agency calls this “teleportation.” And no, sadly, that’s not a joke. There’s actually a very reasonable explanation for this, which was not relayed to the jury until the analyst was called back to the stand in rebuttal of my testimony and, as coincidence would have it, produced a much more detailed map. Regardless, the Defendant was acquitted of the murder charge. Was it because of this? I have no idea. But I’m sure this didn’t help the jury’s confusion about this data… Nor did the “teleportation!” Case Study #2: A homicide where the Defendant was accused of the murder by assisting the shooter (who was found guilty prior to our Defendant’s trial) in getting away from the crime scene. The 3‑letter agency analyst produced a very short report/analysis, which lacked many things. Take a look at one of the images and I’ll explain what’s lacking: Another beautiful map! But what’s missing? First, the crime scene is barely visible amongst the other noise on the map. The map is hard to decipher. Second, two crucial pieces are missing – the illustration of other cell sites in the area as well as any other potentially other relevant locations. And not simply alibi locations either – basic things like the Defendant’s home, which is actually within this map view, but you’d never know it because it wasn’t included in the illustration. Simply put, this is an incomplete analysis. It seeks to prove a theory and disregards the context. What are the cell sites and why is that important? There are dozens of cell sites in the area of the above map (#2), some of which are closer to the crime scene. And while I cannot emphasize strongly enough that it is not 100% true that the phone always connects to the closest cell site, without the illustration of where the other cell sites are located, we don’t even have enough information to scrutinize. It’s an analysis in a bubble. The green and red dots on map #1 ‑‑ Those are the cell sites in a fairly populated metropolitan area, similar to the area in the map #2. Here’s the same event from map #2 in the same area from the same case, but with the context added (and easier to decipher). Those orange dots are all cell sites for this cellular carrier in the area not used for this event. The other potentially relevant locations, as well as the crime scene, have also been added to this map. The final potentially relevant piece is the terrain of the area. While not a large issue in this particular example, geographical features like terrain can have an effect on which cell site the cellular device chooses to use. For further context, this usage event was 4 minutes after the shooting (as verified by surveillance video time stamp). As you can see, there are several cell sites in between this event and the crime scene, but again, the cell phone will NOT always connect to the closest cell site, rather the cell site with the best signal. That said, the cell site in use is over 2 miles away from the crime scene in a fairly densely populated area. This map was generated as a more complete view of the relevant data and presented in comparison to map #2 for presentation to the Jury. The exclusion of this information in map #2 is inexplicable. Why is Any of this an Issue? I have been engaged in historical cell site records analysis in litigation for approximately 6 years, and in the practice of forensic data analysis (computers, cell phones, etc.) for 13 years. In that time, I’ve conducted dozens of analyses of carriers of all types, cases spanning from insurance investigations to divorce/custody disputes to criminal prosecution and defense. The practice of historical cell site analysis is not “junk science”, no matter what snake‑oil salesman “defense expert” may try to tell you. It works in most cases, if done properly. And if it didn’t work, no one would use it. Further, location of the phone is but one use of these records. There are multiple applications for these records related to behavior and activity of the user of the phone. That said, the problem I’ve seen repeatedly with criminal investigations utilizing historical cell site analysis is that Defense Counsel may be misinformed or lacking in their knowledge about what is presented to them by the government’s analyst. When a client is charged with a serious crime and the government gets the historical cell site location records and requests the [insert 3-letter law enforcement agency name here] to conduct an analysis and produce pretty maps showing that your guy was likely there at the wrong time, it tends to force a plea bargain because it looks good and it’s relatively technical. This happens regularly and can often not be in the best interest of the client. So, what can help your client? A thoughtful and informed conversation with an independent, experienced historical cell records analysis expert who can look at the records and provide a practical assessment. To be clear, you do not want a “defense expert”. You want an independent expert who will take in all of the available data and conduct as thorough analysis as possible, given what is available through discovery. And there’s more to “available data” than simply the records in most cases. A Few Tips from Experience I’m not perfect, and I don’t know everything. On top of that, I’m not a lawyer. However, I have worked many large litigation cases with these types of records and I’ve learned a few tips along the way that could help the process along more smoothly: - Consider obtaining the records allegedly associated with the target of the investigation independent of discovery. This assists in the ability for you to introduce the records and your expert’s analysis at trial, even if the government chooses not to do so. If the government never enters the records into evidence, it may not be possible for the hard work of your analyst to be presented to the judge or Obtaining these records can be done via Court Order and should be done as soon as possible and in consultation with your independent expert for proper terminology of the request. Some carriers don’t retain certain records for a long period of time, so obtaining the records in a timely manner is crucial. - The value of illustrating these usage events on a map can be compelling evidence, but static maps don’t always tell the whole story. Consider using an expert who has access to tools that will help animate the movement in the usage to help paint an overall clearer picture of the cellular location evidence in your case. To date, I’ve not seen a government analyst use animations to illustrate the records. I have, however, conducted analysis for the government using animations. - Be careful with your stipulations prior to trial. Stipulating to the authenticity of the records is probably Anything beyond that, including stipulating to the other analyst’s credentials, may cause issues down the road during trial testimony and presentation of evidence. - Don’t forget that there is probably relevant data in more than one place. While it’s true the government has likely tried to cover all of their bases on this – particularly in a major criminal case – that doesn’t mean that there won’t be information to help confirm or refute alibis, alternate location data, etc. that is stored on the cell phone itself or potentially in cloud data sources. If your cellular analyst doesn’t also have experience with analysis of these items, I’d suggest finding someone who has the ability to conduct this “holistic” type of analysis incorporating all potentially relevant pieces of data. - Look closely at what isn’t provided. I’ve learned that there is almost as much (if not more) value in looking at the evidence that ISN’T presented than there is at looking at evidence that IS If something obvious – like data from the Defendant’s cell phone (i.e., the device itself) was obtained, analyzed and not presented as evidence, that probably means there may be something on that phone that is not favorable to the other side’s case. Look at this closely. Conclusion I was in law enforcement for nearly 15 years, and I still travel the country teaching cops in any number of different subjects, including this one. Many of my former (and current) law enforcement compatriots may read this article and conclude that I’m trying to give the defense a “leg up” or reveal some trade secrets. Nothing could be further from the truth. My goal in relaying this information is simply to do my part to ensure the right people go to prison and the innocent people do not. This involves hard work, no matter who the victim is or what the circumstances of their death or attack may have been. I work many cases for the prosecution. I work many cases for the defense. The truth is always the ultimate goal, and should be for everyone involved in this process.
https://www.voiceforthedefenseonline.com/pretty-maps-plea-bargains-tips-on-handling-cellular-records-analysis-in-criminal-defense-cases/
Last updated: May 8, 2019 Genius forecasting – This method is based on a combination of intuition, insight, and luck. Psychics and crystal ball readers are the most extreme case of genius forecasting. Their forecasts are based exclusively on intuition. Science fiction writers have sometimes described new technologies with uncanny accuracy. There are many examples where men and women have been remarkable successful at predicting the future. There are also many examples of wrong forecasts. The weakness in genius forecasting is that its impossible to recognize a good forecast until the forecast has come to pass.Some psychic individuals are capable of producing consistently accurate forecasts. Mainstream science generally ignores this fact because the implications are simply to difficult to accept. Our current understanding of reality is not adequate to explain this phenomena. Trend extrapolation – These methods examine trends and cycles in historical data, and then use mathematical techniques to extrapolate to the future. The assumption of all these techniques is that the forces responsible for creating the past, will continue to operate in the future.This is often a valid assumption when forecasting short term horizons, but it falls short when creating medium and long term forecasts. The further out we attempt to forecast, the less certain we become of the forecast. The stability of the environment is the key factor in determining whether trend extrapolation is an appropriate forecasting model. The concept of “developmental inertia” embodies the idea that some items are more easily changed than others. Clothing styles is an example of an area that contains little inertia. It is difficult to produce reliable mathematical forecasts for clothing. Energy consumption, on the other hand, contains substantial inertia and mathematical techniques work well. The developmental inertia of new industries or new technology cannot be determined because there is not yet a history of data to draw from. There are many mathematical models for forecasting trends and cycles. Choosing an appropriate model for a particular forecasting application depends on the historical data. The study of the historical data is called exploratory data analysis.Its purpose is to identify the trends and cycles in the data so that appropriate model can be chosen. The most common mathematical models involve various forms of weighted smoothing methods. Another type of model is known as decomposition. This technique mathematically separates the historical data into trend, seasonal and random components. A process known as a “turning point analysis” is used to produce forecasts. ARIMA models such as adaptive filtering and Box-Jenkins analysis constitute a third class of mathematical model, while simple linear regression and curve fitting is a fourth. The common feature of these mathematical models is that historical data is the only criteria for producing a forecast. One might think then, that if two people use the same model on the same data that the forecasts will also be the same, but this is not necessarily the case. Mathematical models involve smoothing constants, coefficients and other parameters that must decided by the forecaster. To a large degree, the choice of these parameters determines the forecast. It is vogue today to diminish the value of mathematical extrapolation.Makridakis (one of the gurus of quantitative forecasting) correctly points out that judgmental forecasting is superior to mathematical models, however, there are many forecasting applications where computer generated forecasts are more feasible. For example, large manufacturing companies often forecast inventory levels for thousands of items each month. It would simply not be feasible to use judgmental forecasting in this kind of application. Some of these trend extrapolation techniques are explained in a short tutorial I wrote on forecasting techniques, available at the following page: jcflowers1. web. bsu. edu/rlo/forecasting. htm It briefly covers: • Naive Forecasts • Naive Trends • Moving Averages • Weighted Moving Averages • Simple Exponential Smoothing • Double Exponential Smoothing Consensus methods – Forecasting complex systems often involves seeking expert opinions from more than one person. Each is an expert in his own discipline, and it is through the synthesis of these opinions that a final forecast is obtained. One method of arriving at a consensus forecast would be to put all the experts in a room and let them “argue it out”.This method falls short because the situation is often controlled by those individuals that have the best group interaction and persuasion skills. A better method is known as the Delphi technique. This method seeks to rectify the problems of face-to-face confrontation in the group, so the responses and respondents remain anonymous. The classical technique proceeds in well-defined sequence. In the first round, the participants are asked to write their predictions. Their responses are collated and a copy is given to each of the participants.The participants are asked to comment on extreme views and to defend or modify their original opinion based on what the other participants have written. Again, the answers are collated and fed back to the participants. In the final round, participants are asked to reassess their original opinion in view of those presented by other participants. The Delphi method general produces a rapid narrowing of opinions. It provides more accurate forecasts than group discussions. Furthermore, a face-to-face discussion following the application of the Delphi method generally degrades accuracy.Evaluation of consensus methods in predictive species distribution modeling : http://www. will. chez-alice. fr/pdf/MarmionDID2009. pdf Simulation methods – Simulation methods involve using analogs to model complex systems. These analogs can take on several forms. A mechanical analog might be a wind tunnel for modeling aircraft performance. An equation to predict an economic measure would be a mathematical analog. A metaphorical analog could involve using the growth of a bacteria colony to describe human population growth. Game analogs are used where the interactions of the players are symbolic of social interactions.Mathematical analogs are of particular importance to futures research. They have been extremely successful in many forecasting applications, especially in the physical sciences. In the social sciences however, their accuracy is somewhat diminished. The extraordinary complexity of social systems makes it difficult to include all the relevant factors in any model. Clarke reminds us of a potential danger in our reliance on mathematical models. As he points out, these techniques often begin with an initial set of assumptions, and if these are incorrect, then the forecasts will reflect and amplify these errors. One of the most common mathematical analogs in societal growth is the S-curve. The model is based on the concept of the logistic or normal probability distribution. All processes experience exponential growth and reach an upper asymptopic limit. Modis has hypothesized that chaos like states exist at the beginning and end of the S-curve. The disadvantage of this S-curve model is that it is difficult to know at any point in time where you currently are on the curve, or how close you are to the asymtopic limit. The advantage of the model is that it forces planners to take a long-term look at the future.Another common mathematical analog involves the use of multivariate statistical techniques. These techniques are used to model complex systems involving relationships between two or more variables. Multiple regression analysis is the most common technique. Unlike trend extrapolation models, which only look at the history of the variable being forecast, multiple regression models look at the relationship between the variable being forecast and two or more other variables. Multiple regression is the mathematical analog of a systems approach, and it has become the primary forecasting tool of economists and social scientists.The object of multiple regression is to be able to understand how a group of variables (working in unison) affect another variable. The multiple regression problem of collinearity mirrors the practical problems of a systems approach. Paradoxically, strong correlations between predictor variables create unstable forecasts, where a slight change in one variable can have dramatic impact on another variable. In a multiple regression (and systems) approach, as the relationships between the components of the system increase, our ability to predict any given component decreases. Gaming analogs are also important to futures research.Gaming involves the creation of an artificial environment or situation. Players (either real people or computer players) are asked to act out an assigned role. The “role” is essentially a set of rules that is used during interactions with other players. While gaming has not yet been proven as a forecasting technique, it does serve two important functions. First, by the act of designing the game, researchers learn to define the parameters of the system they are studying. Second, it teaches researchers about the relationships between the components of the system. Monte Carlo simulation method in U. S.Geological Survey Digital Data Service 60 http://energy. cr. usgs. gov/WEcont/chaps/MC. pdf Cross-impact matrix method – Relationships often exist between events and developments that are not revealed by univariate forecasting techniques. The cross-impact matrix method recognizes that the occurrence of an event can, in turn, affect the likelihoods of other events. Probabilities are assigned to reflect the likelihood of an event in the presence and absence of other events. The resultant inter-correlational structure can be used to examine the relationships of the components to each other, and within the overall system.The advantage of this technique is that it forces forecasters and policy-makers to look at the relationships between system components, rather than viewing any variable as working independently of the others. Scenario – The scenario is a narrative forecast that describes a potential course of events. Like the cross-impact matrix method, it recognizes the interrelationships of system components. The scenario describes the impact on the other components and the system as a whole. It is a “script” for defining the particulars of an uncertain future.Scenarios consider events such as new technology, population shifts, and changing consumer preferences. Scenarios are written as long-term predictions of the future. A most likely scenario is usually written, along with at least one optimistic and one pessimistic scenario. The primary purpose of a scenario is to provoke thinking of decision makers who can then posture themselves for the fulfillment of the scenario(s). The three scenarios force decision makers to ask: 1) Can we survive the pessimistic scenario, 2) Are we happy with the most likely scenario, and 3) Are we ready to take advantage of the optimistic scenario?
https://niagarafallshypnosiscenter.com/internet-field-trip-2/
Visa financial indicator trend analysis is much more than just breaking down Visa prevalent accounting drivers to predict future trends. We encourage investors to analyze account correlations over time for multiple indicators to determine whether Visa is a good investment. Please check the relationship between Visa Tax Assets and its Current Liabilities accounts. Also please take a look at World Market Map. Tax Assets vs Current Liabilities Accounts Relationship Tax Assets vs Current Liabilities Significance: Fragmental Relationship Overlapping area represents amount of trend that can be explained by analyzing historical patterns of Visa Tax Assets account and Current Liabilities Correlation Coefficient 0.47 |Relationship Direction||Positive| |Relationship Strength||Weak| Tax AssetsA component of [Assets] representing tax assets and receivables. Current LiabilitiesThe current portion of [Liabilities]; reported if the company operates a classified balance sheet that segments current and non-current liabilities.
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Mejia K, Viboud C, Santillana M. Gates Open Research. 2019;3 :1653. Abstract Background: Traditionally, public health agencies track seasonal influenza activity by collecting information from clinics, hospitals, and laboratories. The inherent slowness of the processes used to collect influenza activity data limits the ability of public health agencies to adapt to unexpected changes in influenza activity in near real-time. In recent years, new influenza surveillance methods that use nontraditional data sources, such as Google searches, have been proposed to successfully estimate influenza activity in near real-time. However, most of these methods have been designed for and implemented in high-income countries even though influenza disease burden remains high in low- to middle-income countries. Here, we seek to predict influenza activity in near real-time in Africa using machine learning models that combine Google searches with traditional epidemiological data. Methods: We extend the AutoRegression with Google search data (ARGO) model to track influenza activity in near-real-time in Africa. The ARGO model, which was originally designed to predict influenza activity in the United States, combines influenza-related Google searches with historical laboratory-confirmed influenza trends. We evaluate the predictive performance of the ARGO model and compare it with several benchmark models in Algeria, Ghana, Morocco, and South Africa. We also explore the advantages and limitations of using Google search data to monitor influenza activity. Results: In South Africa, Algeria, and Morocco, the ARGO model outperforms all benchmark models, suggesting that incorporating influenza-related Google search information in predictive models in these countries leads to improved predictions. In Ghana, however, the ARGO model and the autoregressive model of historical influenza activity have comparable performances. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that the quality of the ARGO predictions is higher in regions where influenza activity is seasonal, historical influenza activity is recorded consistently, and the volume of influenza-related Google search queries is enough to appear as non-zero in the Google Trends tool. Enhancing Situational Awareness to Prevent Infectious Disease Outbreaks from Becoming Catastrophic Lipsitch M, Santillana M. In: Inglesby T Global Catastrophic Biological Risk. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. ; 2019. Abstract Catastrophic epidemics, if they occur, will very likely start from localized and far smaller (noncatastrophic) outbreaks that grow into much greater threats. One key bulwark against this outcome is the ability of governments and the health sector more generally to make informed decisions about control measures based on accurate understanding of the current and future extent of the outbreak. Situation reporting is the activity of periodically summarizing the state of the outbreak in a (usually) public way. We delineate key classes of decisions whose quality depends on high-quality situation reporting, key quantities for which estimates are needed to inform these decisions, and the traditional and novel sources of data that can aid in estimating these quantities. We emphasize the important role of situation reports as providing public, shared planning assumptions that allow decision makers to harmonize the response while making explicit the uncertainties that underlie the scenarios outlined for planning. In this era of multiple data sources and complex factors informing the interpretation of these data sources, we describe four principles for situation reporting:1. Situation reporting should be thematic, concentrating on essential areas of evidence needed for decisions. 2. Situation reports should adduce evidence from multiple sources to address each area of evidence, along with expert assessments of key parameters. 3. Situation reports should acknowledge uncertainty and attempt to estimate its magnitude for each assessment.4. Situation reports should contain carefully curated visualizations along with text and tables. Chikungunya virus outbreak in the Amazon region: replacement of the Asian genotype by an ECSA lineage Naveca FG, Claro I, Giovanetti M, Jesus JG, Javier J, Iani FCM, do Nascimento VA, Souza VC, Silveira PP, Lourenco J, et al. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 2019;13 (3) :e0007065. Abstract BackgroundSince its first detection in the Caribbean in late 2013, chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has affected 51 countries in the Americas. The CHIKV epidemic in the Americas was caused by the CHIKV-Asian genotype. In August 2014, local transmission of the CHIKV-Asian genotype was detected in the Brazilian Amazon region. However, a distinct lineage, the CHIKV-East-Central-South-America (ECSA)-genotype, was detected nearly simultaneously in Feira de Santana, Bahia state, northeast Brazil. The genomic diversity and the dynamics of CHIKV in the Brazilian Amazon region remains poorly understood despite its importance to better understand the epidemiological spread and public health impact of CHIKV in the country. Methodology/Principal findingsWe report a large CHIKV outbreak (5,928 notified cases between August 2014 and August 2018) in Boa vista municipality, capital city of Roraima’s state, located in the Brazilian Amazon region. We generated 20 novel CHIKV-ECSA genomes from the Brazilian Amazon region using MinION portable genome sequencing. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that despite an early introduction of the Asian genotype in 2015 in Roraima, the large CHIKV outbreak in 2017 in Boa Vista was caused by an ECSA-lineage most likely introduced from northeastern Brazil. Epidemiological analyses suggest a basic reproductive number of R 0 of 1.66, which translates in an estimated 39 (95% CI: 36 to 45) % of Roraima’s population infected with CHIKV-ECSA. Finally, we find a strong association between Google search activity and the local laboratory-confirmed CHIKV cases in Roraima. Conclusions/SignificanceThis study highlights the potential of combining traditional surveillance with portable genome sequencing technologies and digital epidemiology to inform public health surveillance in the Amazon region. Our data reveal a large CHIKV-ECSA outbreak in Boa Vista, limited potential for future CHIKV outbreaks, and indicate a replacement of the Asian genotype by the ECSA genotype in the Amazon region. Differences in Regional Patterns of Influenza Activity Across Surveillance Systems in the United States: Comparative Evaluation Baltrusaitis K, Vespignani A, Rosenfeld R, Gray J, Raymond D, Santillana M. JMIR Public Health Surveillance. 2019;5 (4) :e13403. Abstract Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracks influenza-like illness (ILI) using information on patient visits to health care providers through the Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet). As participation in this system is voluntary, the composition, coverage, and consistency of health care reports vary from state to state, leading to different measures of ILI activity between regions. The degree to which these measures reflect actual differences in influenza activity or systematic differences in the methods used to collect and aggregate the data is unclear. Objective: The objective of our study was to qualitatively and quantitatively compare national and region-specific ILI activity in the United States across 4 surveillance data sources—CDC ILINet, Flu Near You (FNY), athenahealth, and HealthTweets.org—to determine whether these data sources, commonly used as input in influenza modeling efforts, show geographical patterns that are similar to those observed in CDC ILINet’s data. We also compared the yearly percentage of FNY participants who sought health care for ILI symptoms across geographical areas. Methods: We compared the national and regional 2018-2019 ILI activity baselines, calculated using noninfluenza weeks from previous years, for each surveillance data source. We also compared measures of ILI activity across geographical areas during 3 influenza seasons, 2015-2016, 2016-2017, and 2017-2018. Geographical differences in weekly ILI activity within each data source were also assessed using relative mean differences and time series heatmaps. National and regional age-adjusted health care–seeking percentages were calculated for each influenza season by dividing the number of FNY participants who sought medical care for ILI symptoms by the total number of ILI reports within an influenza season. Pearson correlations were used to assess the association between the health care–seeking percentages and baselines for each surveillance data source. Results: We observed consistent differences in ILI activity across geographical areas for CDC ILINet and athenahealth data. ILI activity for FNY displayed little variation across geographical areas, whereas differences in ILI activity for HealthTweets.org were associated with the total number of tweets within a geographical area. The percentage of FNY participants who sought health care for ILI symptoms differed slightly across geographical areas, and these percentages were positively correlated with CDC ILINet and athenahealth baselines. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that differences in ILI activity across geographical areas as reported by a given surveillance system may not accurately reflect true differences in the prevalence of ILI. Instead, these differences may reflect systematic collection and aggregation biases that are particular to each system and consistent across influenza seasons. These findings are potentially relevant in the real-time analysis of the influenza season and in the definition of unbiased forecast models. Noninvasive Ventilation Is Interrupted Frequently and Mostly Used at Night in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Schlosser KR, Fiore GA, Smallwood CD, Griffin J, Geva A, Santillana M, Arnold JH. Respiratory Care. 2019;64 (9). Abstract BACKGROUND: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is commonly used to support children with respiratory failure, but detailed patterns of real-world use are lacking. The aim of our study was to describe use patterns of NIV via electronic medical record (EMR) data. METHODS: We performed a retrospective electronic chart review in a tertiary care pediatric ICU in the United States. Subjects admitted to the pediatric ICU from 2014 to 2017 who were mechanically ventilated were included in the study. RESULTS: The median number of discrete device episodes, defined as a time on support without interruption, was 20 (interquartile range [IQR] 8–49) per subject. The median duration of bi-level positive airway pressure (BPAP) support prior to interruption was 6.3 h (IQR 2.4–10.4); the median duration of CPAP was 6 h (IQR 2.1–10.4). Interruptions to BPAP had a median duration of 6.3 h (IQR 2–15.5); interruptions to CPAP had a median duration of 8.6 h (IQR 2.2–16.8). Use of NIV followed a diurnal pattern, with 44% of BPAP and 42% of CPAP subjects initiating support between 7:00 PM and midnight, and 49% of BPAP and 46% of CPAP subjects stopping support between 5:00 AM and 10:00 AM CONCLUSIONS: NIV was frequently interrupted, and initiation and discontinuation of NIV follows a diurnal pattern. Use of EMR data collected for routine clinical care allowed the analysis of granular details of typical use patterns. Understanding NIV use patterns may be particularly important to understanding the burden of pediatric ICU bed utilization for nocturnal NIV. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine in detail the use of pediatric NIV and to define diurnal use and frequent interruptions to support. Improved real-time influenza surveillance using Internet search data in eight Latin American countries Clemente LC, Lu F, Santillana M. JMIR Public Health Surveillance. 2019;5 (2) :e12214. Abstract Background: Novel influenza surveillance systems that leverage Internet-based real-time data sources including Internet search frequencies, social-network information, and crowd-sourced flu surveillance tools have shown improved accuracy over the past few years in data-rich countries like the United States. These systems not only track flu activity accurately, but they also report flu estimates a week or more ahead of the publication of reports produced by healthcare-based systems, such as those implemented and managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Previous work has shown that the predictive capabilities of novel flu surveillance systems, like Google Flu Trends (GFT), in developing countries in Latin America have not yet delivered acceptable flu estimates. Objective: The aim of this study was to show that recent methodological improvements on the use of Internet search engine information to track diseases can lead to improved retrospective flu estimates in multiple countries in Latin America. Methods: A machine learning-based methodology that uses flu-related Internet search activity and historical information to monitor flu activity, named ARGO (AutoRegression with Google search), was extended to generate flu predictions for 8 Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay) for the time period: January 2012 to December of 2016. These retrospective (out-of-sample) Influenza activity predictions were compared with historically observed flu suspected cases in each country, as reported by Flunet, an influenza surveillance database maintained by the World Health Organization. For a baseline comparison, retrospective (out-of-sample) flu estimates were produced for the same time period using autoregressive models that only leverage historical flu activity information. Results: Our results show that ARGO-like models’ predictive power outperform autoregressive models in 6 out of 8 countries in the 2012-2016 time period. Moreover, ARGO significantly improves on historical flu estimates produced by the now discontinued GFT for the time period of 2012-2015, where GFT information is publicly available. Conclusions: We demonstrate here that a self-correcting machine learning method, leveraging Internet-based disease-related search activity and historical flu trends, has the potential to produce reliable and timely flu estimates in multiple Latin American countries. This methodology may prove helpful to local public health officials who design and implement interventions aimed at mitigating the effects of influenza outbreaks. Our methodology generally outperforms both the now-discontinued tool GFT, and autoregressive methodologies that exploit only historical flu activity to produce future disease estimates. Improved state-level influenza activity nowcasting in the United States leveraging Internet-based data sources and network approaches Lu F, Hattab M, Clemente L, Santillana M. Nature Communications. 2019;10 (147). Abstract In the presence of health threats, precision public health approaches aim to provide targeted, timely, and population-specific interventions. Accurate surveillance methodologies that can estimate infectious disease activity ahead of official healthcare-based reports, at relevant spatial resolutions, are important for achieving this goal. Here we introduce a methodological framework which dynamically combines two distinct influenza tracking techniques, using an ensemble machine learning approach, to achieve improved state-level influenza activity estimates in the United States. The two predictive techniques behind the ensemble utilize (1) a self-correcting statistical method combining influenza-related Google search frequencies, information from electronic health records, and historical flu trends within each state, and (2) a network-based approach leveraging spatio-temporal synchronicities observed in historical influenza activity across states. The ensemble considerably outperforms each component method in addition to previously proposed state-specific methods for influenza tracking, with higher correlations and lower prediction errors. Internet search query data improves forecasts of daily emergency department volume Tideman S, Santillana M, Bickel J, Reis B. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. 2019;ocz154. Abstract ObjectiveEmergency departments (EDs) are increasingly overcrowded. Forecasting patient visit volume is challenging. Reliable and accurate forecasting strategies may help improve resource allocation and mitigate the effects of overcrowding. Patterns related to weather, day of the week, season, and holidays have been previously used to forecast ED visits. Internet search activity has proven useful for predicting disease trends and offers a new opportunity to improve ED visit forecasting. This study tests whether Google search data and relevant statistical methods can improve the accuracy of ED volume forecasting compared with traditional data sources. Materials and MethodsSeven years of historical daily ED arrivals were collected from Boston Children’s Hospital. We used data from the public school calendar, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Google Trends. Multiple linear models using LASSO (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) for variable selection were created. The models were trained on 5 years of data and out-of-sample accuracy was judged using multiple error metrics on the final 2 years. ResultsAll data sources added complementary predictive power. Our baseline day-of-the-week model recorded average percent errors of 10.99%. Autoregressive terms, calendar and weather data reduced errors to 7.71%. Search volume data reduced errors to 7.58% theoretically preventing 4 improperly staffed days. DiscussionThe predictive power provided by the search volume data may stem from the ability to capture population-level interaction with events, such as winter storms and infectious diseases, that traditional data sources alone miss. ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that search volume data can meaningfully improve forecasting of ED visit volume and could help improve quality and reduce cost. 2018 Estimation of Pneumonic Plague Transmission in Madagascar, August–November 2017 Majumder MS, Cohn EL, Santillana M, Brownstein JS. PLOS Currents Outbreaks. 2018;1. Abstract Introduction: Between August and November 2017, Madagascar reported nearly 2500 cases of plague; the vast majority of these cases were pneumonic, resulting in early exponential growth due to person-to-person transmission. Though plague is endemic in Madagascar, cases are usually bubonic and thus result in considerably smaller annual caseloads than those observed from August–November 2017. Methods: In this study, we consider the transmission dynamics of pneumonic plague in Madagascar during this time period, as well as the role of control strategies that were deployed to curb the outbreak and their effectiveness. Results: When using data from the beginning of the outbreak through late November 2017, our estimates for the basic reproduction number range from 1.6 to 3.6, with a mean of 2.4. We also find two distinctive periods of “control”, which coincide with critical on-the-ground interventions, including contact tracing and delivery of antibiotics, among others. Discussion: Given these results, we conclude that existing interventions remain effective against plague in Madagascar, despite the atypical size and spread of this particular outbreak. Comparison of crowd-sourced, electronic health records based, and traditional health-care based influenza-tracking systems at multiple spatial resolutions in the United States of America Baltrusaitis K, Brownstein J, Scarpino S, Bakota E, Crawley A, Conidi J, Gunn J, Gray J, Zink A, Santillana M. BMC infectious diseases. 2018;18 (403). Abstract Background: Influenza causes an estimated 3000 to 50,000 deaths per year in the United States of America (US). Timely and representative data can help local, state, and national public health officials monitor and respond to outbreaks of seasonal influenza. Data from cloud-based electronic health records (EHR) and crowd-sourced influenza surveillance systems have the potential to provide complementary, near real-time estimates of influenza activity. The objectives of this paper are to compare two novel influenza-tracking systems with three traditional healthcare-based influenza surveillance systems at four spatial resolutions: national, regional, state, and city, and to determine the minimum number of participants in these systems required to produce influenza activity estimates that resemble the historical trends recorded by traditional surveillance systems. Methods: We compared influenza activity estimates from five influenza surveillance systems: 1) patient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) from the US Outpatient ILI Surveillance Network (ILINet), 2) virologic data from World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) Laboratories, 3) Emergency Department (ED) syndromic surveillance from Boston, Massachusetts, 4) patient visits for ILI from EHR, and 5) reports of ILI from the crowd-sourced system, Flu Near You (FNY), by calculating correlations between these systems across four influenza seasons, 2012-16, at four different spatial resolutions in the US. For the crowd-sourced system, we also used a bootstrapping statistical approach to estimate the minimum number of reports necessary to produce a meaningful signal at a given spatial resolution. Results: In general, as the spatial resolution increased, correlation values between all influenza surveillance systems decreased. Influenza-like Illness rates in geographic areas with more than 250 crowd-sourced participants or with more than 20,000 visit counts for EHR tracked government-lead estimates of influenza activity. Conclusions: With a sufficient number of reports, data from novel influenza surveillance systems can complement traditional healthcare-based systems at multiple spatial resolutions. Accurate influenza monitoring and forecasting in the Boston metropolis using novel Internet data streams Lu F, Hou S, Baltrusaitis K, Shah M, Leskovec J, Sosic R, Hawkins J, Brownstein JS, Conidi G, Gunn J, et al. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2018;4 (1) :e4. Abstract Background: Influenza outbreaks pose major challenges to public health around the world, leading to thousands of deaths a year in the United States alone. Accurate systems that track influenza activity at the city level are necessary to provide actionable information that can be used for clinical, hospital, and community outbreak preparation. Objective: Although Internet-based real-time data sources such as Google searches and tweets have been successfully used to produce influenza activity estimates ahead of traditional health care–based systems at national and state levels, influenza tracking and forecasting at finer spatial resolutions, such as the city level, remain an open question. Our study aimed to present a precise, near real-time methodology capable of producing influenza estimates ahead of those collected and published by the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) for the Boston metropolitan area. This approach has great potential to be extended to other cities with access to similar data sources. Methods: We first tested the ability of Google searches, Twitter posts, electronic health records, and a crowd-sourced influenza reporting system to detect influenza activity in the Boston metropolis separately. We then adapted a multivariate dynamic regression method named ARGO (autoregression with general online information), designed for tracking influenza at the national level, and showed that it effectively uses the above data sources to monitor and forecast influenza at the city level 1 week ahead of the current date. Finally, we presented an ensemble-based approach capable of combining information from models based on multiple data sources to more robustly nowcast as well as forecast influenza activity in the Boston metropolitan area. The performances of our models were evaluated in an out-of-sample fashion over 4 influenza seasons within 2012-2016, as well as a holdout validation period from 2016 to 2017. Results: Our ensemble-based methods incorporating information from diverse models based on multiple data sources, including ARGO, produced the most robust and accurate results. The observed Pearson correlations between our out-of-sample flu activity estimates and those historically reported by the BPHC were 0.98 in nowcasting influenza and 0.94 in forecasting influenza 1 week ahead of the current date. Conclusions: We show that information from Internet-based data sources, when combined using an informed, robust methodology, can be effectively used as early indicators of influenza activity at fine geographic resolutions. Antibiotic Resistance Increases with Local Temperature MacFadden DR, McGough SF, Fisman D, Santillana M, Brownstein JS. Nature Climate Change. 2018;8 :510–514. Abstract Bacteria that cause infections in humans can develop or acquire resistance to antibiotics commonly used against them 1 , 2 . Antimicrobial resistance (in bacteria and other microbes) causes significant morbidity worldwide, and some estimates indicate the attributable mortality could reach up to 10 million by 2050 2 , 3 , 4 . Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is believed to develop largely under the selective pressure of antibiotic use; however, other factors may contribute to population level increases in antibiotic resistance 1 , 2 . We explored the role of climate (temperature) and additional factors on the distribution of antibiotic resistance across the United States, and here we show that increasing local temperature as well as population density are associated with increasing antibiotic resistance (percent resistant) in common pathogens. We found that an increase in temperature of 10 °C across regions was associated with an increases in antibiotic resistance of 4.2%, 2.2%, and 2.7% for the common pathogens Escherichia coli , Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus . The associations between temperature and antibiotic resistance in this ecological study are consistent across most classes of antibiotics and pathogens and may be strengthening over time. These findings suggest that current forecasts of the burden of antibiotic resistance could be significant underestimates in the face of a growing population and climate change 4 . Relatedness of the Incidence Decay with Exponential Adjustment (IDEA) Model," Farr's Law" and SIR Compartmental Difference Equation Models Santillana M, Tuite A, Nasserie T, Fine P, Champredon D, Chindelevitch L, Dushoff J, Fisman D. Infectious Disease Modelling. 2018;3 :1-12. Abstract Mathematical models are often regarded as recent innovations in the description and analysis of infectious disease outbreaks and epidemics, but simple mathematical expressions have been in use for projection of epidemic trajectories for more than a century. We recently introduced a single equation model (the incidence decay with exponential adjustment, or IDEA model) that can be used for short-term epidemiological forecasting. In the mid-19th century, Dr. William Farr made the observation that epidemic events rise and fall in a roughly symmetrical pattern that can be approximated by a bell-shaped curve. He noticed that this time-evolution behavior could be captured by a single mathematical formula (“Farr's law”) that could be used for epidemic forecasting. We show here that the IDEA model follows Farr's law, and show that for intuitive assumptions, Farr's Law can be derived from the IDEA model. Moreover, we show that both mathematical approaches, Farr's Law and the IDEA model, resemble solutions of a susceptible-infectious-removed (SIR) compartmental differential-equation model in an asymptotic limit, where the changes of disease transmission respond to control measures, and not only to the depletion of susceptible individuals. This suggests that the concept of the reproduction number (R0) was implicitly captured in Farr's (pre-microbial era) work, and also suggests that control of epidemics, whether via behavior change or intervention, is as integral to the natural history of epidemics as is the dynamics of disease transmission.
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The word "zombie" originated in the voudon beliefs of the Caribbean and West Africa, referring to a body "revived" and enslaved by a sorcerer. (Some of the oldest aspects of zombie appearance are actually symptoms of tetrodotoxin poisoning, a neurotoxin that may have been used in certain voudon rituals, though the Other Wiki dismisses the possibility on the grounds of not enough similarities between the two.) In this form, it has been known in America since the late 19th century. However, it wasn't until the 1960s that George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead (1968) attached the word to the living dead who eat the flesh of the living. (Note, however, that the flesh-eaters in that movie are never referred to as "zombies," and Romero himself didn't consider them zombies, preferring "ghouls.") As Night was accidentally entered into the public domain due to an error in the end credits, it quickly became the object of imitation and emulation by many other directors. Most zombie invasion stories, even those not explicitly based on Romero's films, follow the same conventions, though there are major points of contention. While Romero is responsible for most of the "general" zombie conventions, the more specific and visible zombie tropes are more often inspired by the later works of John Russo, Night's co-writer. Most zombie movies mix-and-match conventions from the Romero and Russo canons. The Russo canon in particular (Return of the Living Dead) is the reason most people will respond with "Braaaiinnnns" when zombies come up in conversation, and most depictions along those lines are references to it. Zombie canon was turned on its head with the release of the video game House of the Dead in 1996 and the film 28 Days Later in 2002, which heavily influenced and popularized the modern trend of super-fast, super-angry zombies (usually infected sort-of-alive humans as opposed to the reanimated dead) that has carried over to numerous works of fiction and entertainment. The most common zombie archetypes are as follows: - Artificial Zombie: Reanimated by science! - Frankenstein's Monster: The famous creation of Dr. Frankenstein, who is common enough in pop culture to have his own trope. - Attractive Zombie: A zombie who retains his/her good looks in spite of being a living corpse. - Elite Zombie: There's regular zombies, slow or fast, and then there's these zombies, stronger than regular ones and often sporting enhanced abilities or unusual mutations to make them harder to take out. - Flesh-Eating Zombie: Zombies that eat the flesh of the living. They are usually mindless, feral ghouls who are driven only by their instinct to find live prey. - Friendly Zombie: The opposite case; a benign zombie who has no Horror Hunger and means no harm to living people. They are closely related to friendly vampires and ghosts. - Plague Zombie: Created by The Virus or other such communicable disease. They have the ability to turn their infected victims into more zombies. Often overlaps with Flesh-Eating Zombie and/or Technically Living Zombie. - Parasite Zombie: For when the infection comes in the form of large parasites instead of microbes. - Possessing a Dead Body: Reanimated by an intelligent spirit — though not the soul who originally owned that body (as that would be a Revenant Zombie). This spirit is often demonic. - Revenant Zombie: A sapient zombie that has returned for some driving purpose, retaining (to at least some degree) their living personality and memories of their previous existence. - Technically Living Zombie: When zombies are transformed, living victims instead of reanimated undead corpses. Often overlaps with Plague Zombie. - Voodoo Zombie: Brought back by dark voodoo magic to serve their master. As noted above, this is what the term "zombie" originally referred to. Romero's Flesh-Eating Zombie concept has largely eclipsed this variant in zombie media. You're currently more likely to run into these guys in the fantasy genre as a necromancer's standard mooks — and nowadays, they're often revived through other varieties of The Dark Arts besides Hollywood Voodoo. Skin color of zombies can also vary widely, ranging from normal skin tones to green, blue, or gray. Their gait can also vary, from limping, sliding their feet along the ground, having the "arms forward" stance, and the more modern variant-the running zombie. See also Everything's Deader with Zombies, Zombie Apocalypse, Not a Zombie. Not Using the "Z" Word happens when creatures that otherwise fit the profile perfectly are not called zombies (although the trope applies to other creatures as well). Elite Zombie is this trope combined with Elite Mook. Most zombies are Night of the Living Mooks, and Slave Mooks. The Necromancer is a common source of magical zombies. Contrast the Incongruously Dressed Zombie, who only looks different. Subtrope of The Undead. Examples that defy easy categorization: - The zombies from Apocalypse no Toride are diverse. Some are your typical plague, flesh-eating zombies, while others morph into strange-looking creatures with almost super human abilities. And let's not forget the Hive Queen. - The Titans from Attack on Titan are not undead, but bear some of the characteristics of zombies. They are mindless beings that relentlessly seek to devour humans, can only be killed by a targeted attack to a specific area, and do not experience pain. Their appetite is exclusively for humans, and make no effort to eat or otherwise harm animals, but despite walls being built to keep the humans and Titans separate for decades, the Titan population doesn't seem to have decreased at all, indicating they don't need to eat humans to survive. In Season 2, when a horde of Titans appeared inside the human territory without the Walls being breached, it's implied that these Titans used to be the people from Connie's village, and someone (commonly thought to be the Beast Titan) transformed them. - The abyss feeders from Claymore. A new class of "warriors" made by the Organization, they are created from the flesh of Awakened Beings instead of regular yoma. Unlike their Claymore counterparts, who retain their humanity in spite of being half monster, abyss feeders have no sense of self or humanity, and are only driven by the desire to eat the flesh of Abyssal Ones, by which they relentlessly track their target by being given a piece of their flesh. What makes them more zombie-like is their lanky and ungainly gait, eyes that are sewn shut, rapid regeneration, and sewn-together mouths that only become unfastened when they are eating their target alive. - The eponymous fighters of Corpse Princess. They can't pass away peacefully due to their lingering hatred toward something (usually the person who killed them), making them Revenants; but it takes the Monks' esoteric magic (relatively-benign voodoo) to prevent them from degenerating into standard zombies. They will degenerate into standard zombies regardless, it's an Awful Truth. Their enemies are standard zombies. - In Delicious in Dungeon, if a corpse is not resurrected quickly enough and the spirit separates from the body, the spirit will become a ghost and the body will rise as a zombie. - In The Empire of Corpses zombies are manmade workers of varying intelligence referred to as Frankensteins. They are also the main source of infantry in military battles, and some can even be made into skilled fighters. - The Immortal Legion in Fullmetal Alchemist are effectively zombies as they are human souls implanted into mannequins driven mad and trying to eat people. Since they don't need their body to live this makes them impossible to kill by ordinary means. Mustang is able to incinerate them but other than that the best solution is to remove their jaws so they can't devour people. - Kikyo from Inuyasha was created from her ashes and grave soil and powered by the souls of the dead. Revenant, artificial, and voodoo (except she's too powerful to control and almost immediately kills her creator). - Ayumu from Is This a Zombie? was revived by the Necromancer Eucliwood Hellscythe and is looking for his killer. With Magical Girl powers... revenant mixed with voodoo. - There are a few varieties of zombie in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: - The first variety are "Zombies" from the earlier arcs and are created when a Vampire either sucks the blood out of a human or brings the dead back to life with their own blood, and become willing servants of the Vampire who created them, with varying levels of their own will. These Zombies can only be defeated by means of the Ripple or exposure to sunlight. DIO eventually perfects this ability of his to where he can create new Vampires instead by the time of Stardust Crusaders, as Vanilla Ice is not called a Zombie. - Judgement, a minor villain's Stand in Stardust Crusaders, has the power to create lifelike golems of humans out of dirt, which will then proceed to eat any human nearby. Due to his disguise as a Jerkass Genie, he uses this ability to trick Polnareff to lowering his guard by 'reviving' his dead sister. - Minor Stone Ocean villain Sports Maxx's Stand Limp Bizkit allows him to use the corpses of the dead around him to turn their "spirits" into invisible but still tangible wraith-like "zombies" with enhanced strength. Limp Bizkit works on dead of any age or species, as a taxidermied alligator is turned into an invisible zombie. Even Sports Maxx himself becomes a zombie under the power of his own Stand. These zombies can be killed again through conventional means. - In an odder example, Vento Aureo had Bruno Bucciarati. After he's killed by Diavolo, Giorno attempts to use Gold Experience's life-giving power to resurrect him. It seemingly works, but the revived Bruno has no heartbeat and is slowly returning to death. - The "Kabane" of Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress are super-fast, super-tough monsters with glowing veins and hearts that are literally as hard as iron, making them exceptionally difficult to kill. They also infect people by biting, and the show's official website details two infection methods: 1) an almost instantaneous infection that transforms the victim within seconds, or 2) a slower infection that takes up to 24 hours during which the victim still retains the ability to speak and reason. Stopping the virus's progress before it reaches the brain turns a human into a Kabaneri, granting them the speed and strength of a Kabane but retaining human sanity, but still leaving them at risk of mutation. - Kingdom of Zombie: It's a very standard approach to the zombies themselves, but the story takes place in a medieval setting where zombies are a widespread problem, but life continues as most people live in walled-off cities. The main protagonist wants to join in a Zombie Expedition to help clear out some zombies and make the world safer, and even possibly track down the source of the problem. - Monster Musume has several different types such as jiangshi (who suffer from rigor mortis), mummies (who are naturally preserved by their desert environment, but suffer from dry skin), Frankensteins (who are artificially created undead from scratch), early zombies (who lacked proper preservation and need to stay cold to avoid decay) and the regular modern zombies that get artificial formaldehyde-based blood and an artificial heart to keep it pumping. While zombies are created by a virus that's spread by being bitten, it's said to be extremely weak: a healthy human won't even get sick before their body fights off the infection, they must be close to death already before the zombie virus can transform them. All zombies retain their human intellect provided that their brains are kept from decaying, and failing to makes them stupid but relaxed and easygoing, not feral monsters. The process causes so few changes that a young girl that Lala deliberately turned into a zombie to stop her from dying didn't even realize she was a zombie until Miss Smith pointed out that she wasn't breathing and her heart wasn't beating anymore. - The second OVA of My Hero Academia features a student whose Quirk is called, appropiately enough, "Zombie". It spreads the Zombie Virus through pink gas, and is temporary, with bites from the zombies also spreading the infection, including the user himself. The infected become chalk-white, lose their eyes, along with most functions of their brains, gain Super Strength and Zombie Gait, randomly use their Quirks, are Nigh-Invulnerable, can be fooled into thinking someone is a zombie, and retain some aspect of their personality. - The jutsu Summoning: Impure World Resurrection from Naruto is complicated. To begin with, it forces the soul of a dead person who has passed to the "Pure World" (the afterlife) back into the "Impure World" (the mortal world) to obey their summoner, making them Voodoo Zombies. At the same time, the jutsu actually works by using a living human as a basis onto which the appearance, memories, personality, and abilities of the deceased are grafted, hence them also being Artificial Zombies. The culmination of the jutsu implements a seal that overrides their free will completely and compels them to pursue a single goal relentlessly, leading to Revenant. To resurrect somebody as a zombie requires both a sample of their DNA and access to their soul, meaning that those whose souls are eaten by the Shinigami cannot be resurrected. - The Mind Control is provided by a separate technique that is not required to bring them back to life, they would just make bad Cannon Fodder without it. The resurrected can ignore the control with enough willpower. - The only way to "kill" these zombies is to cancel the jutsu. Killing the person who performed the jutsu does not cancel it, it simply leaves the zombies to their own devices. And if one of the zombies knows how to perform the jutsu himself, he can free himself while remaining an unkillable juggernaut with infinite stamina. The zombie who does exactly that? Madara Uchiha. - The Six Paths of Pain could also count as Artificial Zombies; they are corpses that Nagato can control through the Chakra Receiver Rods implanted all over their bodies. - Type V and C in One Piece. Shadow-Shadow Fruit allows Warlord of the Sea Gecko Moria to steal shadows off living people, and then put them in corpses reconstructed by Dr. Hogback via surgery. These zombies retain the personality traits and fighting abilities of the original owner of the shadow. - Certain entities in Puella Magi Madoka Magica are referred to as zombies, but they're really closer to Liches. What are these entities? Well, the titular Magical Girls themselves. - Sankarea has a potion able to reanimate the recently deceased. These zombies retain their personality and intelligence but eventually become a Russo zombie: slow, dumb, rotting and having a never ending urge for human flesh. Their bite also does not contain any means of making new zombies, but instead acts as a poison, numbing pain in small amounts or paralyzing in large amounts, making their victims unable to escape. - The zombies in School-Live! first appear like any other zombie but it's later seen that they possess residual memories to the point they seem to repeat habits they did when they were alive, such as former adults being at "work" and former students being in "school". In the anime, they are fairly content to leave the girls alone as long as they aren't startled and in general, seem to act like people in a constant psychotic daze. After being bitten, Megu-nee was able to regain part of her memories and tried to hide herself away from the girls so she wouldn't hurt them. - When people die in Sunday Without God, nothing really changes except the fact that they decay. They're still like normal humans, only they don't age or need to eat or sleep, and the only way they can truly die is if they're properly buried by a certain kind of gravekeeper. - The titular characters of Zombie Land Saga are standard shambling corpses... until they are properly stimulated, whereupon they regain the memory and intelligence of their past lives. How they're risen is deliberately left vague by the man behind their resurrection, but they seem to be a mix between Voodoo Zombie and Revenant Zombie. Except for Tae, who remains mindless. Also, Removing the Head or Destroying the Brain does not apply, as not only do their limbs pop off semi-frequently only for them to re-attach with little difficulty, for Tae it's practically a gag for her head to come free completely and still be active, and Sakura once jabbed an iron poker through a still-mindless Ai's head and brain and she kept walking around just fine. On that note, the various girls post-zombification have been run over, shot through the chest, fallen from great heights, been hit by bolts of lightning, even being caught in a motorcycle explosion, and walked out admitting they felt pain and occasionally losing an easily-reattachable limb, but not much else. - The are at least two distinct types of zombie in Arrowsmith. One an Artificial Zombie that is created by a weapon of mass destruction: a magical gas that kills anyone who breathes it and then raises them as a zombie. The other is the traditional Voodoo Zombie, who are seen serving as part of the Gallian colonial troops. - The zombies in the miniseries Night of the Living Deadpool are the result of an experiment to imbue people with an artificial Healing Factor Gone Horribly Wrong. The infected are fully conscious and aware of their actions, but unable to stop themselves from devouring anyone they encounter, essentially becoming prisoners in their own rotting bodies, Forced to Watch as they attack others. - In Death Vigil, Sam is often assisted in his fights by a boatload of draugr he has bound to serve him after a trip to Norway in the past. They're actually pretty cool with it, mainly because it gives them a chance to kick some ass. He describes them to Clara as "Viking Superzombies", which is a healthy dose of Shown Their Work: Draugr are undead creatures, and are among the most powerful of all wights, in Germanic mythology (unlike the Skyrim example below, where they're treated as standard mook fare). - Donald Duck was once stalked by a Zombie called Bombie the Zombie. He was of the Voodoo variety and had to hand a cursed doll which shrank him, mistaking him for Scrooge McDuck who was a absolute jerk to this Voodoo priest who then sent said Zombie after him. - The Goon: - The Zombie Priest's soldiers are typically voodoo-reanimated mindless cannibals with a couple of exceptions: - The Buzzard is a bizarre kind of "anti-zombie" created by a zombie-raising spell being cast on a living human rather than a corpse. He's fully sentient, apparently immortal (although he looks all his hundred years or more), and has a craving to feed on the flesh of the undead. - Willie Nagel, who retains his intelligence and seems uninterested in eating people. When asked why he's not mindless like the others, Willie surmises that most people were already zombies in life, but as a con-man and free thinker who always lived outside the system, he was immune. - The zombies in the IDW crossover comic Infestation: Outbreak consume flesh and infect the victims, looking like rotting corpses. They are also somehow able to infect machines (thanks to magitek called Artillica) and other undead (which results in a vampire/zombie hybrid). All zombies are guided by a single intelligence known as the Undermind, whose eternal hunger is shared by all zombies. These zombies are then spread to other worlds, including GI Joe, Star Trek, The Transformers (IDW), and Ghostbusters. - Judge Dredd: - The Dark Judges skirt the line between some sort of revenant and ghosts, as they're unkillable spirits occupying dead bodies, who retained their living personalities. They could even be described as a lich given their array of supernatural powers in addition to their undead state. Though Judge Death hates being called a zombie, since it implies subservience to a master. - Romero-style zombies show up as mooks during "Judgement Day", when the world faces a Zombie Apocalypse. There's also Sabbat's former school bully, Den, who is brought back as a zombie with his mind intact as Sabbat's plaything. One story set in the aftermath of Judgement Day shows one citizen having died and come back to life shifting constantly between normal human behaviour and a desire to eat human brains. - Chief Judge Silver was murdered and brought back as a revenant by the Dark Judges, retaining his memories but gaining no powers aside from being a walking corpse. - The zombified heroes from Marvel Zombies are a mix between flesh-eating and revenant (at least intellect-wise); they are plague-bearing as well, many heroes were infected through bite. The fourth series revealed that the chain of events that led to their state was, in the first place, caused by a Stable Time Loop in which the "original" remaining Marvel Zombies ended up in another universe (one that was parallel to Civil War in the lead up to World War Hulk) and infected their version of the Sentry — who, in turn, went on to spread the infection to their home universe. - In the fifth series, a team heads to four different Alternate Universes suffering a Zombie Apocalypse, and in each one the zombies are different: Weird West Plague Zombies; The War of the Worlds Artificial Zombies; Arthurian Revenant Zombies; and 20 Minutes into the Future Technically Living Zombies. There's even a classification system, in which shambling Plague Zombies are "Romeros" and intelligent revenants are "Raimis". - Marvel Comics called its voodoo zombies "zuvembies" to get around a Comics Code prohibition (see above). The "zuvembie" name came from a Robert E. Howard short story, "Pigeons From Hell," and wasn't really all that zombie-like, as summarized on The Other Wiki. - Requiem Chevalier Vampire: Zombies are what normal sinners become in Hell when they die and are the lowest strata of the social classes. - In Roswell Conspiracies: Aliens, Myths and Legends, "zombies" are actually corpses inhabited by Vodun, an alien race that look like large slugs and manipulate the dead bodies. - Shadow Man from the comic series and games, would be an example here. He's explicitly a zombie through voodoo, though only at night, or in Deadside. Otherwise, he's a living human. - While there are quite a few flavors of zombie in Simon Dark — despite the word zombie never being uttered — most are easy to categorize. Then there's Tom Kirk, who despite being made by the same man whose other undead creations are deformed patchwork flesh golems with no pulse is able to pass as human so long as he keeps a few conspicuous scars covered, but doesn't quite fit as a technically living zombie since he was murdered and very dead before Gustav snagged his corpse. - Solomon Grundy is an interesting zombie, given he's made more out of rotting plant material than his original corpse and that every time he's killed he rises from Slaughter Swamp the following Monday with a different facet of Cyrus Gold's personality and an unpredictable power level. As he's not consistent he can be several different types of zombie over his different appearances. - The main (titular) character in Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse is a mix of parasite and revenant types. He is a psychic worm that hides in the skull of cadavers, animating them to his will. He doesn't particularly like eating brains (prefers a pint of lager instead) and generally finds himself cleaning up the magical issues of pretty much everyone. While he can switch between corpses, he has a preferred body which most people seem to recognize. It's also preferred because he is psychically linked, meaning he feels whatever the body is subjected to (although not pain, otherwise he would be comatose from shock). Note that the corpse is nothing but an empty vessel for Wormwood, which means the parasite IS the revenant. This is played with to good effect when Wormwood leaves his corpse in the first full story to find the Big Bad. If he hadn't, he would've been flung from the corpse and most likely squished. - The zombies in the ZMD (from the mind of Kevin Grevioux, the guy behind the Underworld movies) comics are a mix of flesh-eating and plague-bearing. However, they were specifically designed by the US government to be deployed in conflict areas instead of living troops. In order to contain the threat, a build-in fail-safe causes them to sublimate when exposed to the sun (which means they also get a vampire trait). They are exceptionally strong, able to literally tear body parts off their victims or punch through someone's ribcage. The problem appears when one of the prototypes goes missing following a deployment in the Middle East. Apparently, the zombie experiences Failsafe Failure and is able to walk in the sun. The scientist in charge of the project is very concerned, fearing the zombie virus could mutate into an airborne form. They send the protagonist, a veteran soldier named Drake to find and destroy the runaway zombie, who is terrorizing towns in the Middle East, creating an army of zombies. Additionally, it turns out that the zombie virus works on other species too. At least two animal species are found infected: dogs and camel spiders. There is a cure of sorts, but it has to be injected within the hour of exposure, or the infection is irreversible. All zombies rot very quickly. Additionally, any zombie resulting from the bite of the mutated zombie is immune to sunlight. - It's also revealed that not all zombies are mindless creatures. The runaway prototype is capable of speech and exerts some sort of control over the others. - The lushly illustrated Apocalyptic Log chronicle Zombies A Record Of The Year Of Infection features a mishmash of flesh-eating and a variation/combination of plague-bearing and "other." They're flesh-eating because they eat human flesh, but are "other" since they're the result of a toxic food additive which causes insanity and sepsis rather than a virus or plague (making the title "Year of Infection" somewhat inaccurate). Where they're plague-bearing is the fact that the toxin can be transmitted through saliva via a bite. This also begs the question of whether or not they're actually undead or just insane, crazy rotting cannibals. - Zombo: "Normal" zombies are flesh-eating, and turn everyone they bite into more of them provided there's even something left before zombification kicks in. They retain their intellect, but they're deadset on making everyone "Like Us!". Zombo himself (and Obmoz, his Evil Counterpart) is more of a Frankenstein's Monster-type creature, the result of combining human with zombie DNA to create a Supersoldier who obeys human commands. He still has a taste for living flesh, though. - Played for laughs in Calvin and Hobbes when Calvin pretends to be a zombie. Calvin: Horribly, the undead feed upon the living! ... although, in a pinch, a PBJ will do, if you eat it messily enough. - In Game of Touhou, the wights resemble the A Song of Ice and Fire original Others, but they're different in the sense of being weak to quicksilver, has near instantaneous reanimation, and are subject to warging, which mean they can 'remote-controlled', the method from which the villain controls the geopolitical map behind the scenes. - Sonic X: Dark Chaos has the Shroud, which is essentially a combination of the Flood from Halo and the Necromorphs from Dead Space. Large parasites cause rapid and Body Horror-filled mutation in organic matter, and the resulting monster is both extremely fast and extremely deadly. Multiply them by several trillion and it's not hard to see why Shroud are considered the greatest threat to the denizens of the galaxy. And Dark Tails can control them. - In Chapter 3 of this MCU fanfic the characters have to go against the draugur. They're mostly based in Norse mythology, as should be obvious from the name, but have elements of modern conceptions of both vampires and zombies, as well as the mysterious ability to either know the future or remember the previous Ragnorak. - In The Big Four Cjupsher Series, there are many different kinds roaming the world. - Sally/Ragdoll is a patchwork entity created by Dr. Finkelstein using Dr. Frankenstein's notes - Jack Skellington/The Pumpkin King is a powerful skeleton sorcerer from an afterlife beyond. - Emily is a dead-bride that plays the piano in Bone-jangle's tavern. - Mention of many different afterlives are prevalent, most notably the Land of the Remembered and the Land of the Forgotten. - Sanguis Cruciatus of the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fanfic series, Shattered Dimensions, is a Revenant-type, and his undead soldiers are Revenant-types brought back by Necromancy. - In the Legend of Korra fanfic Book 5: Legends, the walking dead men resemble zombies, but are in fact animated by sandbending and mixed with dark spiritual energy to follow a single controlling influence. Continue fighting despite blows to the head and require total immolation to destroy. - In the Monster Musume fanfic Daily Odd Life with Monster Girls, Naki and her sister Hana were created by a Mad Scientist (making them more akin to Flesh Golems), and their hands, arms and legs are connected to their bodies with magnets so that they can be removed easily. They can't control their limbs unless they're attached to their bodies, though. - In This Bites!, Moria uses his Shadow-Shadow Fruit to take shadows from his victims and animate corpses like in canon. However, when he awakens his Devil Fruit, he gains the ability to make zombies using the shadows of inanimate objects. These variants referred to as the Draugr, are slower and lack personality compared to their predecessors, with Cross comparing them to Romero zombies. - The Amazing Adventures of the Living Corpse: These are the basic shambling flesh-eaters, created by a serum and requiring brains to live. They usually have no semblance of their former selves, but sometimes their souls reawaken. Also, they last far longer the fresher the corpse. - Zombies are bellhops in Hotel Transylvania. - The Nightmare Before Christmas: The zombies that reside in Halloween Town seem to be revenants, while Sally is an Artificial Zombie. Interestingly, both Sally and Jack, despite being Undead, have the need to eat and sleep, can be killed, and, depending on if you take the epilogue poem on the soundtrack to be Canon, even have children. - The zombies from Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island are actually the good guys, returning from the grave to protect Scooby and the gang from the real villains. At least two of them can manifest as ghosts but the rest — pirates, gangsters, Civil War soldiers, tourists, etc. — are lumbering, non-flesh-eating but fleshy zombies. They were the result of the remaining original inhabitants of the islands performing an arcane ceremony to a feline deity to get revenge on the pirates. This granted them a werecat form and immortality. However, the immortality worked by stealing the life force of others, leaving them as zombies. This is why they help the gang stop the villains. In fact, the spirit of a Confederate soldlier thanks them before passing on. These zombies are also completely self-aware and use their horrid appearance to try to scare people away so they don't suffer the same fate as them. The zombies also only rise on the day of the harvest moon, and don't seem to have the need to eat, and as mentioned above can also manifest as ghosts. - The Spanish animated movie Soy un zombi (I'm a Zombie) about a teen-age girl that finds herself turn into a zombie and meets a variety of undead characters. - In Wreck-It Ralph, Cyril the zombie from House of the Dead is depicted as otherwise decent guy during his off-hours outside his game. In fact, he is depicted as possessing a simpleminded wisdom that is nevertheless valid advice. Cyril: Ralph, Zangief saying, labels not make you happy. You must love you. - The zombies in Anna and the Apocalypse were created thanks to a virus (which is briefly mentioned in the beginning) and are of the "shambling, flesh-craving corpse" variety. The infection is spread when a zombie bites a human with or without killing them, and they can be killed permanently by destroying the brain. - Apocalypse of the Dead: These are runners created by a combination of the bubonic plague, ammonia and benzene. - The Astro-Zombies: These are solar-powered cyborgs that can have knowledge directly veaned into their brains by computers. - The Italian So Bad, It's Good flick Burial Ground: The Nights of Terror (1981) has a horde of zombies awakened by a professor who stumbled upon an ancient curse. The zombies attack the professor and a nearby group of people, killing them and eating their flesh, and causing their victims to rise as zombies themselves. - The Cabin in the Woods illustrated this by featuring different types of zombies in the same film. There are your standard Romero-esque Flesh Eating Zombies who attack the facility at the end, but the ones faced by the main characters are described as a "Redneck Zombie Torture Family". They don't eat human flash, are more intelligent as shown by their use of human weapons, and they're only interested in killing and torturing their victims. - Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things: These ones are your standard shambling type, resurrected by Satan himself. - Colonel Kill Motherfuckers: These are revenants resurrected by a magic ritual involving virgin blood and a power source for them to replenish life energy. They act the same as in life, but are cursed with constant agony. - In Cooties, the premise is an elementary school is afflicted by a virus that turns anyone who hasn't entered puberty into a zombie. Cue hordes of zombie kids who can turn off electricity, ride tricycles, smash cellphones and climb through vents. - It's 2020 - what else did you expect but Corona Zombies? (by Creator/FullMoonFeatures) Full points for Refuge in Audacity. - Creature with the Atom Brain: These are corpses resurrected by radiation and beholden to their master's will. Their fingerprints, footprints and blood also glow. - In The Dark Crystal, enslaved Podlings are akin to Haitian zombies. - Dark Harvest: The scarecrows are the corpses of the victims of a Satanist Serial Killer who were dressed as scarecrows as part of a Deal with the Devil. They come back to life on the night of the Harvest Moon to wreak their revenge on anybody in their territory. - The Dead brings us zombies of an undetermined type on the plains of Africa. Unlike most recent examples of the living dead these are completely silent and extremely slow. - The zombies in Dead Again in Tombstone are corpses that are raised by by an infernal artifact called the Horn of Lucifer. They are destroyed when the Horn is used to kill the man who raised them. - Dead and Deader: These are transferred by a scorpion sting where the venom turns into a scorpion itself. It imbues the infected with Super Strength and a Healing Factor while shutting down all vital functions. They retain some intelligence in this state, but crave raw meat and eventually turn into shambling creatures that can only be killed by decapitation. When they do die, the scorpion crawls out to sting somebody else. Also, their blood is green. - Dead Before Dawn: These are raised by demons as Mooks. - Deadgirl: The type and origin of the dead girl's condition is not revealed. While she appears driven to try to bite her captors, whether this is in an attempt to eat their flesh or simply as a means to escape is left unclear. Her bite is shown to infect others, however, which J.T. plans to use to find a replacement for her. - The zombies in The Dead Matter most closely resemble voodoo, as they're completely controlled by whoever holds the scarab and die when it' deactivated, but they can also operate somewhat independently and apparently can spread their effect...somehow. - The "dolls" in The Devil-Doll aren't actually dead. When the Mad Scientist shrinks people down to eight inches tall, they are still alive, but they are in a sort of stasis or suspended animation, and look just like dolls. But the Mad Scientist has the power to use Telepathy to turn the "doll" into a tiny mind-controlled slave that will do his will. - Die You Zombie Bastards!: These are technically living zombies that are made by a laser and are the henchmen of a megalomaniac. They're green with purple hair and have deformed faces. While they never speak, they seem to be sentient. There were undead zombies who were identical to the ones we see, but they were destroyed with their alien overlords. - Doom: These are mutated by a Martian virus to give them superpowers and increase their violent tendencies. Some of them resemble wounded corpses, and some resemble various other monsters, but all have an uncontrollable urge to kill. - Fido: A clear shout-out to Night of the Living Dead (1968), "space radiation" is cited as the reason that any fresh corpse with an intact brain will rise up as a shambling ghoul with an instinctive urge to consume human flesh. This urge can be negated if they are fitted with a special control collar, which allows them to be sold as domestic servants. They also show an ability to learn and even to regard some humans as non-food friends regardless of whether they are collared. One important difference from Romero zombies is that their bites are not invariably fatal, as one very much alive character sports a bite scar from his girlfriend. - The wuxia film Fingerof Doom has kung-fu fighting Chinese swordsmen zombies, warriors resurrected by the main villainess after being slain as her servants. Despite being undead, they retain their sword-fighting skills - The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake: These are created by voodoo curses and can't rest until their purpose is fulfilled. - Frankenstein's Army: These are crudely-made automatons with various mechanical parts attached to their bodies, that exist entirely to serve their master. When said master dies, they go utterly berserk until they're put down. - Frightmare (1983): These are fully sapient revenants resurrected by Black Magic and who retain their exact personalities from life. They have Psychic Powers, up to and including pyrokinesis. - Gallowwalkers: These are damned souls returned by a Curse on the man who killed them, only able to be properly slain by decapitation. They're also fully sapient and don't sleep. - Goal Of The Dead - half soccer film, half comedy and half zombie horror. Be careful with your steroids. - Gory Gory Hallelujah: These are resurrected by an artifact from God, and act like your standard flesh-eating shamblers. Appearance-wise, they're green and have very long fingernails. They seem to display some mild sapience, demonstrating the ability to use tools. - In Jean Rollin's The Grapes of Death, farm pesticides cause bouts of violent insanity in residents of France's wine-producing region. An inadvertent artificial with elements of plague-bearing, but they aren't infectious, have lucid periods, and can recover completely. - The brilliantly awful '80s flick Hard Rock Zombies features a localized Zombie Apocalypse started by—wait for it—an eerie bass riff discovered by glam rocker protagonist Jessie. The first zombies, that of the unnamed protagonist band, are revenants, as their first act is to get revenge against those who killed them, then they go to a scheduled concert and rock out. Those who they kill, however, also rise as zombies and kill others, who continue the process. Given the origins of the zombies, they could arguably be voodoo (the "curse," in this case, being the music), as there is no mention of a plague and those killed rise as zombies no matter what methods are used to kill them. Some are flesh-eating zombies, and one little mutant midget zombie actually eats himself from the feet up. - Horrors of War: These are undead beasts that exist solely to kill with their brute strength, and can only be put down by a bullet to the head. Even the, sometimes it takes two. - Mick and Pnub from Idle Hands are undead stoners who returned from the dead because... well... Mick: I mean, there was this bright white light at the end of a long tunnel, right, and there was these chicks' voices, and that music...Pnub: Yeah, kinda uncool music, like, Enya. And these chicks' voices, they were saying, "come to us, come towards the light".Mick: We figured, fuck it, I mean, it was really far! - Most of the zombies in Lucio Fulci's zombie flicks have a voodoo origin but flesh-eating behavior, such as in City of the Living Dead, The Beyond, and Zombi 2. - The French film "Les Revenants" or "They Came Back" deals with zombies that despite being dead within a 10 year range on some, have not decayed, do not crave human flesh and brains. They just one day walked calmly out of their cemetery as if they had been in a long sleep. However, they are sluggish and actually no longer live in our "reality". They have what is termed an "Echo and Memory" reality (echoing what seems like normal behavior and recalling how they might've been in their daily lives). They do tend to group together and migrate throughout the town. It is never explained why they rose and where/why they went when they decided to leave. The film focuses more on how the living's psyche would react when their loved ones rose than what the zombies are up to. - The zombies in Lifeforce are the result of a space vampire sucking the life force of a human victim, leaving a shriveled husk behind. The husk will try to suck the life force on humans as soon as possible, spreading the curse, otherwise it will explode into dust after two hours (a limitation that the vampires themselves do not have). - In Mom and Dad, people are driven to relentlessly attack and kill their own biological offspring, but only them. They are capable of formulating plans and setting traps in order to do so, but always seem to wind up just flailing at them and savaging them like Hate Plague zombies. - Monster Brawl: These can be brought back by either military science or a supernatural curse. Either way, they're ravenous beasts who care only for feeding their hunger, and have to be chained up to prevent unnecessary attacks. When they die, their distress summons any undead in the area to avenge them. - In the B-Movie My Boyfriend's Back, the protagonist is a revenant and flesh-eating. Revenant in that he comes back to life to take his beloved to prom after she says yes in his dying wish. Flesh-eating in that, to prevent rotting, he has to eat human flesh. - Nazi Overlord: These are made with a Synthetic Plague that drives them into such an insane hunger that they have a compulsion to eat people. Other symptoms of the plague include shambling, groaning and incredibly pale skin. - The zombies in Nightmare City take the cake as far as being nebulously-defined. They run around like humans and kill other humans with guns, knives and whatever they've got available, yet despite being intelligent, they never speak. They do consume human flesh and blood, but seemingly as an afterthought. Some of them have more caked oatmeal on their faces than others; some seem almost normal. How new zombies are made is totally unexplained, and whether or not headshots are needed to kill them differs from scene to scene. - Overlord (2018): The experimented are explicitly stated to have been deceased brought back to life by Schmidt's serum, but Came Back Wrong with healing factors, Super Strength, and gruesome Body Horror. Some of the experiments seen near the end of the film, while not that mutated, noticeably wander like traditional zombies. The serum itself isn't communicable through bites, and instead is derived from an unknown black tar that has been processed through the blood of the "volunteers". They are also not put down for good by shooting them in the head, requiring significantly more punishment. - In Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Blackbeard's officers are the Voodoo type; mindlessly obedient to their 'creator', with no interest in eating anyone. - Plan 9 from Outer Space: These are corpses made into murderous automatons by alien science. They have no intelligence, not even to differentiate friend from foe, and just attack everything they see. However, they can be turned off with special guns. - The zombies in Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead are a combination of voodoo and flesh-eating. They're also chicken zombies. - Pro Wrestlers vs. Zombies switches the tropes around as necessary. At the beginning, the zombies are all traditional Romero zombies and are created either by a particular ritual or by biting living humans. Later in the film, they start sprinting and Angus, the main villain, starts summoning zombies from their graves. During the film, they frequently survive horrendous injury and other times, they can be killed just like any human by enough trauma. The wrestlers turned zombie seem to operate more intelligently in general, still busting out their trademark moves and seemingly being able to comprehend more complex maneuvers to go after their prey than simply shambling towards them and waiting for them to fall when climbing. - The zombies from [REC] are infected by a virus made by Satan. - Every zombie from the movies of Resident Evil, as they are plague-bearing and flesh-eating. - Of course there's the Return of the Living Dead series, which has zombies obsessed with eating brains. Their mobility seems to depend on how advanced their decomposition is, but unlike many other examples retain much of the critical thinking and problem solving skills they had in life. - In the B-movie, Robot Holocaust, the mutants that roam "The Wastelands". - Savaged: These are revenants resurrected by a spirit to take revenge, and their bodies don't stop rotting. - Scary or Die: There are two varieties shown: One group are made with radioactive waste and are your standard Romero shambling variety; the other one seen is a voodoo revenge Yandere zombie. - The Slaughter: These are the victims of a demon, forced to its will by Blood Magic. Behaviour-wise, they're shamblers, but with superhuman reflexes. They also talk and eat brains. - The Suckling: These are aborted fetuses resurrected by radioactive waste, who become ravenous monsters that can use their umbilical cords as weapons. - Amando de Ossorio's movie Tombs of the Blind Dead has zombies that are the corpses of the actual Knights Templar who return as the result of an ancient curse combined with a young woman disturbing their land. Their motivation is the continuation of their rituals, giving them elements of voodoo and the revenant. They also drink human blood, giving them hints of the flesh-eating zombies. This movie also had three sequels by the same director, Return of the Blind Dead (1973), The Ghost Galleon (1974), and Night of the Seagulls (1975). - V/H/S/2: The segment A Ride In The Park features your standard flesh-eating zombies, though with the added detail that they can become cognizant enough to remember who they were. Such as the case of Mike, who, after wreaking havoc at a birthday party, notices his bloody reflection and accidentally butt-dials his girlfriend. Upon recognizing her voice, he realizes what he's become and puts himself down. - The Video Dead: These are shamblers released from a cursed television. They don't speak, but are still sentient and think they're still alive. When they see the actual living, they fly into a homicidal rage at the reminder of what they can never be. They can only be killed by being attacked in such a way that they actually think they're dead, or being locked in a room to tear each other apart. However, they rise again if they're ever buried. - The Void: Most of the monsters are essentially zombies, being the mutated bodies of humans with souls from the Void placed inside them. They would certainly qualify as undead of some kind, though destroying the brain does not actually work. - Warm Bodies has two types of zombies; Corpses and Skeletons, also known as Fleshies and Bonies. Corpses are fully sentient, but have such little control over their zombie instincts that they're really just Romero Zombies with an inner monologue. They can use tools, speak single words occasionally, and they're one of the few examples of zombies in fiction that can be cured. With love. Boneys, on the other hand are simply super-zombies; despite having no skin and very little muscle remaining, they are fast, powerful, skinny zombies. - In When Evil Calls, Daniel wishes that his stepfather was alive again. The Jerkass Genie twists this wish by reanimating his corpse as a zombie. The zombie shows up on the headmaster's doorstep (Daniel is having dinner inside), but Samantha beats it to death with a golf club before anyone else notices its presence. - The zombies in Wicked Little Things are resurrected by a hunger for revenge and will only be sated by the blood of their killer or one of their relatives. They kill any other beings they come across, though. - Wrestlemaniac: This one is a ravenous monster made by stitching three great wrestlers together, and has all their combat skill. - In the Australian zombie flick Wyrmwood, the zombies are pretty stock... except their exhalations can be used as fuel. - Zombie Cop: Combination of Voodoo Zombie and Revenant Zombie, since they're resurrected by Hollywood Voodoo, but retain their mental faculties. - Zombieland has a mix of flesh-eating and plague-bearing, being viral zombies that are driven to eat people and can infect them with a bite. The sequel adds several mutated subtypes — Homers (fat, slow, and extremely stupid), Hawkings (intelligent enough to work around problems and obstacles), Ninjas (crafty and stealthy), and T-800s (extremely fast and Nigh-Invulnerable). - When Zombie Prom's Jonny Warner returns from the dead, all that changes is his skin is green. And all he wants to do is take his girlfriend to the prom. - Zombie Wars: These are your standard shambling flesh eaters caused by space radiation, except they can be trained to do complex tasks like livestock handling. - The zombies in Zombies! Zombies! Zombies! are a cross between an Artificial Zombie and a Plague Zombie: created when an experimental cure for cancer is accidentally combined with an experimental cure for crack addiction. The resultant drug is stolen by the janitor, and then taken by a hooker he frequents, who is looking for a high. The drug kills the body and then reanimates it, but the condition can be spread by biting. - In The Affinity Bridge Newbury and Hobbes Investigations, Revenants are near mindless, cannibalistic undead that result from a plague from India. Unlike typical zombies, revenants are incredibly strong and fast and their bodies may alter enough for their fingernails to become talons. They become even more different in novel Revenant Express where a Mad Scientist is trying to find a cure for the Revenant plague and is using a strange, previously undiscovered fungus to do so. Infested revenants have the fungus partially regenerate them, so there's some new living flesh that appears on them. However that's just a side-effect, the fungus tries to hijack the host and begins growing tendrils that sprout from the limbs and belly before eventually sprouting bursting spore pods. - In Michael Logan's Terry Pratchett Award-winning novel Apocalypse Cow, Great Britain created a bioweapon that targets animals as a way to disrupt another nation's food supply. An infected animal develops nasty sores, coughs and sneezes. It also develops a hunger for raw flesh and is in a constant state of violent heat. The virus also affects the nervous system, making it immune to pain. The first human casualties to these animals was at an abattoir where cattle was being slaughtered. Instead a sick cow quickly infected the other cows and soon the herd withstood the boltguns and knives to go hump and chew the workers to death instead. Fortunately the virus was specifically designed not to affect humans...initially. Sadly the virus mutated and has turned almost the entirety of Great Britain into creatures similar to the Crossed, leading to the sequel World War Moo. - In Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick, an electromagnetic pulse turned most teenagers into zombies instantly. This is different from most, because the zombies aren't dead, they seem to be extremely brain-damaged living people. They also cannot change you into a zombie through biting, instead their bite is like a regular person biting you. - In the second book, it is revealed that some of the zombies are actually pretty intelligent, possibly because they are getting smarter. They know to stay out of the cold or wear parkas stolen from others, can handle weapons such as rifles and knives, and even have a way of communicating with each other. They can even lust after each other. They seem to be just as smart as normal people, but are unable to speak, and have a taste for human flesh. - The Technically Living Zombies in the Black Tide Rising series, created by a Synthetic Hate Plague, do eat flesh like Romero zombies, but will turn on other zombies if no other food source presents itself, and can go into hibernation to conserve energy when food is unavailable. Ultimately, however, these can die on their own by starving to death, and don't require headshots or Applied Phlebotinum weaponry to kill. - Breathers: A Zombie's Lament and its sequel I Saw Zombies Eating Santa Claus take place In a World... where roughly one in two hundred people reanimates as a zombie after death (hopefully before they've been buried.). They still retain their human minds, they're just in an undead body. Not that this matters to most people since they have no civil rights, are used as lab animals and are even destroyed for fun in the streets. However, it's a well kept secret that eating human flesh can actually reverse their decomposition...and given how they're treated by most people, zombies that find this out have little hesitation in acting on it. - Zombies from Kevin J. Anderson's Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. series seem to arise by sheer luck: one in seventy-five deaths, heavily weighted toward suicides and murder victims, in the wake of the Big Uneasy. The latter may conform to the "revenant" type. Fully sentient creatures, this Verse's zombies may conform to the "flesh-eater" type also, but it's considered a tragic addiction rather than normal zombie behavior. It's mentioned that mad scientists and necromancers sometimes craft the "artificial" and "voodoo" variants, although the former aren't generally referred to as zombies. - Dark Shores: People infected by the blight surrounding Mudaire have gray skin and black veins. They do not speak, and feel no pain or emotions apart from rage and desire to attack anyone who is not similarly afflicted. On the one hand they are Technically Living Zombie but on the other Grand Master Quindor, the leader of healers, claims that there is no life left in them. - In Dirge, the zombies are called ghouls and are incredibly fast as well as strong. They're also tied to their necrolord so they die (again) if said is killed. - Discworld gives us example of the Revenant (Reg Shoe, Windle Poons temporarily) and Voodoo (Baron Saturday) types, with many implications for but no examples of the Artificial type, mostly revolving around the Igors. There are also a few varieties of Revenant; Shoe and Poons are fully conscious, although they have the problem that they now have to manually control all of their movements which takes time to relearn. There are also non-sentient ones that Shoe doesn't think should count as zombies at all, just "memories on legs" that hang around their crypts. - The art instructions book Drawing and Painting the Undead by Keith Tompson has several types of zombies, from people with Kuuru to cyberneticyzed corpses to supernatural to Frankenstein's Monster to Puppeteer Parasite infectee to massive pile of fused corpses. - Necromancers in The Dresden Files create zombies who act more like the Terminator than traditional zombies. They are fast, incredibly strong, and resilient to attacks that would destroy traditional zombies in seconds (To quote the main character: "What's the use of a foot soldier who can't do anything but hobble along and moan about brains?"). They also require the constant beating of a "drummer" (in some cases a literal drum, in some cases just another similar sound) to mimic a heart beat in order to stay animated. Of course they tend to operate in smaller numbers than standard zombies, as even a group of 3 or 4 zombies can be quite effective. They are also not limited to being humans. - Despite the fact that animals can technically be zombified, a Necromancer can make zombies more powerful based on the "footprint" left by the corpse. Humans and older corpses in general have deeper (and thus more powerful) footprints, so the ones used by the necromancers in Dead Beat are usually a few centuries old. The laws of magic only specifically forbid using Humans as Zombies since usually animals don't have enough of an impression to be zombified at all, but a clever wizard realizes that a sixty-five million year old T.rex has power to spare and zombifying it is technically not breaking the law. - In Echopraxia, zombies are simply humans with an off switch on their conscious mind. Soldiers are augmented from the brain stem down, turned into killing machines, then set loose to sleepwalk their way through an entire tour of duty. Turns out the human mind is terrifyingly efficient when you get things like "self-awareness" out of the way. - On the flip side, terrorists the world over figure out how to get the same effect as the Off Switch by spreading a virus that turns crowds of people into unthinking animals, rather more like a traditional zombie plague. - While Brandon Sanderson insists they aren't zombies, the Elantrians from Elantris are suffering from a sort of curse that makes them closely resemble zombies, but they aren't technically dead, although many of them wish they were, they are still fully intelligent (at first, at least) and aren't contagious in any way. However people who live in the country around the city of Elantris just randomly become Elantrians, they don't breathe or have heartbeats, they have a constant ravenous hunger (for regular food, not brains or flesh), and they don't heal from their wounds at all and they are almost impossible to kill, beheading or burning being the only ways to kill them, though they usually go insane and catatonic from the pain of accumulated injuries within a year of becoming an Elantrian. Originally the transformation used to turn people into glowing silver, super powered, borderline divine beings, so a great deal of the novel deal with figuring out what went wrong. It turns out they are trapped in the middle of the magical transformation due to a flaw in the city of Elantris. Once the error is fixed, they go back to being flawless, super-powered beings. - The draugs featured in Old Tin Sorrows are examples of Voodoo Zombies, being reanimated as a dying gesture of payback by Snake's amateurish magic. Before realizing there's more than one, Garrett expects the first one to show itself will specifically target its murderer, suggesting that most draugs in his world are revenants instead. - The zombies in Seanan McGuire's short story "Gimme a Z!" are usually voodoo and flesh-eating, mindlessly following the commands of their creator and requiring meat (not necessarily human) to maintain their existence. The catch is that they must be raised for a specific purpose, and some character traits are so ingrained that raising a zombie to go against those traits creates a revenant that can potentially rebel against its creator. Since this story does not take itself remotely seriously, this means that a cheerleader brought back to kill her former squadmates instead kills the person who brought her back because of the sheer force of her school spirit. - In M. R. Carey's The Girl With All the Gifts, as in The Last of Us, the zombies are caused not by a virus but by the fungus Ophiocordyceps. - Drake and Brittney from Gone. They died in the second book, the former when he pissed off Caine, the latter when Drake shot her. However, Brittney had the power of immortality, and Drake's whip-hand grafted onto her corpse when she was buried. They don't need air or food, and they share a body and rotate possession of it. They don't eat people, they aren't decomposing, and they weren't constructed or resurrected. They mostly just do whatever the Gaiaphage tells them to. - Harry Potter has a few different types: - In the first book, Professor Quirrell claims that he got his iconic turban from an African prince as a reward for getting rid of a zombie, but he's suspiciously reticent about how exactly he disposed of the creature. This story is also suspect because the wizarding world doesn't have royalty, and it's unlikely that a Muggle prince would know about zombies — though this prince could've hypothetically been a wizard who inherited his title from a Muggle parent. - At any rate, Pottermore mentions that zombies live in the southern United States, whether or not they also live in Africa. One issue of the Daily Prophet, distributed to the official fan club, additionally advertised tours of a Zombie Trail somewhere. - Voodoo zombies called Inferi (singular "Inferius") show up in the sixth book as the Big Bad's mooks, apparently created from his reanimated victims. - The "screamers" in Hungry as a Wolf were humans who, in the face of starvation, resorted to eating human flesh, which allowed the influence of a Wendigo to turn them into hungry undead. They constantly hunger for more human flesh, and no matter how much they eat they constantly look emaciated. A bite from one of them spreads the Wendigo's curse, causing an infectee to become ravenously hungry until they ultimately die of starvation and rise as another screamer. They are also intelligent enough to use firearms and speak, and freakishly fast when they sprint at potential prey. The only known way to put them down individually is to destroy the brain, though re-imprisoning the Wendigo seems to cut off its influence and neutralize them as well. - In the Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole, there are ghouls, which exist solely to mindlessly increase their numbers by scratching or biting anyone they can reach. There are also wendigos, which can transform others in the same way, but seek to eat their victims rather than add to their numbers. And there are revenants, which are corpses raised by dark sorcerers to do their bidding, minus the infection aspect. - Russian writer Andrei Kruz invented the All-in-One zombies. They start as classic slow zombies, rotting mindless flesh-eating husks, reanimated by solanum-like virus. After consuming some living flesh, they get faster and smarter, some even able to use simple weapons such as clubs and knives. The more living meat they eat, the more they mutate, eventualy becoming "supers" — fast and powerful monsters with enough regeneration capability to survive concentrated machinegun fire. - The Laundry Files has zombies being a result of possession by a demon, which hijacks the central nervous system, killing the subject (if they weren't already dead). The demon itself proves to be relatively simple (the equivalent of a few lines of necrosymbolic code), and as such can leave a Residual Human Resource that is at least minimally scriptable. They are contagious, but not through bites, requiring merely galvanic skin contact. - The titular character of Jean Rollin's Living Dead Girl, who has been turned into a bloodsucking zombie by toxic waste. She still looks fairly normal, but depends on her girlfriend to bring her victims, and despises her own existence. - Monster Hunter International has zombies that are weak but highly contagious. The bounty's only $5000 a head, but machine-gunning a horde is plenty profitable. These are the weakest form of undead. - The zombies in My Vampire Older Sister and Zombie Little Sister are a blend of the Flesh Eating Zombie and Plague Zombie archetypes. They originate from a virus that was altered using the same drugs supposedly used to create zombies in Haitian folklore. The virus can affect non-human animals as well, and can even infect plants, which makes them somehow able to move. They have up to ten times their original strength thanks to Uninhibited Muscle Power, but this decreases as they decay. Their intelligence varies, from being as smart as a human (in the case of Ayumi) to the standard mindless shamblers. - Tim Waggoner's Nekropolis has the creatures of the night, including zombies, undergo a massive colonization of a planet in another dimension, so that they can lead normal lives safe from the interference of humans. One resident of Nekropolis is zombie private detective Matt Ritcher, who was once alive and living on Earth before his demise. - Night Huntress book 3 showcases a non-infectious variety; a vampire casts a black magic spell that causes every dead body within miles of the protagonists to come after them with mindless hunger, until the object used as a focus is destroyed (in this case, the object turns out to be a person). The zombies are extremely fast and strong even by vampire standards, and they cannot be killed, though they don't heal and can be disabled by hacking them to pieces or burning them to ashes. - Dead Hands from the Old Kingdom trilogy are a combination voodoo and flesh-eating. A Hand is created by a necromancer who summons a minor (usually nonsentient) undead spirit to inhabit and animate a corpse; the resulting creature is completely under the necromancer's control and generally used as a Mook or for manual labor. If the necromancer is killed or their control is otherwise interrupted, the Hand will begin to wander about aimlessly and will usually attack any living person it stumbles across (though it eats life energy, not flesh or brains). They can't create more of their kind without a Necromancer or Greater Dead to do it for them. - More powerful free-willed Dead also exist, which are usually closer to a revenant, though the purpose that drives them is a need to stay in the world of the living. These are usually encountered on their own, but can be enslaved by a greater power to act as Elite Mooks. More powerful still are creatues like Mordicants and Greater Dead, which quickly move out of this trope. - The Zombies in Paradise Rot are intelligent only as long as they eat human brains. They can survive on animals, but they start to lose intelligence as they do so. This causes some vampire-esque angst, as some of them don't like killing and eating innocents. - In Robert E. Howard's short story "Pigeons From Hell", there's a creature called the zuvembie, which is a strange mix of Voodoo zombie (it's created through a combination of ritual and an applied potion), revenant (it has no master and is free-willed enough to kill for vengeance, or just For the Evulz), and Technically Living (bullets will take it out). It also has some magical powers not associated with the usual zombie. - In Sergey Lukyanenko's Quazi, a Zombie Apocalypse takes place in 2017, when all recently-dead people rise again as ravenous, mindless creatures that can only be put down by damaging the brain or decapitating them. Ten years later, there are 6 billion risen prowling the dead lands between major cities of the world. In fact, Africa and much of Asia are considered to be entirely dead. Some risen have managed to regain their sanity and become Quazi (note the "z"). Several surviving nations now have sizable Quazi populations with their own governments. In Russia, the Quazi capital is located in Saint Petersburg, where only about 12% of the population are living. Moscow is the Russian bastion of the living, with the Circle Road becoming a massive fortification against the undead and armored trains being used for transportation between surviving cities. The Quazi are several times stronger and faster than humans. They are extremely tough and have a Healing Factor. Like their mindless brethren, they can only be killed by damaging the brain or decapitation. They retain most of the body's vital functions, including digestion. Strangely, they are all vegetarians and tend to be unable to process food that hasn't been grown organically. It's later revealed that becoming a Quazi requires that a risen eat a living brain, which is something the Quazi keep hidden from the living to avoid any more Fantastic Racism. The Quazi have bluish-gray skin and tend to be stuck at whatever mental state they were in during death. They try to wear the same clothes all the time, do the same job, read the same books, watch the same movies, listen to the same music, etc. They are unable to develop beyond that. They are almost completely lacking in emotions they don't remember from their living days. They come off as logical and unfeeling. No one knows why anyone dying becomes a risen in short order, as no virus, bacterium, or mutation have been found to account for that fact in the 10 years since the apocalypse. The novel's major plot turns out to be a race to find two viruses: one that kills all adult humans and one that kills all Quazi. - The Radiant Dawn has several types of undead. "Mindless" are the basic undead unit that shamble forward and attack on sight. "Cavaliers" are undead that use zombie beasts as mounts and serve as an extension of the psychic command that generals have over the mindless. "Generals", along with antagonists Aaron and Stacie, are intelligent liches that exert psychic control over other undead. "Necromancers" are a specific type of general that can raise corpses as mindless and can open portals between places in the world. - The creation process for mindless is different than the one for generals. Generals are created in a ritual that is detailed for Aaron and Stacie's conversion. Mindless are raised by necromancers with demonic magic. - Undead are magically powered and do not need to consume human flesh. They are effectively controllable troops that do not feel fear, cold, or pain and do not need food or sleep. - The flesh-eating undead (they regard "zombie" as a slur) in the Resurgam trilogy by Joan Francis Turner are a more sophisticated version of the standard flesh-eating zombie. They rot, and eat the flesh of humans and animals, but they are still sentient and have strong individual personalities, as well as quite a sophisticated culture. They also aren't infectious, but that rumour exists among living humans as an urban legend. - Brian Keene has the zombies from his Rising universe, these zombies are corpses possessed by the Siquissim, djin made outcast by God and are doing their best to destroy Creation. - Sandman Slim has four types of zombies: Zeds/Zots/High Plains Drifters are the old fashioned mindless eating machines that shamble along, Laccuna are slightly more intelligent running zombies, Savants/Sapiens are intelligent and still retain a soul, and the Geistwalds are kinda like vampire-zombie-liches. - The Scream : The Screamers. - Protagonist, Riko of K.C Alexander's SINless books, would rather you not call them zombies. But the "necrotech" are people who are overtaken and killed by their nanotech (everyone in the world has medical nanite swarms) and then are warped into armour-shredding, near-mindless undead. - In the fourth Skulduggery Pleasant book, Scapegrace is killed and reanimated as a zombie. He retains full sentience but also is suddenly obsessed with serving a 'master'. Anyone he bites also dies and becomes a zombie like him, but if they bite someone else, they will lose their sentience, stop following orders, and become obsessed with eating human flesh. - A Song of Ice and Fire: - Anyone or anything killed by the Others can be brought back as a "wight" under the Others' control using "voodoo"-style, necromantic means. They haven't actually been explicitly mentioned to eat flesh, but they do kill the living to create more wights in a very zombie-like way using any natural weapons they happen to have. Which, naturally, does include biting... and clawing (very effective in the case of a wighted bear), punching, bashing, bludgeoning and so on. - Anyone who catches greyscale is at risk of becoming a feral, still-living, Plague-type zombie, or "stone man", as they're called. How infectious they actually are is up for debate, but the disease does seem to be waterborn, if of a generally low-frequency rate of infection. - Priests of the Red God can make someone into a Revenant-type through what one sees as a form of prayer. Thoros of Myr has done this for his friend Beric Dondarrion so frequently that the latter is slowly losing his connection to, and memories of, his living self. - Ex-maester Qyburn wants to make an Artificial Zombie using... whatever information he's gained using what appears to be vivisection and other Mad Science tools he could cobble together in a low-magic setting and it's implied that he succeeded, using none other than Gregor Clegane as his subject. - You've heard of "sick" buildings, right? Architecture the design and construction of which is not really fit for purpose and which could negatively impact the health of inhabitants? Well, Harrenhal makes its case for full-on Artificial Zombie status rather than merely being sick. It's not fully habitable, sections are by rotting, it's as good cursed and people seem miserable just attempting to keep it going, all while the place can't be properly abandoned and/or levelled for financial and logistical reasons. It's political function is long dead: it was supposed to be the centralised capital of an expansionist empire originating from the Iron Isles. Until the Targayen dragons burnt that particular dream of empire down and replaced it with their own. And King's Landing. Since then, the primary function of the ex-almost-capital-city-nobody-can-fully repair has been being both Schmuck Bait and a White Elephant. - The humor book So Now You're A Zombie by John Austin mainly depicts its undead as typical flesh-eating Plague Zombies, but there's a trait built into the premise that goes against most depictions of zombies: The book is supposedly a survival guide "for zombies, by zombies", meaning that zombies are able to read, write, retain information, and are capable of strategy to some extent. It also plays with the Brain Food element a bit with a chapter introducing a zombie food pyramid - brains are an important part of the zombie diet, but are at the top of the pyramid, while more servings are needed of other food groups, being other organs, blood, and bone marrow. - Discussed in Space Marine Battles novel Death of Antagonis, when the Space Marines note that they expected the usual Slow Zombie, but what they got instead is something different they don't understand. That's because they're of Technically Living variety. - The zombies in the Star Wars Legends novels Death Troopers and Red Harvest are a peculiar combination of voodoo, flesh-eating, and plague-bearing. The Blackwing virus, as revealed in Red Harvest, was originally the product of Sith Alchemy (the Dark Side being pretty much the in-universe equivalent of black magic), specifically an immortality potion Gone Horribly Wrong — the Sith Lord who created it intended for its user to complete the ritual by devouring the heart of a Jedi with a high midichlorian count after infecting himself, but no one ever managed to get that far before becoming a zombie. The virus fell into obscurity for a few millennia, before being rediscovered by the Galactic Empire and reworked through scientific means into a biological weapon. It's primarily spread through bite wounds, and takes effect faster that way, but the Imperial version can also be refined into an airborne agent that takes longer to kick in, but transcends all biohazard containment barriers (except in the case of rare individuals who are immune to it; bites work the same even in their case). The undead themselves share a kind of group consciousness, and while they start out mindless and feral upon reanimation, seeking only to either eat or infect others, they eventually learn and adapt to such a degree that they can operate blasters, lightsabers, and even starfighters. When it comes to fighting them, the usual methods of decapitation and burning work best, while those reanimated by the airborne version have the unique weakness of only being able to operate in an environment that's thoroughly saturated with the plague agent, dropping dead as soon as they leave it. - In Team Human, zombies are the results of vampire conversions gone wrong. - In The Tome of Bill zombies seem to be a mix of flesh eating and plague types. Though they don't do much zombieing, as they're all White Collar Workers for the vampires. - In the Towers Trilogy, the Lower City is regularly menaced by zombie-like creatures called night walkers. They bury themselves during the day, and emerge at night to shamble around and tear apart anyone unlucky enough to get caught outdoor. However, they are not typical flesh-eating zombies, as they don't actually eat their victims, merely assault and kill them. They are created when dark magic is used to rip the spirit out of a person; but unlike voodoo zombies, they do not obey the one who created them. - In The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara, we see a particularly terrifying version. Antrax creates zombies by turning captured humanoids into cyborgs literally trapped in their own bodies in an And I Must Scream situation. The true horror for the heroes comes not when they see their friends coming at them in chrome zombie chassis, but from looking into their eyes and realizing their friends are still very much aware of what's going on, and silently begging to be killed. Bonus points for going back to the original concept of the zombie as someone enslaved by an evil master, rather than as an epidemic infection. - Warbreaker features two types. - The Lifeless are created by Awawkeners who use magic fueled by the special Bio Chromatic breath each person is born to animate and Command organic materials. Lifeless specifically are created by Awakening a persons corpse, draining the color from the body in the process and creating what is essentially a grey zombie-robot who can be given various instructions. They require some basic maintenance to keep the body working long term, but otherwise are perfectly reliable and obedient. They are unique from other forms of Awakening in that the breath used to create a lifeless cannot be reclaimed and reused. - The Returned are fulled sentient beings who are sent back after death by a divine being (the Shard Endowment) with a special "Divine Breath" keeping them alive. They are generally beautiful, larger, stronger and faster than normal people, and require no sustenance other than one Breath per week, or they will die when their body automatically consumes their Divine Breath. The people of Hallandren worship them as gods and believe each one was sent back with a specific purpose. The God King is a special case, a returned created from a stillborn child, meaning they were never a living person before coming back as a returned. - The Weakness Of Beatrice The Level Cap Holy Swordswoman has the zombies of the Underworld, which are a combination of Revenant (they retain all of the skills and memories they had in life) and Voodoo (they are completely subject to the will of the Underworld Lord). Anyone who dies, regardless of the cause, will have their soul captured by the Underworld and become another zombie. These zombies can't be permanently killed, as their souls will return to their Underworld to be reused. - Hans Christian Andersen's poem What the zombie did can be particularly confusing in this respect, because a zombie actually is accused of painting better than the great spanish artist Murillo. It turns out to be an african boy with promising skills as an artist, but the Africans, according to Andersen, regard the zombies as benevolent spirits. - In What Zombies Fear, the hive-minded zombies are actually parasitic microscopic aliens inhabiting human corpses. - In The White Rabbit Chronicles, the zombies are infected spirits instead of walking corpses, and hunger for human souls instead of flesh. - Zombies from the Xanth series technically qualify as the "voodoo" type, with the twist that they're all the product of one specific magician's personal magic talent (and he wasn't a bad guy). They retain their memories and at least some of their intelligence, although they're compelled to obey the Zombie Master's instructions, and their speech is usually impaired because bits of their flesh are constantly dropping off including parts of their mouths. At least one Xanthian zombie has been rejuvenated by the Power of Love, to a point where the effects of decomposition reversed themselves and she almost became alive again. - Imre Lazar from Zomboy is a Friendly Zombie. He has no desire to eat living flesh whatsoever, and even retained all his intelligence from when he was alive. Of course, his dead brain tissue means that he's a slow learner. - His baby sister, on the other hand, is a traditional Flesh-Eating Zombie. - The titular character of The Zombie Knight (and numerous other characters) are effectively zombified into Servants by spirit beings known as Reapers. This has none of the usual drawbacks, as Servants are basically just normal humans plus some superpowers. They retain their free will, although Reapers can "release" an uncooperative servant, and also gain super strength, regeneration, and some sort of unique superpower that grows in strength over time. Their brain is a weakness, but even when re-killed this way their Reaper can just regenerate them. Basically zombies are more in line with superhero/villains than traditional zombies. - The story does feature something refered to in universe as Zombies that is closer to traditional zombies. When a Reaper dies, their Servants body stays behind, losing it's soul and most of it's intelligence. These Zombies will attempt to kill humans to steal a soul to replace the now missing soul (which is not actually possible). They still maintin most of their previous strength, making them very dangerous to regular people although they can't harm Reapers. - In Colin Adams' Zombies and Calculus, the "zombies" are infected with a virus that destroys the higher brain centers. This means that a heart shot is as good as the head, and they can still die from blood loss (and presumably asphyxiation or starvation.) However, this does not explain why they would prey solely on uninfected humans, rather than catching animals or plundering supermarkets. - The Zombie Survival Guide has mindless flesh-eating zombies that are produced as a result of The Virus Solanum, which reanimates the brainstem as an oxygen-independent organ, allowing the zombie to continue to "live" so long as the brainstem is intact, even if they are decapitated. The oxygen-independent nature of the mutated brainstem also allows the zombie to survive in many hostile conditions, including underwater, for as long as their body remains intact until decomposition causes them to fall apart. The virus is spread through the transmission of bodily fluids, primarily through bites, but also through other means like contact with open wounds and sores, as well as, in theory, sexual contact (although the book is quick to mention anyone willing to test this specific theory is Too Dumb to Live). Some specifics of the virus and zombies, from their ability to sense prey even without functioning eyes or ears and their ability to discern human flesh from animal flesh, are left unknown. - Zombies vs. Unicorns: - The "Love Will Tear Us Apart" story features a protagonist that is a clear mishmash zombie - he eats brains as the result of an infection, but retains his intelligence and some memory of his previous life, and even has the capacity to love, aww! - The "Inoculata" story has a lot of plague-bearing zombies, but the main characters all end up infected with the disease, but in such a way that they aren't... zombie like. The other zombies don't bother them (i.e. try to eat them), and they have some... symptoms, so they're technically zombies, but not. They're inoculated. - John Green's offering into the Zombies vs. Unicorns genre was the novella Zombicorn, about a zombie apocalypse caused by a strain of GMO corn that produces zombies that are singlemindedly obsessed with corn farming. - The zombies of The Aquabats! Super Show! are victims of The Floating Eye of Death, who consumes human souls. They fit the Zombie Classic archetype fairly well; green skin, stilted, slow movement, moaning and such. However, they don't try to feed on humans and can't spread the condition themselves: instead, they serve the Floating Eye by capturing more humans and bringing them to the Eye to have their souls devoured. Killing the Floating Eye of Death releases the victims from its control, but does not return their souls to their bodies, instead leaving them zombified but with no drive to do anything. Jimmy the Robot nurses his friends back to health by feeding them the Floating Eye's remains over a period of weeks, with the logic that "your soul(s) have got to be in there somewhere." - Atlantis: In "The Day of the Dead", Pasiphae raises as an army of dead soldiers through black magic. They're similar to Romero-style zombies, even passing on their condition through bites, except to kill them their hearts must be damaged rather than their brains. - Series 3 of Being Human introduced zombies as human beings who simply died and had their souls forced back into their decaying bodies (due to a temporary supernatural block preventing them from finding their door to the other side). They don't feel any pain (for the most part), and continue to behave as they did before death. However, they soon feel the heat of decomposition, and eventually "die" again — this time permanently — once their body becomes too decomposed to continue moving (at which point they cross over for good). - Season 3 of Being Human (US) also introduces zombies, but Sally abhors the use of the word. Created as a result of blood magic, Sally (and friends Nick and Stevie) is at first limited to not seeing anyone she knew in her life or else they die and become food for the witch who first performed the spell, but Sally later lifts this restriction on herself by giving up her soul to the witch upon her death. The reanimated corpses are also insatiably hungry, particularly when they start to decompose. The only way to stop and reverse the decomposition is to eat freshly killed raw flesh; this starts with mice and stray cats, but soon their hunger escalates into craving human flesh. - Discussed in Breaking Bad: while high off of meth, Badger and Skinny Pete have a debate over which video game has better zombies. Pete argues Left 4 Dead has the better zombies since they are fleet of foot, while Badger claims that the Nazi Zombies from Call of Duty: Zombies are scarier (and argues that the "zombies" from L4D aren't actually dead, but infected with a rage virus). - Buffyverse: - Zombies tend to be somewhere between voodoo and revenant. They've been reanimated by black magic, but apparently retain their minds fairly well. One zombie on the Angel episode "Provider" just wanted to get back together with his girlfriend after being brought Back from the Dead, even though she was the one who killed him in the first place. It's odd. - The Buffyverse could probably be said to have multiple forms of undead. It's implied that true "zombies" are basically voodoo — Anya mentions that zombies wouldn't eat people "unless commanded by their zombie master." There is also another occasion where a magic mask made the dead in the area come back as zombies, all of whom wanted to get the mask and become the Voodoo god it represented. They didn't infect each other per se, but they did kill anyone between them and the mask, and the newly dead would rise almost immediately. Other people (like the dead in "The Zeppo") get risen by magic but are more like revenants, retaining their own wills and minds. There are also some Artificial Zombies, of whom Adam is the best example. - In Season 9, vampires are almost zombie-like without the Magic Seed allowing demons to possess a sired body. Vampires are now much more mindless and feral. The Scoobies call them Zompires (Zombie/Vampires) so as not to confuse them. - The Charmed episode "Death Becomes Them" technically features zombies that are brought back to life by dark magic. These zombies have a purpose — the demon behind them uses innocents the sisters failed to save so of course they can talk to make sure the sisters feel especially guilty. One wonders why the demon didn't think to resurrect any of the sisters' dead family members. - The Reapers in Dead Like Me. While they are not mindless, not slow, and for that matter no different seeming than humans in just about any way (other than the fact that you can't kill them). The fact that they were once dead and have been reanimated does qualify them to be referred to as the "Living Dead". (The show itself uses the term Undead to refer to the state they live in.) - Doctor Who: In "The Waters of Mars", a single drop of water is enough to turn someone into a zombie... which can run faster than you... - There are parallels between zombies and the Reavers of the Firefly universe. The Reavers would fall under Technically Living Zombie, as they aren't dead. They were transformed by the Alliance, they had been testing behavioral modification on the planet Miranda through the chemical G-23 Paxilon Hydrochlorate (a.k.a. "The Pax" — Latin for "Peace"), administered through the air recycling systems. The chemical was designed to weed out aggression and anger. The ultimate result was that 99.9% of the population stopped going to work, talking to each other, and eventually stopped moving, eating or breeding, and therefore died. However, the remaining tenth of a percent of the population had the opposite reaction, with their aggression and primal instincts boosted beyond simple madness into murderous rage, sadism and xenophobia. - Game of Thrones: - Wights are resurrected corpses under the control of the White Walkers. The White Walkers themselves look a lot like undead and in one episode it's discovered that the Children of the Forest did create the White Walkers using originally living humans, while turning some humans by touch in a vampiric way. - It's unclear as to what exactly Gregor Clegane is after Qyburn's experiments. - Fans at the beginning of Heroes also liked to draw parallels between Sylar and zombies, as it was believed that they both ate brains. The producers changed it for this very reason. - The zombies (or "Partially Deceased Syndrome" sufferers) of In the Flesh behave as normal humans when medicated. They sleep, but do not eat, drink, or age. - The zombies in iZombie are mostly alive, since their condition is caused by an artificial virus (it's speculated that it's an experimental bioweapon) mixed into a supply of a new designer drug popular with the young crowd. The protagonist Liv still behaves like she's a normal living person with the exception that she has a hunger for human brains, which she satisfies by working at the medical examiner's office. Most of their taste receptors are dead, so the only thing they can taste are the brains (which they find a bit metallic) and extremely spicy food (hence Liv's liberal use of hot sauce). The "living" zombies look very pale and have white hair but don't exhibit any flesh decay. However, those who go without brains for a long time start to decay into the typical "shambling zombie". Unfortunately, if a zombie goes completely feral (usually after 5-6 months of not eating brains), then the condition is irreversible. Eating brains not only satisfies their craving and allows them to retain their higher brain functions but also temporarily grants the zombie some of the traits, skills, and memories of the deceased. Liv uses this ability to help a police detective investigate crimes, by passing off her "visions" (memory recalls triggered by certain cues) as psychic. When threatened, a zombie can temporarily go into a "full-on zombie mode" (or "rage out") and viciously fight off the attacker. A zombie's heartbeat is very slow (something like 10 beats per minute), which also meant that, if wounded, they don't bleed out. Their deadened nerves means they can undergo open heart surgery without anesthesia. The condition can be passed by fluid contact (including sex, but kissing appears to be okay) or a scratch. - Kamen Rider: - Kamen Rider Wizard: Koyomi is a rare heroic example. She died before the start of the series and was reanimated by her father, Sou Fueki. - In Kamen Rider Double, we have the Necro-Overs, zombies who use special serum to animate themselves in a similar matter. - In Kamen Rider Ex-Aid, Kamen Rider Genm is this in two ways. The design of his Zombie Gamer Form is a mechanical zombie and Gemn himself is functionally undead after using the Dangerous Zombie Gashat to keep himself alive despite having his Rider Gauge depleted which normally causes instant death. - The penultimate episode of the 2011 season of Misfits puts its own twist on it. A character has the power to bring people back from the dead. The people brought back are fully alive as they were before being killed in all ways, except for an insatiable hunger for human flesh, and when they attack and kill others those others soon rise from the dead with their own insatiable hunger. The second wave of resurrections have varying amounts of intelligence from the mindless killer, to almost able to restrain themselves. - In Monster Warriors, the Alien Zombie from the Planet Zeenom is not related to the mystery aliens although it does resemble them, but was created by accident when Klaus' Monster Machine broke and zapped Missy's comic book. This intelligent and benevolent giant monster is featured in Seasons 1 and 2. - In Once Upon a Time Cora animates several corpses using the magically preserved hearts she ripped out out of them. - Star Trek: Various fans like to draw parallels between Borg drones and zombies. They share similarities with plague-bearing/parasite, for their "nanoprobes" and ability to infect others, and artificial for their cybernetics grown into them by the nanoprobes or grafted on by other drones. While most zombies are played as "mindless" because they're undead, drones are claimed to be mindless because they don't think for themselves; they all share the same thoughts, and the same directive, mind control similar to voodoo. They're a near-endless horde bent on making everything in the universe just like them so that they can become "perfect." Get one drone alone, severed from the collective, and he'll either (depending on if he's damaged or not) start overcoming the mind control, making him his own person, or working by the most basic form of the general directive of the collective, which will make him very much more zombie-like. Scarier when a severed drone starts to exhibit both. - Supernatural has examples of most of the subtropes, with no consistent portrayal of zombies as a whole. There's a Revenant Zombie in Season 2 who was brought back by a friend because he was still in love with her after she died. As he used dark magic to resurrect her she naturally Came Back Wrong and had to be nailed back into her grave. People infected by the Croatoan virus are Technically Living Plague Zombies who would turn the planet into zombie land if Hell's plan succeeded. Death also resurrects a bunch of people from their graves in season 5 on Lucifer's orders, who seem fine at first and typical revenants until they turn into they lose their consciousness and gain a taste for human flesh. - The Twilight Zone (1959): In "Mr. Garrity and the Graves", the resurrected former inhabitants of the Happiness, Arizona cemetery are completely cognizant, capable of talking and seek revenge on the people who originally killed them. - Z Nation zombies are typical Romero zombies, but with some twists. They were created by a specially designed virus, they move slowly until he plot requires them to run, people say they eat brains but they seem to eat all parts of the body, getting bit by a zombie turns you into a zombie, the brain needs to be taken out to stop them, both humans and animals can turn into zombies, and sometimes it looks like anyone who dies turns into a zombie no matter what they die of. What probably makes these zombies especially dangerous is how quickly people turn into zombies, someone who is bitten will turn in a couple of seconds giving everyone else not a lot of time to react. And those are just normal zombies, this show goes crazy with zombie variations, like Radioactive Zombies, Plant Zombies, and even Alien Zombies (sort of). - The final season introduces Talkers, zombies who retain their minds and look perfectly human (if sickly) but are physically dead. And as long as they're fed a steady supply of brains (or, as it later turns out, lithium), they're able to stay in this state; if not, they devolve into regular zombies. - The song "Aim for the Head" by Creature Feature is about a Zombie Apocalypse caused by zombies that can be killed by a headshot (hence the song title), and are here because, according to the song "there is no more room in Hell''. - The song is based on the film Dawn of the Dead. The line about "no more room in hell" isn't the explanation for the zombies; it comes from a former cop talking about something his Voudon-practicing grandmother used to say. It's considered the movie's most memorable quote, especially since it was also used as the official tagline. - In LMFAO's music video "Party Rock Anthem", the "zombies" are people who have been infected by an affliction that causes them to continually "shuffle" every hour of every day. According to the survivor the two group members meet after waking up, the virus is transmitted into the person's bones and forces them to "keep shuffling, nonstop, all day, every day", and requires that survivors put on headphones and continually move to avoid being surrounded and overtaken by the infected. - The zombies from Michael Jackson's Thriller are somewhat like Flesh Eating Zombies, but with the added benefit of synchronized dancing. - "All you Zombies" by The Hooters is meant metaphorically. And is probably no reference at all to the same-named SF story by Robert A. Heinlein. Which refers to the drink (and possibly also is meant metaphorically). - Also metaphorically is "Zombies" by The Cranberries, which describes a shell-shocked war child. - Jonathan Coulton: "Re: Your Brains" features a very talkative, charismatic one who tries to talk a man into opening the door so he and the other zombies can eat his brains. You can almost imagine it working, he's that good. - The oldest mention of Flesh-Eating Zombie appears in the Descent of Ishtar, with Ishtar herself threatening to smash the gates of the underworld and "bring up the dead to eat the living." - What could be considered zombie precursor can be found in the second branch of the Mabinogion. It features a cauldron "Pair Dadeni" that the Irish use to raise their fallen warriors back from the dead. It's hard not see the connection between the modern-day zombie given how those resurrected with the cauldron are unable to speak, making their sole purpose to tirelessly and indefinitely fight against the British. - Part of the myths of the Ragnarok (the Apocalypse of Norse Mythology) is that Loki will command and army of zombies during the End of the World. - The ancient Greeks had a plethora of names for the undead, stemming from the fact that ancient Greece was made up of various independent kingdoms. Among the many names of the undead was kathakano. These zombies were said to rise from the dead in order to feast on the living, with particular fondness for livers, putting them firmly in the Flesh-Eating Zombie category. Kathakano were also said to posses the very video-game suited ability of vomiting up scalding hot blood, making them one of the first examples of undead that utilize a Zombie Puke Attack. - Tibetan ro-lang were believed to be corpses reanimated by an evil spirit or sorcerer. They are described as having black tongues that stick out of their mouths and a stiff posture similar to that of a Chinese Vampire, rendering them unable to pass through doorways. They can be turned into black dust or a golden statue (not killed) by cutting off the tongue or an exorcism. - Dice Funk: Undead miners jump the party, but Johnny is insistent that they are not zombies. They were, in fact, ghouls. - WWE's The Undertaker, a zombie gravedigger who can levitate and/or bring down lightning every so often... and decides the way to use this is to go be a wrestling champion. Go figure. - In the series three finale of Bleak Expectations, Mister Benevolent raises an army of the undead, including Harry Biscuit, whom he'd killed in the previous episode. From all indications, the zombies normally retain their original personality and attributes, and don't even need to eat brains (if they don't want to, and provided the brains are organic). All the shambling, swaying, slow movements and groaning is because the zombies are so happy to be alive again they keep going out and getting really, really drunk. Once the situation is resolved, Harry Biscuit just acts the same as usual, and conveniently, no-one ever mentions the zombies again. - Zombies make a couple of appearances in Bellingham Terror, as the Voodoo Zombies variety but without mentioning Voodoo and referring to them as "ghouls" rather than using the Z word. - The "build-it-yourself kit" approach to zombie-making on All Flesh Must Be Eaten means that it's really easy to make them as different as you want. Some of the available "Deadworlds" provide examples varying from demon-possessed to junkie (as in, they were created by toxic super-cocaine and need it to function) to cyborg zombies and beyond. - Several teams in Blood Bowl can field zombies. They appear to be voodoo type zombies. They are slow, but high armor and intelligent enough to always play the game as your order them to (they don't have the Bonehead, Wild Animal, or Really Stupid traits). Nurgle teams can also field rotters, closer to plague zombies, which also are intelligent enough to play the game, have high armor for their cost, a bit faster, but get injured far easier. If a rotter or anyone else on a Nurgle team kills an enemy player, they become a Rotter. - The zombies of Deadlands are quite unique creatures. They are created when a corpse is possessed by a manitou, which creates a creature that is commonly referred to as a "Walkin' Dead". These creatures often look decayed, sometimes to the point of being animated skeletons, have at the least low-human level intelligence (they frequently wield guns and can potentially be crackshots), they don't need to eat but enjoy eating human flesh, and they can't spread in any reliable fashion. - The setting also has Voodoo Zombies, which are created by Conjure Doctors by invoking Baron Samedi and so are short lived creatures (when a Bokor uses the same prayer, the Rada loa create a Walkin' Dead instead), and Harrowed. The Harrowed are technically a mishmash of Revenant Zombie, Demonic Possession and Flesh-Eating Zombie; they are created by the manitou in the same way as normal Walkin' Dead, but the original soul is brought back and can wrest control of the body from the evil spirit that animates it — including being able to use all of its supernatural powers. However, they still need to sleep a couple of hours a day (so the manitou can do "maintenance" and keep the body from rotting), during which time the manitou forces the soul to experience nightmares in an effort to size the body back, and they have a Healing Factor that requires them to consume raw meat — and a supernatural hankering for human flesh is a Harrowed-specific disadvantage. - The Hungry Ghosts in Exalted, despite the name. At night or in a shadowland they are solid enough that they might as well count. - Under the right circumstances, cards can become zombie cards in Hoyle's Rules of Dragon Poker which make a player's hands dead. - Zombies in Magic: The Gathering inhabit many parts of the spectrum. Meletis Philosopher: It is a sad irony: they loved life enough to return to it, but they cannot bring that love back with them. - Some, like the legendary creatures Balthor the Defiled◊, Thraximundar◊, and Lord of Tresserhorn◊, are mighty warriors brought back in the service of a necromancer (Voodoo Zombies). - Others, like Frankenstein's Monster◊, Sutured Ghoul◊, and the Blue Innistrad zombies, are stitched-together constructs (Artificial Zombies). - Flesh-Eating zombies appear in great amounts, with too many examples to count. - On the city-world of Ravnica, zombies are considered completely normal citizens. Here, the walking dead serve in farms, charity services, and even the police force. The zombie policeman featured in the card Wight of Precinct Six is notable, whose flavor text reads "Even the lost and undead need a protector". - The Nim◊ are plague-bearing zombies transformed by necrogen gas, which they begin to generate in their undeath. The Phyrexian oil also seems to work like a zombie plague, with one mere scratch transforming the victim into a mindlessly obedient Phyrexian. - The oil could also be considered a parasite, since it seems to have limited sentience. The Phyrexian "Tingler" device◊ is a parasitic machine that rips out the host's spine and replaces it, adding another parasite-made zombie. - The Theros block introduced the Returned/Noston. Based off greek shades, they are basically people that escaped from the Underworld, and as a price they've lost their face, their memories and their capacity to form long term memories, being incapable of rebuilding a new identity. Being fully sapient and emotional beings, they are pretty much forced to live out a depressing shadow play with the skills they had in life, incapable of ever forming attachments with other people and establish a new identity. They do build beautiful and intricate masks of gold, the most common material in the Underworld, as a form of consolation for their lack of identity. - The mummies of Amonkhet are classified as zombies as well. Unusually, they are aligned with White mana. - Another example of rather unique zombies from Amonkhet, are the eternals. They are Amonkhet's greatest warriors who were killed by one of their brainwashed gods and zombified by Nicol Bolas. They are coated with blue metal called lazotep, they are stronger than they were in life, as smart and have the same skills as before, and follow Bolas's command. - The New World of Darkness sourcebook Antagonists has a toolbox system allowing the creation of voodoo, flesh-eating, and plague-bearing zombies. - Although the standard animates of Unhallowed Metropolis are flesh-eating with some plague-bearing elements, the alchemically-created mercurials are Artificial Zombies that, depending on how successful the procedure is, can vary from flesh-eating with plague-bearing elements, to pure flesh-eating, to multiple variations on the revenant. Even the most successful ones Came Back Wrong, though. - The Hong Kong animates don't seem that weird in the overall zombie scheme of things from what information is available... but they somehow don't follow the rules that govern zombies in the setting. Animates decay and desiccate over time, eventually becoming mummified to the point of immobility before rotting away entirely. Plague Animates can stave this off by devouring living human flesh. The Hong Kong animates should have run out of living humans to prey on long ago, but somehow they're still functioning 200 years after the initial Zombie Apocalypse. - Weirder on a typical scale are zombie lords, animates that retain some degree of intelligence and possess an ability to draw other animates toward them and telepathically direct them. Any large, directed horde needs at least one of these at its head, and possibly multiple working in tandem, as they turn aimless zombies motivated primarily to find living humans and eat them into a coordinated attack force. If it's any consolation, they're usually not terribly bright — some intelligence is still lost, so a human of average intelligence becomes a zombie lord with below-human-average intelligence. Someone at the peak of human intelligence who becomes one, though, will still be able to outwit most humans even after the loss of intelligence. - Warhammer 40,000: Depending on how you see it, a Genestealer cult could be this. They are unfathomably loyal to their Patriarchal Alien, are made by parasites, etc. One can argue that they're not true undead and are just mutants, but half this list can also argue that. - This comparison is most apt for the "Contagii", those who have had a Genestealer use its mouth... tentacle... thing to implant its genetic material into them. They are dazed by the experience and unable to remember the incident. While they unconsciously seek to spread their mutation by breeding they can be taken control of at any time by the Genestealer Patriarch in charge of the brood that infected them and used as mindless slaves. Beyond that they become an entirely separate breed of Xenos creature. - There are also Plague Zombies, undead created by Nurgle's magical plagues. They're the pretty standard "Plague bearing, actually dead" type, but instead of biting people, just being within proximity of them can cause infection. - Nurgle also has the Plaguebearers, lesser daemons created from the victims of his signature disease, Nurgle's Rot. Since it's magical/psychic in nature, it literally corrupts the soul and when the victim expires, they are reborn as a daemon within Nurgle's realm. Plaguebearers, naturally, have Nurgle's Rot and can spread it to others. They are technically not zombies, but a type of daemon, however they otherwise fit the bill. - Finally, Nurgle's devoted Space Marine Legion, the Death Guards, have been transformed into what's known as Plague Marines; Space Marines so riddled with disease that even anti-tank rounds have a hard time to put them down, while at the same time they shamble on at a slow pace spreading the aforementioned Nurgle's Rot to everything they touch (as an added icing on the cake, many of them can summon Plaguebearers too). Unlike most examples, Plague Marines are fully sentient. They just hate non-nurglite life. - In the Yu-Gi-Oh! card game, the Field Spell card "Zombie World" morphs everyone on the battlefield and in all players' graveyards into Zombie types (until the card is removed from the field). Not through a parasite, but some other kind of strange magic. - Not to mention there are Zombie-type monsters (although they are called Undead in the Japanese dub). - The Adventures of Lomax has the Technically Living Zombie variant. The zombies you encounter in the second world are actually lemmings magically turned by Evil Ed into monsters. They are blue and do the Zombie Gait at first, but start running angrily when hit once, and turn back into normal lemmings when you hit them the second time. - There are zombies aplenty in different flavors in the Castlevania series, but in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night there is a special set of zombies. These three particular zombies are fought as a boss against Alucard by impersonating his three allies, Trevor Belmont, Sypha Belnades, and Grant Dynasty from the third game, with their abilities to boot. - Cookie Run has Zombie Cookie, who is a zombie because he was made with spoiled ingredients and underbaked. His abilities in both versions of the game are themed around reviving after first running out of energy. He's non-hostile and speaks in Hulk Speak - The Tower Defense spinoff Cookie Wars has Jelly Walkers, cookies transformed by a mysterious meteor. They've turned purple, have yellow jelly bean shaped eyes, are Covered in Gunge, and act like typical mindless zombies. - The Undead in Dark Souls start off as living humans marked with the "Darksign," a black spot ringed with fire on their bodies. These include almost every human character in the game, including the Player Character. Upon death, they turn into something akin to a revenant — a near-mummified corpse still retaining its human mind and intelligence. Over time or as they die more, they eventually lose all of their humanity and become Hollow — monstrous killing machines that, although not utterly mindless, don't seem to be capable of anything more thoughtful than wielding weapons and trying to kill all who cross their path. It is possible for them to regain their humanity and the appearance of life, but it's not an easy process — methods include reclaiming humanity from corpses (slow, but comparatively safe), helping other Undead with their trials, or attacking other Undead to steal humanity from them. And it's not permanent, either; as soon as the Undead dies again, they go right back to near-Hollow state. - Dark Souls III introduces the Unkindled, a new subrace of undead who tried and failed to link the fire and become a Lord of Cinder. They (like the protagonist) are resurrected when the bell of Firelink Shrine tolls and are tasked with finding the Lords of Cinder and bringing them back to Firelink Shrine to sit in their thrones and help rekindle the first flame. They do not seem to possess the darksign like regular undead as they do not hollow when they die, but they can hollow when marked with the darksigil. Unkindled have a burnt motif to their designs, their clothes flacking with ash as their clothes glow like burnt leaves, lose this burnt motif if they die and can regain it (and their maximum health) using an Ember. - A deeper look at the cosmology of the series reveals that The Undead are not truly zombies at all. They are in fact the primordial state of humanity prior to the discovery of the First Flame that introduced disparity to the world such as life and death. It was the Lord Souls that granted humans true life (and with it true death). Hollowing is simply humans reverting to their original state as beings who neither lived nor died, but simply existed. - The zombies from Dead Rising are similar to those of Resident Evil (flesh-eating and plague-bearing) with a notable difference; the source of the zombie plague is an artificially mutated breed of wasp that carry the virus, which infects those it stings while implanting their brood in the host's body. The zombies have a strange reaction around queen wasps; when a queen is killed, the wasp larvae in surrounding zombies violently erupt from their hosts, blowing their heads off and killing them in a matter of seconds. These zombies also become more dangerous at night, with glowing red eyes and more aggressive behavior. - The Necromorphs of Dead Space are zombies, but are removed from regular zombies by an extraordinary degree. Not only can they mutate and repurpose dead tissue into a variety of forms, they are extremely difficult to kill. Rather than Removing the Head or Destroying the Brain, the only reliable method to kill them is to cut off their limbs until they're incapable of movement. - Similarly in the earlier game Demon's Souls, the Dregling is a human that has gone mad after having their soul devoured by the demons in the fog. Some Dreglings have some humanity left in them and can talk and trade with the player, others are completely hostile such as the slaves and former soldiers of the Boletarian palace. - Destiny has several variants on this: - The Hive are a combination of parasite and voodoo, being an entire alien species of what are essentially The Undead, who are linked to a parasitic worm-like lifeform that drives their bodies. The parasite is technically the only part of any Hive entity that is alive, with the rest of it being powered and animated by the parasite. The Hive being is still self-aware and can think and act on its own, but the worm parasite is the only thing keeping it alive, and in order to feed it and grow stronger, the Hive must collect Light from living beings that they slaughter. - The second type of zombie is an artificial type, created by SIVA from reanimating the dead bodies of the Iron Lords that died in its replication chamber. - The Darkness creates a variation of this through Demonic Possession when it wants to communicate directly with its servants, inhabiting and controlling dead bodies to allow it to speak directly to them, since without it the Darkness is a formless, shapeless mass of malevolence. - Even though it's more of a demon invasion, the first Diablo had a unique view of where zombies come from. From the manual: "Zombies are formed from the corpses of men executed for the most depraved and degenerate crimes against the innocent. They are driven by both the hatred that consumed them in life and the undead hunger for mortal flesh." Though this was the only game in the series where this gets mentioned. - The Black Death are variant zombies that will permanently remove 1 of your maximum hit points and there's no way to reverse this. - Diablo 3 has the Risen Dead, which functions mostly like standard zombies, except that they're being animated by different source, namely the Falling Star, or Tyrael's excess power that was leaked when he's falling, which animated those unjustly slain. - Zombies in Disgaea are created by piecing together dead body parts, and in later games they are fully healed when they kill an opponent, though they have no attacks that specifically eat flesh. Instead, they puke at foes, turn themselves into tornadoes, and inexplicably create at least twenty copies of themselves and consecutively body-slam the enemy for their standard attacks. They also have mohawks and hunger for brains. Of note, they are stated to be dead monsters, not human(oids), though they seem to pieced together out of human's dead body parts. The game isn't too clear on the issue. - Interestingly, according to supplementary material, these zombies are stated to be corpses revived by the Netherworld's natural miasma. - Other than their Establishing Character Moment in Hour Of Darkness, Zombies in later games are all shown to be every bit as sentient as other Netherworld denizens; being capable of speech, fairly intelligent and have the potential to rival an Overlord in power. - Zombies in Doom 3 are flesh eating (they consume both dead bodies and immobile zombies) but do not attempt to bite the player. They are not contagious, having being changed by spirits from hell, and go straight from alive to undead in most cases. Most civilian zombies are slow moving and have low intelligence, but military zombies are faster, more agile and smarter, utilizing pistols, shotguns, and submachine guns, and basic squad tactics. They also have a vulnerability to wounds to the body. Finally, the brain is not a center of infection, even if headshots count for extra damage for zombies that actually have heads. - There are two major types of undead in Dwarf Fortress: - One is the zombie. Zombies are simply walking corpses that do not feel pain or fear, and with body parts that can rot. They can be created in one of two ways: - Resurrected by necromancers, falling under the Voodoo Zombie subtype, or - Resurrected in certain haunted biomes. note - The other is the husk, which is created when a living creature is covered in a certain type of cursed dust, with intense hatred for all life, and greater strength than they ever had in life. They can spread the dust to other creatures, which runs the possibility of quickly creating an unstoppable Zombie Apocalypse. And not only do they (unlike normal zombies) retain all the skills they had while they were alive, they retain the ability to learn, so their skills as a killing machine grow the more they kill. - One is the zombie. Zombies are simply walking corpses that do not feel pain or fear, and with body parts that can rot. They can be created in one of two ways: - The Elder Scrolls: - In series' lore, the Sload, "slugmen" native to the archipelago of Thras to the southwest of Tamriel, have a natural affinity toward necromancy. The Sload use these skills to re-animate dead bodies to use as slave labor. - Atronachs are a type of unaligned lesser Daedra which are essentially the Elemental Embodiments of the elements they represent. The most common are the Flame (also known as "Fire"), Frost, and Storm varieties. Others include Air, Flesh, Iron, and Stone. Flesh Atronachs are notably the only type of Atronach that requires creation, since they're literally sewn together from corpses and reanimated. - Morrowind: - What the rest of Tamriel refers to as zombies, the Dunmer traditionally refer to as "Bonewalkers." They come in Lesser, Standard, and Greater varieties. They are summoned by Temple faithful to protect their Ancestral Tombs, which is considered to be different than blasphemous necromancy. - Those inflicted with the Corprus disease are part Plague Zombie and part Technically Living Zombie. They have nasty cases of Body Horror and their mental faculties degrade over time. Interestingly, there's you, the Nerevarine. During one quest in the main story the Nerevarine is afflicted with Corprus themselves. After completing a string of quests afterword you will eventually discover a cure, however it only works on you, and you still technically HAVE the disease but with only the positive symptoms and no negative symptoms. More specifically, the disease makes you biologically immortal and immune to all diseases. For those not lucky enough to get "cured," their only hope of dying once the disease has progressed is a Mercy Kill. - The Bloodmoon expansion has Draugr, re-animated corpses of ancient Nords who have been in some way cursed. A self-aware Draugr, Aesliip, is encountered. Apparently, if you inflict revenant status on yourself (Aesliip had done it to be able to keep maintaining a barrier stopping a Daedric incursion), you get to keep your intelligence. - Skyrim uses aspects of both voodoo and revenant in different ways for both zombies and draugr. The things actually referred to as "zombies" are bodies resurrected by magic that look like they did in life and are self-aware, but are forced to fight for the person who raised them (they aren't too cool with it). The draugr, meanwhile, look like traditional zombies and do not seem to be self-aware (although they are capable of using magic and Thu'um attacks), but rather than being raised by necromancers, they were members of an ancient dragon-worshiping cult who rose from the dead when dragons returned to the world (well, most of them. It doesn't quite make sense for every draugr encountered, and there is heavy evidence from Bloodmoon that there are other ways for draugr to come into existence). - Evil Islands: They come in two flavors: normal, lumbering ones (including recruits, warriors and experienced ones) and better preserved ghouls that for all intents and purposes behave like human enemies. - Ghouls from the Fallout universe are ordinary humans exposed to massive amounts of heat and radiation but somehow surviving. Ghouls differ from most zombies due to not strictly speaking being 'undead' in any way — there is never a point in the life of a ghoul where they are dead and then alive again. Ghouls do however physically resemble zombies, and 'zombie' is considered a racial slur against them. Ghouls are infertile and seem to live forever unless killed. About half the ghouls in the Capital Wasteland and surrounding areas have completely retained their memories and personalities, but have some memory problems due to most of them being hundreds of years old. Other, 'feral' ghouls have become mindless killing machines that attack any human that comes near them. Attitudes towards ghouls differ — the Brotherhood of Steel kill them on sight and many humans treat them with fear and disgust. Others, such as Three Dog and the citizens of Megaton understand that the difference between them and humans is largely cosmetic. - Expansions such as The Pitt feature other flesh-eating, decaying-looking formerly-human radiation monsters, such as Trogs, who are always mindless flesh-eaters and walk on all fours, and Wildmen, who seem to retain some human characteristics but eat people and cannot be talked to or reasoned with. - The Fallout: New Vegas add-on Dead Money introduces the Ghost People, hazmat suit wearing former construction workers of the Sierra Madre Villa. When the Cloud got loose due to the Big MT's intentional experiments, the hazmat suits the workers were wearing corroded, trapping them inside, while the Cloud... changed them. They can still do semi-intelligent things like use weapons, fashion spears, and improvise bombs, but their only function now is to kill anyone who sets foot in the Villa. Also, unlike the above examples, they keep reviving unless you dismember them, blow them up, shoot off their heads, or disintegrate them. - Old World Blues has the lobotomites, which are humans who have several of their vital organs, specifically their brains, removed and replaced with cyborganic technology. They can use guns, but they don't seem to have any sense of self preservation and are instantly hostile to any and all non lobotomites. - Then came the Marked Men from Lonesome Road. They are former Elite Mooks of the NCR and the Legion that were caught in the Divide, and a combination of hazards such as the unique wind storms and radiation caused most of their weskin to be torn off, with only the Divide's radiation keeping them alive. They have no little sense of who they once were, and now just kill anything they see. Despite this, they still hunt, cut their food, use guns, and at least have some sense of self preservation, as shown in an ending where they allow the Courier passage out of the Divide out of fear. - Fallout 76 has the Scorched, victims of a dangerous plague that eventually leaves its those infected as little more than irradiated ultracite statues. Until then, however, the Scorched are essentially akin to semi-feral ghouls, mindlessly attacking any non-Scorched while possessing enough intelligence to use weapons. - Cie'th from Final Fantasy XIII are l'Cie that have failed their given Focus and transformed into crystal-ridden warped monsters. They have such heartwarming names as "Ghoul" and "Ghast". And they eventually degrade into immobile Living Statues called Cie'th Stones -that are still suffering. Even worse, a person's mental state can hasten the process, resulting in some less stoic l'Cie turning into Cie'th almost immediately after getting their Focus. - The alternative isn't much better. When a l'Cie completes their Focus, their body is instantly transformed into a human-shaped crystal. It's little wonder that the humans in the Final Fantasy XIII world consider becoming a l'Cie to be a Fate Worse than Death (so much so that killing someone who had the misfortune of becoming a l'Cie is treated as a Mercy Kill). - Even worse, the fal'Cie have figured out how to exploit a certain loophole; if a fal'Cie creates a l'Cie without a Focus, the resulting Logic Bomb creates an instant Cie'th. This effectively means that if the fal'Cie need an undead army on the spot and you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time — enjoy your eternal suffering as a shambling monster without any input or means of preventing it whatsoever! - Guild Wars 2 introduces Zhaitan both Eldritch Abomination and The Necromancer, who corrupts the Land he flies over. The Land creates both Plague Zombies (created by the Corpse Land) and Voodoo Zombies (controlled by Zhaitans will). - Bit Monster's Gunner Z has zombies that were part of a weapons project by a rogue general who's doing a coup d'etat on the US gov't. Besides the standard zombie and a few usual variants (giant zombie and crawling suicide-bomber zombie), there's the Titan zombie. The Titans are twice the size of the already enormous giant zombies and the Titans have an energy beam Breath Weapon that hits as hard as a main battle tank's cannon. Also somewhat unusual is that these zombies are working with military forces — so you face gunner drones, IFV, and tanks using zombies as a screen. - Halo: The parasitic Flood's standard method of infection is to have little green popcorn on legs burrow into your spine and override your neural pathways, and completely rewrite your genetic code, mutating your body into a tentacled, bulbous monster specifically designed to kill. And when they die, they can still be revived if another Infection Form comes along and reanimates it. Also, when your mangled, mattered corpse has been damaged beyond use, it bloats and becomes a hive for more Infection Forms. The Flood can also use airborne spores to similar effect. - They also have some revenant elements to them, with infectees retaining some of their original abilities (which is why they can shoot, drive, and even pilot starships). Additionally, every Flood form is apparently a repository for the collective memories, knowledge, and intelligence of every single sentient the parasite as a whole have consumed; when an outbreak has reached a great enough level, they will form Graveminds, giant Flood biomasses that can access this hyper-intelligent Hive Mind and telepathically control every Flood form within their range of influence (which can extend up to at least a star system). Once the Flood reach this point, they will go beyond simply infecting targets, and begin using their biomass as building blocks for even more dangerous Flesh Golems designed by the collective Hive Mind. - The Forerunner Saga reveals that they also have artifical zombie elements; they're the result of the Forerunner's own precursors going into hiding by temporarily turning themselves into dust and Coming Back Wrong. - Heretic 2 zombies are former townsfolk that have been driven mad, sickened or prone to violence by a magical plague, however it seems they cannot spread the disease, plague bringers are needed for this. - In Hollow Knight, the undead of Hallownest, some reanimated by the Infection, others corrupted while still alive, are known as Husks, identifiable by their glowing yellow eyes. Furthermore, many of the Husks encountered in Deepnest are afflicted by the Corpse Creeper, a Cordyceps-like Puppeteer Parasite that controls their corpse after you strike them down. - House of the Dead (1996) is the Trope Maker of the "fast zombie" archetype, where zombies could run and have more intellect. Fast zombies have become common in zombie movies and video games since the 2000s. - The zombies in Last Empire: War Z are plague-bearers, but are prone to radical mutation, they're smart enough to communicate in their native language, and can even be tamed. This led to the development of the Biochemical Center, which lets players manufacture zombie super-soldiers by genetically modifying The Virus and then injecting either a zombie or a "volunteer" with it. - The Last of Us: The Infected are in the Technically Living Zombie category, as the fungal infection that creates the Infected only affects living human beings that have either been bitten by an Infected or through the airborne spores left behind by fungal pods and the remains of dead infected. This is even stated by Joel within the game: "Dead people don't get infected." - The zombies of Left 4 Dead took Resident Evil's virus mutant zombies and ran with it. The zombies here have various mutant strains with varying powers, such as the tank being an 8-foot tall muscle-freak abomination that can smash through obstacles with ease and soak up tons of gunfire from a group of survivors. Likewise, the common infected are implied to scratch and bite the survivors, but they mostly attack by punching and beating on them and kicking/stomping them when they're down. - The Legend of Zelda has redeads, which are zombie-like beings. - Marco and the Galaxy Dragon plays it for laughs with an episode of Galaxy TV Drama. In it, a woman and her son are fleeing from the zombie horde that has overrun their town. Both end up caught and bitten and are pleasantly surprised to discover that zombie bites relieve muscle cramps and back pain. - Zombies in Super Meat Boy are corpses of a dead Meat Boy. Meat Boy respawns as normal when he dies, but his former dead body is resurrected as zombie, potentially making the amount of zombies infinite. Those zombies tend to hang around Hell and Rapture and are also capable of fusing together into a larger creature. - Metal Gear Solid 4. Well, not exactly, but half-way through the game, when Liquid represses the Mercenary Army's nanomachines, causing their emotion and reason to flood back into their brain, the Private Military Contractors in the area are brain damaged. Guess what? They shamble, moan, and are pretty much Classic-Romero zombies, to the point of mindlessly rushing Snake (and not reacting to any sort of stimuli). There's no biting or undead stuff, though. - In Metroid Prime, there are Zombie Space Pirates, who move just as well as living Space Pirates. In Prime 2, Dark Troopers are added to the mix, being much more similar to classic Zombies. Except with armor and energy-weapons. - Zombies in Minecraft are just your typical zombies, aside from the fact that they only come out when it's dark, and getting caught in direct sunlight causes them to burst into flames. They attack you without provocation, but there's no indication that they eat your flesh. Interestingly, you have the option of eating their flesh, which may give you food poisoning but is nevertheless helpful for warding off starvation. You can also feed it to pet wolves to heal them without any downsides. - In Myth, the Leveller is a dark god who perpetuates an endless cycle where good and evil reign alternately for 1000 years each. The Leveller has created Thralls to be his base troops. Each Thrall is an Unskilled, but Strong zombie with a hefty axe that can take a good chunk out of its target, if it hits. Backing the Thrall are the equally mindless Wights, these are bloated gasbag zombies that can explode with more force than a dwarf's tossed bomb. - The zombies in Nazi Zombies were created by being injected with Element 115, and being somewhat controllable (with color-coordinated eye glow as well). While headshots will deal considerably more damage, it is not a requirement and some can live for a few seconds with their head blown off and still attacking you. Injecting them with more 115 can turn them back into being human. - The latest incarnation of the Nexus War series has both magical zombies summoned by player necromancers and NPC plague zombies. If a character is sufficiently unlucky, it's possible to get one's body ripped in two (or more) pieces that get resurrected as both kinds. Which are then forced to fight each other. - Kyurem from Pokémon Black and White is a frozen zombie dragon that is said to have a taste for human flesh. It's so feared by people that an entire, walled village refused to go out at night in fear that it may devour one of them. A tradition they continue to this day. - Prismata has the Grimbotch. It's a cheap attacker that you can purchase early in the game, but it's so unstable that it falls apart after a few turns. - The Infected in [PROTOTYPE] seem to range all over the place. BLACKLIGHT seems capable of creating plague-bearing/flesh-eating Infected, the rank and file of which act like the typical shambling zombies. Then they start mutating into faster and deadlier forms. Then you have Alex Mercer who is a mixture of revenant and artificial, after his corpse has been taken over by a sentient strain of BLACKLIGHT that the real Alex Mercer developed, going so far as to think that it is the real Alex Mercer. - The undead in Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare are a combination of flesh-eating, plague-bearing, and to some extent voodoonote . In addition to the basic infected humans, there are a number of specialized undead that seem to be Expies of the special infected from Left 4 Dead. - The zombies of the Resident Evil series are flesh-eating, plague-bearing zombies who are also, to a certain extent, constructed. The zombies are the result of the T-virus, engineered by the evil Umbrella Corporation, although the zombies are simply a by-product of the virus, which is designed to create more powerful and dangerous creatures to be used and sold as weapons. - Technically, the zombies of Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5 fall under the parasite classification. This is due to the fact that they are turned into what they are by the plagas parasite. In Resident Evil 5, it's actually an altered version of the parasite. A case could be made that the enemies of Resident Evil 4 also fall into the Voodoo category as they're controlled by the Big Bad of the game. - In Shantae, the zombies you meet in the game are just as intelligent as living people, and drinking coffee is apparently what keeps them that way. They're also (for zombies) a fairly decent bunch; even Rottytops, for all her threats of eating people and her reputation as a troublemaker and rabblerouser, actually hasn't so much as hurt a fly over the whole series — the only actually villainous thing she has done is kidnapping Shantae's uncle Mimic, which she regretted immediately and ran away crying out of shame and guilt, and has been much friendlier to Shantae to try and make up for it. - Siren has people known as "Shibito". Shibito have all the standard setup of a zombie-like entity, but are not technically dead. they are controlled by the alien god Datatsushi to eventually turn the world into a hellish realm for him to live. The Shibito cannot die, they can be harmed but can heal very quickly, their bodies can mutate and become bug like or grow an excessive number of eyes, they lash out at anything not infected, they are hive minded, they use firearms, they plan and think, and they wander about pointlessly looking for people not under the control. How one becomes a Shibito is vague at best, as multiple individuals that fit the criteria for a Shibito are not Shibito during any part of the game, while other people who have nothing to do with the town become Shibito towards the end. - Ms. Fortune in Skullgirls the only thing keeping her alive is the life gem she swallowed; without it, she'd die. - Squigly from the same game is an even better example, being a 14-years-dead corpse resurrected to serve as one of the Skullgirl's mindless minions. Only the presence of her parasite Leviathan allows her to retain her memories and free will. - Sonny has the main character (who is named Sonny), who is technically undead, but aside from that is nothing like conventional zombies. He's capable of thinking, talking, and other stuff an ordinary human can do. Averted with some enemy zombies you happen to run into, with the possible exception that they vary a bit more than average. He's not the only one though. There's also Veradux, who joins your party, Baron Brixius, who is undoubtedly evil, and Felicity, who appears in the sequel and later joins you. - Zombies from STALKER are brain-damaged former stalkers who, while quite resistant to gun fire, show no signs of actually being undead. It's suggested that they just got too close to the 'Brain Scorcher' and lost their minds. They also know how to use guns (badly). - These aren't complete zombies in some instances. In S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat, they can be found muttering garbled words back and forth, and will move their arms towards barrel fires. They even loot corpses and replace their weapons with better ones. - The Zerg from Starcraft are just as zombie like as the Borg, but purely biological. If you infest a Terran command post, you can even create Infested Terrans to suicide bomb your enemies. - Super Mario Land has an enemy that is based on the Chinese mythology of zombies. Mario can stomp on them all he likes, but the monster will keep reviving itself. Only the Super Ball power up can truly kill them. - Yoshika Miyako from Touhou Shinreibyou ~ Ten Desires is that while she is a Jiangshi, she is better described as a zombie with a funny-looking sticky note on the forehead. She was resurrected to guard the mausoleum of Toyosatomimi no Miko, she cannot feel pain, is stiff from rigor mortis, is barely smarter than a brick and can temporarily turn someone into a zombie. Part of this is because in the "outside world" (a.k.a. the real world), Jiangshi aren't talked of much but zombies are becoming popular, which affects things in Gensokyo. - In The Twisted Tales of Spike McFang, Dracuman Castle has been invaded by zombies that breathe fire. Only the English version calls them zombies; they were apparently supposed to be quasi-Quasimodos. - The zombie in The Ultimate Haunted House is one of the monsters in the house, which sleeps in an iron maiden in a torture chamber in the house's basement. It is mindless, bright green, and looks like its skin is melting off, and unusually for a zombie, it attacks with magic curses rather than directly. Like all of the monsters in the house, it is described as "nasty" and cannot be attacked, only fled from. - Warcraft III and World of Warcraft: Zombies are the most basic kind of undead (so basic that you can't even train them when playing as the Scourge) created when any normal human dies to the Plague of Undeath. Without a necromancer to control them they wander, aimlessly attacking any living who approach. - In the Wario Land series, Wario can end up becoming one if he gets attacked by a zombie or ghost. While he moves more slowly than usual, he can get past one-way platforms by jumping and decomposing, letting his hat fall through and recomposing afterwards. Cures for this state of undeath are usually exposure to light and water. - The minigame "Zombie Tag" in Wii Party involves Mii getting trapped in a Creepy Cemetery with seemingly classical zombies running amok and trying to turn them into other zombies. The twist is that the whole zombie thing isn't permanent: at sunrise, every single Mii (even the ones that were already zombies in the first place) turn back to normal. - X-COM: - XCOM has a few varieties. In the original UFO Defense and the reboot, Zombies are made when an alien called a Chryssalid kills a human. The zombie will act aggressively towards humans until killed (in UFO Defense) or left alive for several turns (in Enemy Unknown) at which point they will hatch into a new Chryssalid. - XCOM 2 gives us two new types of zombies. The base game has the Psi-Zombies, human corpses reanimated by aliens with Psychic Powers. These zombies act much like the Chryssalid zombies above, but rely on the mental link to their reanimator, and if the psychic alien is killed or disoriented by a flashbang grenade, the zombie will die. The War Of The Chosen DLC gives XCOM the most 'zombie-like' zombies in the game, though ironically enough the only type of the three not to be named 'zombies', the Lost. The Lost are humans infected with some sort of alien gas that seems to have been used for terraforming purposes and was not intended to create zombies, as they're just as aggressive to the aliens as humanity. They lumber around, attack humans on sight, are attracted to loud noises, and are vulnerable to headshots. They also have a couple of Elite Zombie subtypes, the Dasher and the Brute. - Bowser's Kingdom has the zombies infected with Poison Mushroom spores from Episode 666. They eat flesh and turn anything into more of them. - MEOW has adorable kitty zombies created by toxic waste that seeped into a graveyard They don't die from a Boom, Headshot! and even if you kill yourself before they get you, you become one anyway once you die. - Doraleous & Associates has the undead in Georgiana. For the most part, they're typical Flesh Eating Zombies... but they're also Technically Living Zombies, and can be cured if bitten by a non-zombie. - Dreamscape: Ethan and Curien are sorcerer zombies, although they don't look much like zombies. - Super Apartment Bros: In "The Cleanening" it's "zombie season" and the undead wander into the apartment when Igam forgets to lock the door behind him. - Xombie: The titular "Xombies" (or Variants and Talkers as they are called in both the series and comics since "xombie" is pronounced the same way as "zombie") retain the sapience from their previous lives, but have no memory of said life. Just like the feral zombies in the same setting, they are Plague Zombies. However, Variants are an anomaly in the setting's Zombie Apocalypse and a result of the reanimation virus taking control of the brain before losing consciousness. - In The Adventures of Wiglaf and Mordred, there's one character who is a zombie, but the only evidence is that he has a Healing Factor and no pain response after the initial injury. He's also invincible, as the usual "destroy the brain" thing doesn't work. He's also completely sentient. - Zombies are used for manual labor in one city in Beaches And Basilisks. - Bogleech: - Taken to the extreme in Bogleech Comics Zombie Fans story. Here we have zombies that breathe miniature zombie sharks when shot in the head, giant zombies with cheerleader puppets attached to their heads, zombies whose heads explode in a massive pyrotechnic display when they're cut off, and when three of them bite you at once, you mutate into a tree that sprouts fruit that turn into mini-vampires. - Bogleech's Awful Hospital has human patients transform into Slobs after death, or in some cases an arbitrary amount of time after being revived. Bog has indicated that anything can slobbify under the right, extremely rare conditions, but Gray Zoners (read: humans) are so incompatible with the Hospital on a basic level that the very concept of humanity begins to break down, causing them to slobbify based on whatever affliction they're suffering from. - In Boyfriend of the Dead being bitten by a zombie causes near instantaneous clinical death and reanimation as a zombie (to the point that they won't necessarily fall over if standing during the conversion). Although the disease has damaged the parts of their brains that deal with speaking, but other than that all zombies seem to retain their full intelligence, the ability to understand each others' groans like speech, and at least some of their personality... plus a compulsion to devour uninfected humans upon smelling them. Initially act like Romero Zombies, slow and shambling, but going long enough without eating humans apparently restores their full speed, balance, and senses. - Main character N is disgusted by most humans, refusing to eat them. - The Twins turned into zombies because they attacked and bit a hapless zombie, and feel no desire to eat humans when the toy store they turned in has a perfectly good bakery. Einz: Why would you want to eat humans when there're cakes??? - There are several types of zombies in Charby the Vampirate including the twins Mye and Hexavier who were originally Voodoo Zombie s before Hex regained enough control to fight back and ended up very lifelike. - Girl Genius has several different types. Besides "traditional" zombies, they also have Jaegermonsters and Constructs, which are essentially creations, and Revenants, which are infected by a slaver wasp. They are like sleeper agents, going about their business and not even realizing they are infected until triggered to fight on the behalf of "the Other". And there's Doctor Mittlemind, who is technically dead, but thanks to some Mad Science, is still active and in possession of his original personality. - In Hanna Is Not a Boy's Name, we only see one zombie, who is the narrator. Exactly how he ended up as a zombie is unclear, with Hanna only vaguely mentioning rumors of a few successful instances of reanimating the dead. Upon becoming a zombie, the guy turned green, his eyes became sunken and glowing, and while he could still feel pain, having severed limbs re-attached doesn't hurt very much. He also doesn't sleep, smells like a room that hasn't been aired out, and shows no inclination to eat the living. Since he's the only one we've seen as a zombie, it's yet to be confirmed if this is normal zombie behavior for the series. - Heroes of Thantopolis Zombies are incredibly weak, and are penned up in a movie theater and have popcorn thrown at them, killing them instantly. - In Hooves of Death, while the typical zombie functions like a Romero-style shambler, their outbreak seems to be magical in origin. One infection that the unicorn protagonist Glitter witnessed firsthand involved nothing more than a child holding an innocent-looking butterfly, which corrupted the girl into Undead Child that immediately attacked Glitter. - Kong Tower Lampshades this here in which Rob McCobb, Zombie P.I. cites just about every option listed on this page as possibilities for how a slowly-turning zombie will end up. Sort of Subverted in that it turns out to be the stereotypical "Brains!" moaning zombie. Rob McCobb: People think zombieism must be one condition, like a disease. Truth is, "Zombie" is about as descriptive as "Biped." Or are you the same thing as a bird, kangaroo, and Velociraptor? - Modern MoGal: Zombies retain their consciousness, and do not die even when their head is removed. - Bo himself in Monster Soup may be different from other zombies in the same universe in so far as he has not expired yet. Also, there is something different about his blood even among zombies that makes it a Fantastic Drug. - The Sorceress of Oglaf has at least once raised an army of the undead... so that she can watch them make-out with each other, raising the possibility that she started out as Bob's Burgers' Tina. - In Rhapsodies the Department of Minor Nuisances makes a distinction between Voodoo Zombie and everyone else. (Apparently they have separate unions.) - Skin Horse has millions of zombies of various kinds, mostly intelligent. At one point it is questioned whether a human corpse puppet-operated by a hive-mind swamp qualifies, but Unity argues: Unity: Who's us? You're a bio-revenant. I'm nanotech. The Emperor is an undead extension of his people's will. - Sluggy Freelance uses new rules every time. - The zombies in "Sluggy of the Living Freelance" are pretty standard shambling rotten corpses. They're really just actors, though. - The Deadels created by K'Z'K are undead people who have had their souls stolen. They instantly turn grey-skinned and get Glowing Eyelights of Undeath when they turn, and they sometimes have some bits of intelligence but are controlled by K'Z'K. Some of them have wings. K'Z'K can also turn living persons (including a literal Physical God) into creatures like this under his control if they're wicked enough. - The geeks in "28 Geeks Later" are a parody of zombies; they're living, but their brains have been altered all the way to the geeky direction, replacing all social skills with theoretical intelligence and thus making them supergeniuses but totally animalistic. They can spread their infection on contact because it's caused by genetically modified, brain-altering earwigs. - The zombies in "A Time for Healing" (or at least those that are explained) are Technically Living Zombies that end up embodying most zombie tropes. They have gained immortality, but at the price of having to consume every kind of human tissue in order to keep theirs from rotting away. Hence, the smart ones are especially keen on brains. They still inevitably look rotten after enough time, and most become almost mindless as well. - The "ghouls" in chapter 52 have ushered in a kind of Zombie Apocalypse on an alternative-dimension Earth, but it's evident that they're living creatures, and nobody knows what their origin is. They're really a Horde of Alien Locusts that have assumed human-like forms through cross-breeding. - The rage-husks in "Hate" are plant-zombie-creatures created by the power of a demon. They do have to die first, and then they'll walk around with their former personalities not realising they're dead until a surge of hate consumes their soul and inititates the transformation. - In "The Nom," a computer programmer has created an addictive game that also hides a secret code that can make people mindlessly hunger for human flesh. (These are referred to as "nombies".) It doesn't quite work as intended; human minds have too good defences against that sort of thing — except after a really long exposure — but non-human animals become affected and start attacking humans. Talking Animals are somewhere in between. - The monsters from Stand Still, Stay Silent have a lot in common with zombies. They're people (and animals, with house cats being the only immune mammal) killed, mutated, and ressurected by The Virus. They all have a desire to eat flesh. However, they spread Meat Moss everywhere, are called "Trolls" by the Scandinavian cast and conglomerate into creatures referred to as "giants". They might also be magic zombies; one of the theories about them is the gods got sick of everyone ignoring them and crashed civilization. The fact that The Magic Comes Back shortly after the Zombie Apocalypse lends credence to this. - Zombies in Undead Friend come from forming pacts with ghosts and gain the ability to swap their lives with them temporarily, causing them to become undead. While they gain some new abilities they also retain their personalities and intelligence. - Unsounded has two types of zombie: There are the plods, which are essentially just corpses reanimated with magic to serve as a tireless workforce (they are accepted because slavery is of course much worse). The plods do still have Horror Hunger, and thus wear metal masks all the time, and they have a certain glint in their eyes that might indicate some awareness. They are not really "alive", however, unlike the galit. A galit is an undead with a soul attached, and on very rare occasions (or maybe only through a certain ritual, it has not been explained in-story) retain their personality, memories and conscience as well. This is the case with main character Duane, who ironically enough hates seeing undead due to his religion stating it is blasphemy to let corpses go unburned. Due to this form of undeath allowing the soul to stay in place, the galit might more accurately be referred to as revenants or ghouls, or simply The Undead. Unlike the "recycled labor" that is the plods, creating galit by binding souls to corpses is considered Black Magic and a fearsome sin by the populace. It should also be noted that despite retaining their soul, a galit is still not a perfect undead, and have both Horror Hunger as well as rotting limbs. Duane has spent six years fighting against his own subconscious trying to make him eat people, and at night he has to shackle himself so that his Sanity Slippage doesn't make him go out on a mindless hunt for human flesh. That said, he doesn't actually require any food to keep going, it's just that hunger is the motivating force that keeps plods going. If he wasn't ravenous, he'd drop redead on the spot. - Unwinder's Tall Comics has the After Dark novel series, starring a bevy of zombies in name only. Horse-man: Wait, he's a zombie but he's handsome? And he's an amazing basketball player? And he can FLY? What on earth makes him a zombie? What conflict does the story have? - The zombies in the Korean Web Toon Wake Up Deadman are just normal people who happen to be dead and rotting, it's the media and the government that makes them out to be a mindless cannibal hoard. They don't need to eat or sleep, although if they become sleepy it means they're too damaged and will die for good. - Wastelanders Anonymous: Jeff is a zombie. At least that's what everyone calls him. So far, he's acted exactly like a normal human though he's kinda helpless. Also he has that scar that never healed because he doesn't have any blood to heal with. Benjamin also teased him that he can be killed by a bullet through the brain. Other than that, he's just another human. - The zombies of The Zombie Hunters are divided into seven different classes. All are Flesh-eating Plague-bearers with Black Eyes of Crazy, but each class has their own traits and behaviors, and many have superpowers. Crawlers are old-fashioned Zerg Rushers, but hidden among them could be Howlers , who emit a cry that causes nausea and vertigo, Spitters, who vomit acidic poison from as far as fifty yards away, or Basilisks, who paralyze with their gaze, eating victims' faces while they're helpless to move or speak. Mercies move like humans, only approaching the sick, injured or dying. They bite, then hold and comfort the dying victim, protecting them from other zombies. By contrast, Hunters and Bersekers are faster and more agile than normal humans. Hunters are solitary, stealthily stalking victims over any terrain, for as long as weeks before ambushing them. Berserkers, who travel alone or in small packs, are the rarest and most intelligent, strong and capable of outrunning human sprinters once they sight prey. After ambush, they slowly and sadistically beat and torture their victim into unconsciousness before biting, all while grinning and laughing madly. Only being bitten or vomited on causes imminent zombification. Otherwise, exposure to bodily fluids through an orifice or wound leaves a person alive but Infected. Able to live full, asymptomatic lives, their virus is communicable, but dormant until death, when they'll inevitably reanimate. An exception to the above classes is Charlie, who through Applied Phlebotinum, also becomes a revenant, regaining healing, full sentience and partial humanity but left with the capacity to starve, Ghost Amnesia, a dependence on donated blood and tissue and a need to disguise his zombie traits as he lives amongst Infected humans. - How to Hero's entry on zombies presents a whole slew of different kinds of zombies. The author of the guide also repeatedly claims that his greatest fear is zombie grasshoppers. Since they're small, they can jump, and you'll never see them coming. - Magic, Metahumans, Martians and Mushroom Clouds: An Alternate Cold War: - The attempts by Unit 731 to learn how reverse death only succeed in creating a virus codenamed "Manchurian Gold", which kills people but resurrects them as mindless husks, lacking any will beyond external stimulus; unless given direct orders, they stay completely inert. Also, the virus can only be spread by being directly injected into a subject. - The American military later refines Manchurian Gold into the Lazarus virus. Infectees can spread the infection through bites and scratches, have the driving impulse to feed on human flesh, and possess enough intelligence to wield basic weapons and avoid things that may harm them. - Francois Duvalier makes use of Voodoo Zombies to enforce his rule of Haiti. The first time he deploys them, in fact, is against Lazarus zombies sent by America to destabilize his regime; due to already being dead, they can't be infected, and end up winning. - Idi Amin's secret weapon during the East African War is to have necromancers raise the corpses of every person killed as a result of his orders within Ugandan territory. This gives him thousands of undead cannibals at his disposal, which tear through enemy lines and bring Uganda victory. - It's also worth noting Amin's zombies seemingly do not actually need to consume human flesh — Barack Obama Sr. speculates that Amin directly ordered them to devour people who opposed him. - By the same creator as the Zombie Fans comic, Mortasheen zombies have an extremely powerful Healing Factor, most are insane but some retain their former intellect (And thus are suitable as player characters), and if they try to have sex they can produce one out of many horrible zombie/fetus monsters. There's also the implication of weirder things, as it is implied that the Zombie Virus (which is in fact a collection of different viruses, present in every living human and activated when they die) was designed to create the Starchild-like Oovule as its ultimate result, somehow gone horribly wrong. Or perhaps it went just as planned, they never say. - The main character of Sacreya's Legacy, Ben Mason, was saved from death by a good-natured Mad Scientist and retained his memories and intelligence. However, he does have to resist the flesh-eating aspect, and when The Virus spreads across the city, it's shown that the majority of the infected become mindless monsters. - SCP Foundation: - It isn't exactly clear what happened in the alternate world of SCP-093 ("Red Sea Object"), but the...things that roam that world are nasty pieces of work. The "Unclean" are massive creatures the size of buildings, immune to all known types of weaponry, absorb human beings by contact, and the minds of those absorbed are kept intact, wondering why this happened to them for all eternity. All of this was brought about by an Eldritch Abomination masquerading as God. - SCP-1700 ("Debtshop"). When someone dies while wearing a SCP-1700-A yellow scarf, their body is transported to a sweatshop and becomes animate again for as long as it's inside the building. The body still has its memories and fragments of its personality. - The Federal Vampire And Zombie Agency: Zombies are caused by a virus but for anything else they are pretty much the classic Romero zombie lore. - In Brains, zombies can pass as living humans if they consistently eat brains, even animal brains. They are also capable of having sex without spreading the infection, though they are not capable of sexually reproducing. - Carrow from JourneyQuest. Originally a Cleric serving an undead-hating deity, he gets killed by Orcs in the third episode. Sir Perfluous, the party's dyslexic Wizard, attempts to revive him, but because of his dyslexia, he messes up, turning Carrow into an undead cleric serving an undead-hating deity. Perf: Eek, a Zombie! Carrow: Not a Zombie. You see, there are two basic types of undead. First there are the corporeals, which are skeletons, zombies, ghouls... Living bodies, without a soul. Then you have the incorporeals, which are ghosts and wraiths... Living souls, without a body. What you have managed to do, which has baffled scientists and necromancers for centuries, is you have created a sentient corporeal... A living soul trapped inside a rotting corpse!Perf: Does it hurt? Carrow:Being undead? Kinda itches. The burning resentment, however... - In AK47's ISOT Mapgame, the undead of the Eternal Union are smart enough to use guns and military tactics. - The Batman's foray into this in the episode "Strange New World" involved them moving like rejects of wire-fu movies and can fight against Batman. Oh, and befitting Hugo Strange's earliest appearances and the fact that the episode was originally supposed to feature the Scarecrow, the "zombies" were really hallucination Bruce had thanks to Strange's toxin. - In Code Lyoko, "zombie" is used to describe a persona under the control of XANA. They display common signs of zombification in popular culture (green skin, white eyes, and Zombie Gait) and can infects other humans by biting. Ergo, they are Plague-bearing Technically Living Zombies. - In Codename: Kids Next Door, stealing from nerds turns them into zombie-like creatures who relentlessly pursue the thief. They can be restored to normal if the stolen object is returned to them, but that won't guarantee they won't be resentful. - Also the Senior Citizombies in Operation: Z.E.R.O.. They are very old no matter how young they were before they were transformed, but they are also very strong and capable fighters. They also maintain their original memories and personalities, but are subservient to Grabdfather. - Zombies are the most common kind of monster seen in Gravedale High, as the school is located near a graveyard. Two Zombies; Blanche (a student) and Coach Cadaver (a teacher) are prominent characters. - Mrs. Crone's pet cat Clawford is a zombie cat, as shown by him having still the marks of the car that kill him. Probably a reference to Pet Sematary. - Zombies show up a few times in Gravity Falls: - In the pilot episode "Tourist Trapped", Dipper suspects Mabel's new boyfriend Norman is some kind of Revenant Zombie (he's actually five gnomes stacked on top of each other). - In the season two premiere "Scary-oke", Dipper accidentally summons a swarm of magically-animated zombies with a spell he finds in the journal. These zombies are the Flesh-Eating type, gaunt cadavers in various states of decay who attack the living and can spread The Virus. They also have an unusual weakness: singing in three-part harmony causes their skulls to shatter messily. Someone bit by these kinds of zombies will retain their personality, and just gain an unnatural desire to eat brains. And can be cured with a lot of formaldehyde. And cinnamon. - Zombies appear in The Real Ghostbusters episode "Buster the Ghost". They are partially ectoplasmic though as they can walk through walls. - In a high-tech variation of this trope, the eponymous Spiral Zone is a Fog of Doom that turns people into "Zoners", who are essentially mindless zombie slaves at the service of Overlord and his Black Widows. - The Terrorcons from Transformers: Prime are dead Cybertronians reanimated by Dark Energon, "the blood of Unicron", that mindlessly attack anything before them. - In paleontology, "zombie taxon" is the term for an extinct species for which fossils dating from an earlier period have been displaced into a more-recent geological context (e.g. if a trilobite fossil from the Permian erodes out of a rock face in the Cretaceous, lands on a dead dinosaur, and is found among the dinosaur's bones in the present). - A zombie in computer speak is a CPU connected to the Internet currently controlled by malicious third party such a hacker, a troyan or a virus. Those computers are commonly used to send spam and junk mail or to participate in distributed denial-of-service attacks. Since these computers are "enslaved" by an "evil" master and forced to do menial tasks, they are metaphorically compared to zombies of the voodo variety. - In Linux, when a parent process spawns a child process it must either hang around to watch the child die or declare that it has no interest in doing so. If a child dies when the parent has done neither of these things it cannot pass on and instead becomes a zombie, an empty shell of a process which does nothing more than barely exist until the system gets around to bashing its head in with a spanner. Linux technical documentation has much to say on the subject of ensuring that you do not turn your children into zombies. - A Zombie star is the remnant of a certain type of supernova, in which the star is not completely destroyed but instead sent elsewhere at very high speeds. That said star is a white dwarf -kind of a stellar corpse- justifies the name. - A philosophical zombie is one that can recite Cogito ergo sum without meaning or understanding it. - The "zombie fungus". (At least one SF story exists where the dude doesn't zombiefy ants, but also humans.) - "Wombies" (as in worm zombies) are mentioned in "The Gene: An Intimate History" by Siddhartha Mukherjee. They are clearly a victim of Rule of Cool naming and would rather fall under Bungled Suicide.note - A zombie company is a company deep in debt that only generates enough profit to cover running costs and to pay the interest on their loans, but not the debt itself. They generally depend on creditors to continue their existence, putting them in a endless life support. The next level is a zombie bank, a financial institution with a net worth of less than zero that keeps on living because the government is paying to keep them hooked on the life support machine. - You surely already ran into a smombie - a smartphone zombie. (Voted "Youth Word 2015" in Germany, but possibly made up. The word, not the smombie.) iZombie being a common variant, thanks to the high visibility of iPhones. - In UFC, Chan Sung Jung* is known as the "Korean Zombie" because of his non-stop pressure style, combined with his seemingly iron chin. When he main-events a card, it's officially billed as "______ vs. Korean Zombie".
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OurZombiesAreDifferent
Crumble Undead is a Magic combat spell that becomes available at level 39. Crumble undead does extra damage to undead monsters, such as skeletons, ghosts, and zombies. Crumble undead costs 2 Earth-Runes, 2 Air-Runes, and 1 Chaos-Rune. and gives 98 Magic experience when casted. Crumble Undead can only be casted on undead creatures, and is strength 8. Crumbling Zombies underneath the Magic Guild can give the player up to 110-130k Magic experience per hour. Messages - If the player attempts to cast it on living creatures: - This spell can only be used on skeletons, zombies and ghosts | | Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.
https://runescapeclassic.fandom.com/wiki/Crumble_undead
The History of Zombies What is a Zombie? For many of us, a zombie is a mythological undead creature revenant created through the reanimation of a corpse. This in easy language means the ‘undead’, those who live past their death. The term Zombie has often been described as a flesh-eating decaying corpse that does not possess a brain has surged to its popularity in the recent era. With movies like Walking Dead, Zombie apocalypse, and Dawn of the dead, the term Zombie doesn’t seem to be alien anymore. It has become a popular antagonist gaining recognition from its folklore importance. Despite this global fame, ‘Does Zombie exist?’- is a tough question. Since none has witnessed the undead personally; many answers would seem to be a ‘no’. However, this product of superstition has its own fascinating piece of history that explains a lot about their existential significance. Let’s take a look at the beguiling history of the undead, the Zombies. The Origin of Zombies The first tales of Zombies appeared in Haiti in the 17th and 18th centuries with the advent of the slave trade in English and French colonies. Zombies are mentioned in the Haitian rural folklore as an undead creatures revived by the acts of necromancy and also seek connection with the atrocities faced by the slaved Africans and their treatment at work. The cruel conditions of black people longing for their freedom serve as the basis of the zombie origin. The slaves in the 17th century faced severe traumatic and inhumane experiences with little to no access to their own will are remembered as people for whom committing suicide seems to be the easiest solution. But the solution that for us seems easy was the toughest for the victims of slavery. There’s a belief in Africa that if these slaves die a natural death, their souls will finally be free and return to their homelands. They believe that the freedom they haven’t received while living will be served after death. However, in the case of suicides, the belief is a bit different. They believe that if a person commits suicide, their soul would not be freed from the torture they’ve been suffering from instead their souls will forever be captivated in the land of un-free. And they will never return to their homeland. Historians believe that the word Zombie is derived from an African word called ‘Ndzumbi’ which means corpse whereas in the Congo language the word ‘Nzambi’ means the spirit of the dead. Thus, such words fit the state in which the African slaves were entangled. Where suicide was the only way for them to free themselves from such brutal surroundings, the fear of becoming a Zombie surpass their will to escape and to become the undead was their worst nightmare. This slavery was ultimately marked an end with the French revolution. Many slaved Africans were housed on the island and created their own religion known as Voodoo. The historical importance of Zombie is associated with the mythological believes of this religion. The people then began noticing zombies as the undead creatures revived by the acts of necromancy. These zombies remain loyal to the person who revived them and follows their orders. Such people were known as Boxor and were feared more than the undead because they use zombies for their own good. With time, though the origins of zombies lost with the passing dusks and dawns, the fear for Boxor or witches remained. The First Incident of Zombies The first medical case of Zombie was reported in 1983 by Wade Davis, a Harvard ethnobotanist. Though there wasn’t any specific case but just the hypothesis of Davis. Davis claimed that a mixture of two powders if released into the human bloodstream can transform humans into zombies. The first potion was tetrodotoxin, found in the flesh of pufferfish and the second was the deliriant drugs. Together these powders can make a person a zombie. He also claimed though these two drugs can do the magic, the zombie will remain loyal to the Boxor, similar to Haitian mythology. This claim of Davis was debunked later by the many doctors and scholars stating that the symptoms of tetrodotoxin poisoning could be dangerous but that doesn’t induce a death-like state. Other than this, several Haitian people claimed zombie sightings. In 1977 a woman was declared dead and thus was buried by her family. Surprisingly she returned after three years and her grave was found to be filled with rocks and stones. Similarly, a Haitian man too was believed to be a zombie when he returned 18 years after his death. Later, through an investigation, it was revealed that he was trafficked for slavery. Not only the Haitian culture, but the tales of zombies also echoed in Scotland when a Scottish painter told that one of his students confirmed a zombie visited him in the night to work on his painting. This story was published in the newspaper in several versions and the term Zombie was coined throughout the world. By the 19th century, zombies became an integral figure of several mythologies and imaginative aspects of the mighty writers. The Zombies Modernization The modernization of zombies directly comes from frantic fiction and romantic sitcoms. The first central figure came in 1929 in a book by W. B. Seabrook ‘The Magic Island’. This book heavily influenced the idea of the undead walking freely in civilized societies. The author has personally encountered many Haitian cults of Voodoo religion from where he derived the inspiration for this novel. The book was widely popular and also introduced zombies to the US speech. Following the success of The Magic Island, many authors started writing novels on zombies, vampires, and other mythological characters. Among all, the zombies were the main protagonist of television and dramas; vampires on the other hand gained huge popularity among the novelists. Since the 1930s the modern approach of zombies in the cinema is quite often. The earliest example was White Zombie directed by Victor Halperin in 1932. Voodoo-related zombie themes have also appeared in many movies of the 20th century. However, this theme saw a dramatic twist with the next 21st century. The movies and series made on the outbreak of undead today have their own masala twitch into it. The concept of zombies now is more idealistic with having their own little consciousness and power in terms of catching the prey. The movie ‘Warm Bodies’ released in 2013 shows a romantic relationship between a human and a zombie. Debunking the traditional theories, this movie was a hit with $114,834,312 in pocket. Later many versions of the movie were adapted by several Asian cinemas following the same theme. The recent release of Army of the Dead directed by Zack Synder proved to be a standout with the debunking theories. The concept follows the story of Zeus Alpha who transformed Las Vegas into zombies to create his own little world. The story is an exception as it portrays the pregnancy factor among the undead and how an alpha zombie possesses a similar consciousness to that of a human. Thus, whether you are a fan or scared of zombies, the addiction to zombies in the cinema cannot surpass your expectations about the undead.
https://theindianness.com/the-history-of-zombies/
Ever wondered how to fight off a zombie invasion? A mathematical model offers the solution Canadian researchers have created a mathematical model which describes the best way to fight off a zombie invasion. The best course for human survival is to hit hard and fast, according to the paper from mathematicians at Carleton University in Ottawa. The paper examines three possible scenarios for dealing with an outbreak of undead: quarantine the zombies, treatment of the zombies so they revert to being human, and impulsive eradication whenever possible. A properly coordinated strategy to eradicate all the zombies could wipe them out in 10 days, according to the research. “An outbreak of zombies is likely to be disastrous, unless extremely aggressive tactics are employed against the undead,” according to a quote from the authors in Wired magazine. “It is imperative that zombies are dealt with quickly, or else we are all in a great deal of trouble.” The simple model is displayed in the diagram on the right of this page: Where S = susceptibles, Z = zombies and R = removed. If an infection breaks out in a city of 500,000 people, the zombies will outnumber the susceptibles in about three days, according to the model. “Clearly, this is an unlikely scenario if taken literally,” the authors wrote. “But possible real-life applications may include allegiance to political parties, or diseases with a dormant infection.” “Only sufficiently frequent attacks, with increasing force, will result in eradication, assuming the available resources can be mustered in time,” they continued.
https://www.strategic-risk-europe.com/when-zombies-attack/1385576.article
The ancient Sith prided themselves on their sorcery and alchemy skills. Even before the rise of Naga Sadow, the Sith had unlocked secrets that corrupted the very fabric of life in the galaxy. In an attempt to find a path to immortality, the Sith created an artificial form, bastardized, staving off true death, but leaving a being in a crude state of undeath. Corrupting the Force and life, the Sith were able to produce a virus through their alchemy which allowed a body to still remain animated and semi-conscious, even after death. By affecting the brain and the midi-chlorians in living creatures, the Sith created zombie-like creatures out of infected or near-dead specimens. These “creations” were mindless abominations of life, inherently of the Dark side, and often nearly uncontrollable. Only powerful Sith could find ways to control these creations, turning them into tomb guards or terror-inspiring troops to be spent on enemies. Always risky, very few Sith dared to tread into this territory. The promise of immortality baited some, however, causing them to delve into the secrets of ancient holocrons in an attempt to refine and perfect the ancient ways. Darth Scabrous was nearly successful, using a combination of alchemy and sorcery that included the sentient Murakami Orchid and a Light side sacrifice. He met his demise before his plans could be fulfilled, though. Centuries later, Darth Vader would make a similar attempt, only to have the project spin out of control and nearly threaten the galaxy. In 3 ABY, while investigating the derelict, Eidolon Station, the crew of the Lightning's Ride encountered a group of these infected individuals on the station and on a ancient starship drifting in the vastness of Wild Space. The crew was able to vanquish the threat without falling victim to the virus. Game Play with the Sith Zombie Virus The virus/sickness is not naturally occurring. It is a pure corruption of life brought about by the Sith. There is no known medical cure for the virus, but it can be affected and destroyed by the Force. Characters facing the threat of the virus need to be steadfast and vigilant in order to keep from falling victim to the virus themselves. If a character comes into contact with the virus, the ONLY way to be cured is with the use of the Force powers Control Disease or Control Another’s Disease. Non-Force-sensitive characters coming in contact with the virus only have a limited time before they fall victim to the virus. Once infected through bodily fluids from a creature that is infected, a character may only have up to 30 standard hours, at the most, before the virus consumes them. In some rare instances, strong individuals have been able to stave off the effects a bit longer, but they always succumb to the virus in the end. Body fluids from a zombie can and will infect another living creature, unless neutralized by Control Disease or Control Another’s Disease powers. The most common source of infection is through a bite, but blood, mucus, or saliva can carry the virus and infect a creature, if it comes into contact with a mucus membrane. The base difficulty of the Force powers Control Disease and Control Another’s Disease apply to neutralize the virus. If bitten or exposed, a character rolls 5D to determine the number of hours a character has left before they succumb to the virus and are converted. The character can make opposed resistance rolls, to increase their survival time. For the first 2 hours the character must resist an Easy Difficulty Strength check. For each additional hour, the difficulty level increases by one level. Once the character fails the opposing check, they begin the process of succumbing to the virus, being converted in the number of hours determined by the 5D roll. After the time is up, the character medically dies, but is resuscitated by the virus internally, which restores base life functions to the victim. The character now becomes an undead zombie, capable of spreading the virus freely. The character is completely corrupted by the virus and cannot be reversed. Zombies upon conversion are reduced to semi-intelligent creatures. They reduce the Dexterity attribute by 2D to a maximum of 3D. Knowledge is reduced to 1D, regardless of species. Mechanical and Technical are reduced to 0D, with any skills under those attributes reduced by 4D. Due to the nature of the virus, zombies are still capable of working some equipment, albeit with hampered abilities. Perception and Strength attributes are the only ones to remain the same. All skills under those attributes are wiped out, however. Only Search remains the same. If the original Search skill was not improved, the zombie gains 1D above the attribute. Brawling and Climbing/Jumping are changed to 3D, regardless of original skill level and converted, base attribute. Zombies retain any natural body weapons upon conversion. Any natural armor, such as shells, are retained also. Force Points and Character Points are wiped out to a total of zero as these are manifestations of the Force and cannot be used by the undead zombies. Dark Side Points are automatically increased to six. The ONLY exception to the above stated conversion rules are for the conversion of Force-sensitive individuals. Force-sensitive individuals retain their traits/attributes and skills for 3D weeks. Unfortunately, the virus corrupts the mind and flesh of a person, eventually, and quickly, turning them to the Dark Side. After the number of determined weeks pass, a character begins to feel the effects of degeneration. Attributes and skills are reduced by 1D per day until they match the above stats listed. High level characters can stave off the effects for longer. A Force-sensitive character infected with the virus, having no Dark Side Points prior to infection, can stave off the turn to the Dark side for a short amount of time. Each day, they may make a Willpower check against an ever increasing difficulty. The first difficulty is Easy and increases by one level every day. If at any time, the character fails the roll, he/she automatically receives 2 Dark Side Points due to the corruption flowing through their body. As always, once a character receives 6 Dark Side Points, they have succumbed to the Dark Side and are no longer available as a PC. The characters will then actively give in to the taint of the virus and seek to fulfill their own selfish plans until they succumb to the virus. Force-sensitive characters, as stated above, with Dark Side Points, must make a beginning Willpower check which starts at a Moderate difficulty. The same rules as stated above then apply. Force-sensitive characters infected with the virus can only use the Force until they are completely reduced to the normal zombie level. Due to the corruption of life within them, they lose 1D from their Force skills per day, also, until reduced to 0D. Zombies are immune to skills such as Bargain, Con, and Persuasion. They are extremely susceptible to Affect Mind, Control Mind, and other mind-based Force powers. Zombies automatically roll 1D+2 to attempt to resist mind-based Force attacks. If their opponent fails the roll or rolls a mishap, the Zombie is automatically unaffected and immediately attacks the opponent. Only Force-sensitive zombies that have not succumb to the virus may resist as per normal rules. D6 RPG Stats Type: Typical Undead DEXTERITY 1D KNOWLEDGE 1D MECHANICAL 0D PERCEPTION 2D Search 3D STRENGTH 2D Brawling 3D, Climbing/Jumping 3D TECHNICAL 0D Special Abilities: Bite: The bite of the undead is infective to any living creature that receives a damage result of above a stun level. See the above description for effects on targets that are bitten by the undead. Story Factors: Hunger: The undead are in a constant, primal state which causes them to want to feed at all times. Their only desire is to feed on living flesh. Noise Attraction: The undead are drawn to noises, especially loud noises. Once a noise is heard, the undead cannot be distracted from investigating a noise, as it could be a potential food source.
https://swbloodlines.fandom.com/wiki/Sith_Undead/Deathtrooper_Rules
A few days ago, I watched World War Z—again. This movie will not go away, will it? I remember thinking how quickly humans had turned into zombies. The bite. The convulsing. The white eyes. The shreaking. And the cycle continues. I’d noticed this before, but never really analyzed it in depth. Not something I’m about to do either. I suppose that’s a good thing since it means the story kept me entertained enough for me not to wonder about these silly little nuances in character design. In past posts, I’ve used Monday Mayhem as a springboard for fleshing out (pun intended) new concepts in the zombie genre in order to understand what makes a good story regarding the undead creatures. Because that’s what they really are—creatures. Anything that’s not human is inhuman. I think we can classify zombies as inhuman. Wouldn’t you say? Anyway, after a quick survey of my past posts, I realized I’d omitted one key topic that would come in handy in any zombie discussion. Who are the zombie characters I’ve grown most fond of during my fascination with all things undead? I’m not going to limit this to a single character, but I would think a type of zombie would also constitute a character. Wouldn’t you think? Nonetheless, let’s see how it goes then you can tell me if it makes sense or not. R—I’d written about Warm Bodies‘ R once before, yet I always seem to feel I haven’t done justice to this character. He’s a zombie with a heart who falls in love with a girl who just as rather put a bullet in her head than spend the afternoon with the undead. Why do I like him? He’s vulnerable and displays childlike qualities. He wants to learn and wants to teach. He’s a monster who becomes more human as the story progresses. 406—Known as the girl from apartment 406. In my opinion, she is Zombieland’s most interesting undead character. Played by the beautiful Amber Heard, 406 makes her appearance early in the movie and with a quick resolve, makes an impression on the audience. Her advances toward Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) are anything but sensual. When she tries to take a bite out of him, he knows better and the mad dash begins. Fun fact about 406? Even though infected with the zombie virus, she’s still as attractive as ever. 28 Days Later Zombies—Some of most malevolent zombies make 28 Days Later a zombie lover’s delight. They’re fast. They’re tough. They’re strong. These true creatures of the undead bite, kill, and eat. They’re ferocious, crashing through windows and tearing apart doors. No matter the circumstances, if the armies weren’t there, they’d decimate an entire city, which they’ve done before. How else to describe the devastation they cause? Shaun of the Dead Zombies—They happen to be my favorite zombies of all. They’re slow, dim-witted and sometimes hilarious. How else can I describe Shaun of the Dead zombies? When victims throw vinyl records at these misfits and survive, you know we have real winners here. The best way to distract them from eating you is to act as a tour guide in order to steer them away from friends by appearing as the only tasty snack they ought to consider as their only option to consume. I wanted to talk about a number of other characters including those in World War Z, but then we’d be here all day. I’m sure you’d appreciate a shorter post with fewer characters and an opportunity to add your own, than a longer one with a gamut of zombies to read about. Perhaps one day I’ll explore the whole zombie universe, but that day isn’t here yet. For now, have a go adding your favorites and see how far you can take it. Which characters haven’t I mentioned that you like? What makes them memorable? I really like Amy Dryer (In The Flesh), but of course I’ve still only seen the first three episodes (need to catch up!). Although I’ve never seen him classified as a zombie, I will count him, as he comes back from the dead – Gage from “Pet Sematary”. Yes, I know you can argue that Gage never came back, just his body possessed by some spirit, but then again, hardly any zombies are ever what they were alive (apart from R). Pet Sematary was the first horror film I ever saw, and I’ve been hooked since. I have yet to see Warm Bodies, though I’ve heard it’s a great movie. I really like the zombies from Shaun of the Dead too. I also like the zombies from the Resident Evil series, they seem to evolve (with the help of Umbrella, of course) from shuffling, mindless eating machines to quick, mutated creatures. Even being an ardent zombie fan didn’t stop me from hating both Warm Bodies and WWZ, both are absolute shish trying to tap into the current bandwagon. No one has even mentioned one of the best zombie characters of all time, Bub from Romero’s Day of the Dead, nor another great character from the brilliant “reanimator”, the disembodied doctor Hill. Let’s also not forget Billy Conelly’s Fido from the movie of the same name. I’ll admit to having a soft spot for the zombie character of julie in return of the living dead 3, but wouldn’t want to date her! All in all, there are loads of over looked undead characters, the latest barrage of zombie related material is pretty poor fare compared to the classics! It takes good writing to make a zombie a good character, or group of characters. I just watched Zombieland last night and boy are those zombies fast! This is a huge difference compared to the Walking Dead zombies. I didn’t like the Warm Bodies zombies because I didn’t find them believable…ha! I like my zombies scary. How come there aren’t ever any dogs in these shows/movies? Are they all dead or does no one really care about dogs? R (Warm Bodies) and the Shaun of the Dead zombies are my favourites. The zombies in Night of the Creeps are less dominant, therefore hardly worth a mention. If Charlotte Gerber’s ‘I Dream of Zombies’ is ever filmed, this might actually create another favourite zombie film. R has a special place in my heart (maybe for his tenderness and admiration for Julie, and maybe because I love a fun take on a Romeo & Juliet story–or maybe both). 🙂 I have yet to see World War Z, but maybe I will consider it (I’m not a Brad Pitt fan…). Well, we seem to have a great deal of metaphorical undead walking among us, so one thing that makes zombies so appealing is that you have the right, no the duty, to demolish them, unlike our real life “zombies” that must be patiently tolerated. It took me three days to watch World War Z. I like Walking Dead because the Zombies follow the movie rules. Since Boris Karloff was The Mummy, dead/living people walk slow. Minus having their arms extended, like The Mummy. Romero changed it a little in the 2nd installment of Dawn of the Dead, I believe. But World War Z, rationalized how it could happen, a bite, like rabies. SO, when odd things started happening in Z, I turned it off and waited til the next day. OVERALL, it was good. But odd jumps and obvious scenes deleted. The little boy Brad Pitt “adopted” – did I miss what happened to the family? Anyway, good article. Brad has developed into a fine actor since his 21 Jump Street TV appearance.
https://lookingtogod.org/2014/05/12/zombie-characters/
Have you ever filled a hollow bone with peanut butter and given it to a dog? A dog would show no restraint towards a treat like that. However, if you fill the same hollow bone with some tuna, a cat will take caution before enjoying this treat, at least in my world. The world of the undead! The Earth Year is 2022, but the start of the Zombie apocalypse started a few years ago. Some will say that the start of it all is Year 0. The world is a different place and nothing that you may have read or seen on TV would have prepared you for this. Hollywood got it so wrong. The obvious difference from the fictional Zombie shows or movies is that there aren’t packs of people running around with advanced weapons and loads of ammunition. The only individuals that do have that amount of strength is the military. Yes, the military is still around, they don’t just go away like the movies. They never gave up. The military is our government, police, and sometimes our health care providers. They set-up health care units in small towns to provide assistance and training. No civilian is allowed to live with them unless they are family. Food and other forms of resources for survival are left up to the remaining population. I myself am a loner, with the exception of two companions. A black cat named Jack and a grey Maine Coon named Shelly. You’d be surprised how much flack I get for not having guard dogs instead. Whenever I come across a barter market or someone on the road, I get asked the same question. “Do they offer any protection at all?” A dog would be nice to have, if I was in full survival mode all the time. It is common knowledge that a dog would rather fight than run away from danger. In a world where zombies tend to feed together like a hungry pack of wolves, dogs can become a tasty treat. I once saw a German Shepherd attack a zombie, and since the undead don’t feel pain, the poor dog never had a chance. When surviving in my world, you have to become a scavenger. There is plenty to survive on, but you need to know how to look for supplies. Homes are a great place to start, but you need to practice plenty of caution. Don’t piss off the living and don’t tinker with the undead. Here are a few tips when you do come across a house that looks vacant. First off, try to be one-hundred percent sure it’s safe to go into a house. If you are a distant traveler, you probably have a walking stick. Use that stick to create some distance and knock on the door several times. Wait and listen, and wait some more. Humans will tell you to “Scram” right away! Zombies will need more encouragement. After no response break a window and wait for a sound. If you are still unsure, get the door open and step back. Half of the time you’ll get the most exhilarating run of your life! The other half you will need to use the bone and tuna trick, and this is one of the reasons I love my cats. It’s tough finding a goodnight sleep, with the undead trying to eat you all the time. Shelter isn’t too hard to find but it’s the thoughts in my head and memories that keep me awake. My cats on the other hand tend to be night walkers and they know how to stay alert and quiet. I don’t have to worry about the bark of the dog that would alert nearby zombies that food is close by. The cats tend to give a quiet purr and will nudge me to get up when it’s time to go. Cats are very cautious creatures by nature. They do show affection, trust and protection to their human. In return I make sure they are well fed and I try not to have them become an undead’s meal. Now going back to the tuna in the bone, I do this last trick before I enter a house. I always toss the tuna filled bone into the house and I wait and see if my cats go for it. If they linger near the entrance and purr and hiss, then I will never see that bone again. If they go in without hesitation, then I hope that I am lucky to find any supplies left in that house. Imagine doing that trick with a dog. You won’t get back the bone or the dog. Before the Zombie outbreak, the world climate had begun to become unstable. Once the Zombies were everywhere it was obvious that there was a connection, and everyone knows who is responsible for this world-wide disaster. Most of the United States experiences summer—like weather all year round. Any place North of Ohio? Well, it’s the extreme opposite. North is where I have been heading since I got word that Winter weather slows down the Zombies tremendously. There is an actual term used up North that we just got word of in Georgia: “Zombie-Pops” (Zombie Popsicles). But not many others are following suite to take the trek North. No, they are comfortable, and think the Zombies will eventually fall over. I don’t think the Zombie Apocalypse will ever end, because we still have plenty of living. New life is still being created and the state of our planet is still unstable. One thing is for certain, I hope to let you know what my status is soon. For now, my advice is to take care and get yourself a cat.
https://vocal.media/horror/zombie-life-0m4iq0zh4
The summer usually holds a bevy of books for me as I move from the franticness of school to more relaxing reading. So far this summer, I have read The Hunger Games Trilogy and the last Sookie Stackhouse Book, but now I’m working through Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan ‘s The Strain, which is interesting to say the least. I’ll keep you all posted, but right now, it reads to me like a modernized Dracula-esque novel… I can’t wait to finish this one and launch into the remainder of their Trilogy. Migrating My Posts About True Blood and Vampire Stuff to My Other Blog As you’ve probably read, I started another blog (Vampires in the Mist). So if some of you are here just for the vampire stuff, I’m probably going to be posting my vampire content over there from now on. However, don’t fret because I will link up things here for a while just so that you don’t miss all my thoughts about the undead and their feeding habits… besides, they’re cool, and I don’t want you to miss the cool vampire-ness. The first post I share with you on there: True Blood Season 5 Thus Far (*Spoilers Possible*). I hope you enjoy. Also, if you like it and get super excited about vampires, you should follow my other blog. 🙂 Excerpt from the Novel I’m in the Process of Writing So after working on my novel for the past six months (and writing the bulk of it during the last two months), I feel like it’s time to share a bit of it. While this scene may change a bit when I hit the revision stage, Sadie (the vampire protagonist) and DaSuh (a shadow elemental who is escorting her) run upon a group of zombies that long to feast upon their flesh, and they must deal with these lesser undead. This is a first draft of a scene, so please be gentle in your feedback. . .however, feedback is appreciated. Without further ado, an excerpt from “A Taste of Night.” *********************************************************************************************************** Poised for the battle, we waited until the zombies slowly formed a ring about us: a vampire and a shadow elemental against a horde. We quickly launched our attack, hoping for the best and preparing for flight if we got the opportunity. Soon, we lost the world in a flash of flesh and limbs as our bodies beat out a symphony against the decaying meat. My claws sank into the head of the closest zombie, ripping through his rotted flesh and skull and tearing into the gray matter. With the brain destroyed, the body collapsed upon the cracked sidewalk. Turning away from it, I grabbed the outstretched arm of another and separated them from the body as the zombie tried feebly to bite me with its jawless mouth. Its suffering was ended quickly as DaSuh’s shadowmancing blade sliced the whole body in twain. “Look out!” DaSuh shouted as what looked like a giant maggot lunged, for lack of better term, toward me from the brain of the now rapidly decaying corpse. I caught it midflight and crushed it in my iron grip, destroying it. “So that’s what they look like!” I yelled back, swiping my talons through the heads of three zombies at once, thereby rendering them incapacitated and most certainly dead. Glancing over my shoulder, I could see DaSuh destroying many more of the shamblers with single swings than I was managing. One flick of the shadow blades and ten went down. However, the creatures seemed to keep coming and moving in on us too swiftly to count. When I destroyed five, ten appeared to take their place with a few stopping to feast upon their truly dead and now rapidly decomposing comrades, which was disgusting since the books allowed they only feed on living flesh. Again, I did not allow my stomach to become upset and kept tearing into the insurmountable wall of rotting flesh. “There doesn’t seem to be an end to them!” I bellowed as I crushed yet another parasite under my expensive boots. “Yes, they keep coming!” “What can we do?!?” “Keep fighting and give me a sec to think!” he shouted, taking down another ten with one swipe of his blades. Kicking hard into one’s skull, my heel broke off leaving me hobbled for a second as I quickly decided to break the other one in a similar fashion. I lodged this one into a zombie that eerily reminded me of someone, but for my unlife, I couldn’t remember who. Still, there was no time to think as I slammed two of the walkers’ heads together with a sickening “CRACK!” This still did nothing to stop the remaining zombies from descending, and unluckily for us, the wall of bodies that we were accumulating around us was beginning to turn to dust as quickly as we added to it, leaving us without this meager protection and turning the feasting zombies’ attention back on us. “I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up!” I yelled back at DaSuh, who wasn’t fairing any better than me by the way the dead kept closing in. “I can try one thing!” he roared. “But it will take all my concentration. Do you think that you can hold them on your own for a little while?” “Maybe with your swords.” “Fine here!” he replied tossing the blades to me that turned back to sapphire in my hands. However, they would still cut though. “Thanks, but now what do I need to do to help you, besides protecting you from them?” I questioned as I sent the blades hacking into the snarling creatures around us. “I need to be against something like a building,” he said pulling two daggers from his side sheathes. “I think that we can do that.” Cutting down all the zombies to my left with one swish, I began to clear the way to the abandoned back to our side, long boarded up. But hey, it was a building. Wheeling around, I began to take on the brunt of all the attacking undead as DaSuh took position behind me. “I warn you before I start, little princess,” he said, “This will be dangerous on both our parts. Do you still wish for me to do it?” “Yes!!!” “It will take me a few minutes to work the intricate magic. DO NOT let them interrupt me or the consequences could be dire.” As I continued to hack away at the never-ending seas of decay, I saw in my periphery that DaSuh sat down as if to meditate. From him, a chant began to rise as zombie hands tried to touch him, yet none of them ever did because I chopped them off and destroyed their owner before they got remotely close. Shortly, a tingle of energy began to flow through the air around us, which the zombies did not seem fazed by as they maintained their attack. This energy gained in intensity for the next few minutes, while DaSuh’s voice steadily rose in frequency and overall loudness; until suddenly, his voice was all that could be heard over the groaning and teeth-snapping of the zombie horde surrounding us. “OKAY DUCK!!!” DaSuh roared. I kneeled quickly as the bolt of shadow energy flew over me, waylaying the zombies in front of us, but they seemed to recover rather quickly as they started stumbling back to their feet. Suddenly, this ball of pure glowing purple stopped, however, and imploded into the space above where the zombies once stood. In an instant, the true power of the void enveloped the group and sucked them into nothingness. What’s more, all of their bodies vanished into it and went. . .who knows where. I felt myself being drawn to this singularity and found that I could do nothing to stop it as I dug my claws into the concrete beneath me. However, even doing so did not help me, but I wasn’t going to let this be my end. “DaSuh, I’m slipping! Help me!” I screamed at the stolid figure looking on the scene of zombies being sucked to their death. . . redeath. . . to die again. As I continued to be pulled to my imminent demise, DaSuh’s tight, steel-like grip closed upon my shoulder, keeping me from whatever the shadowy energy was. However, the bones in my shoulder did not quite like the strength of his grasp and proceeded to snap under the force. The “CRUNCH” filled my ears as the pain shot through my upper body. “Oooowwweeeewwww!” I screeched, reflexively trying to pry his fingers from my tender flesh. After a few seconds, I stopped because the urge to live was more powerful than the hurt in my shoulder. I was thankful to not be consumed by nothingness or what I would assume to be nothingness. While the zombies were also fighting against the power of DaSuh, each of the rotting corpses slowly found themselves devoured by the singularity. Moreover, the flesh of those that struggled to stay in this realm the hardest peeled off their bones and destroyed them all just the same. Before long, empty space and silence were all that remained around DaSuh and me, but perhaps even more dramatically, the large vortex of swirling purple energy started to shrink and left with a slight pop. It left us in an uneasy calm after the ordeal, yet we were still living. . .or whatever you want to call the existence of two creatures such as ourselves. Writing My Novel Part 1: The Basics of Things So over the course of this summer, I have taken my first venture into the writing of long form fiction. Now, this has been something of a task for me because I’m used to writing short stories and poetry; thereby, I create characters and set them free on the ocean of 2k -7k words. However, as my novel stands at around 50k words, I have invested a large amount of time and writing space for my characters and the premise of the story I’m going to tell. This post is to give a little insight into what I’ve been doing… here goes. Premise: In the year 2042, the world turns all its nuclear warheads on each other and destroys the world in a cataclysmic event that causes the surface of the Earth to be uninhabitable to the humans that survived. (Matter-of-factly, I have written a short snippet that deals with this, which I hope to expand too.) However, even as the human race is driven underground, the Eight monster races of the world (and some of their mutated offspring which don’t constitute a new race per say) which have existed in the shadows alongside humans come to power under the dust cloud covering the sun and making the Earth habitable for them. All Eight species try to live in harmony with one another, but like all those with power, peaceful cohabitation may not be possible… Enter our protagonist and her allies and enemies several hundred years after the great cataclysm… The Eight Races (The races and a fun fact about them): Vampires–Some feed on the blood of the other seven… which is frowned and punishable by death. This is why it’s kept secret if they do. Others feed off the cultivated herds of mutant animals that they tend. Weres— Werewolves and the like (there are more than just werewolves). They are called werebeasts by the other Seven races, which is a derogatory term… Prefer to be called Weres. Arcane— The witches of folklore and legend who command external forces. In large covens, they have been known to shift the clouds and control the weather. Using their magic causes them to age physically; however, their youth can be recovered by focusing their magic toward rejuvenation. The Fae— Similar to the witches in terms of their magical nature, yet they additionally are physically strong despite their lanky appearances. Known to be very beautiful. Their Queen is the Titania of lore. . .she rules them with a doll that contains the soul of Oberon, whom she trapped there so she should never be alone. Some call her the mad queen… Elementals— Beings of immense power. Embody certain elements in a physical and magical way so that they become living fire, ice, shadow, etc. However, they can look human. Widely varying levels of power exist among them. Some are so weak that they barely exist. . .others can rend the Earth. Harpies— One of the few flying creatures in the new world order. They are all covered in a fine layer of feathers that both protects them and streamlines them for flight. They are pack creatures that hunt, attack, and destroy creatures much more powerful than them through their group dynamic. Infernals— Also called Demons by the other races. Usually remain in their monstrous / demonic form complete with flaming spectral wings and horns. They mostly appear to be genderless. Their ruler Bilge is known in the Christian Bible as Legion but not because he’s multiple demons… Celestials— Called Angels by most creatures’ standards, they are additionally known as Valkyrie, goddesses, and more. Deemed by most of the other Seven (the Infernals won’t consent) to be the most powerful of the races, they are usually seen as the peace keepers because they can keep the others at bay. Have a club in the remnants of Carnegie Hall named “Heaven”. There are other mutant species that exist that occur as splinter forms of the main groups… for instance, there are a few harpies that call themselves furies because they have acquired slightly different forms and powers. Hence, the variation of monsters throughout history. Protagonist: Sadie is a highborn vampire who is relatively young by vampire standards (almost 2000 years old at the beginning). In addition to her youth, she is also plain by vampiric standards, which causes her purpose to be a little clouded. At first, she is just trying to find out from higher authorities what her destiny is, but inadvertently, she stumbles into a war that she finds herself at the epicenter of all because she chose to put on a necklace. So there you have it, a little bit of insight into what it is that I’ve been writing. While I know that I’m being vague to a degree, I hope that my future posts will enlighten you more. Maybe this will entice you to read more, even as I head to my 85k word count goal. “The Munsters” Get Revived as Bryan Fuller’s “Mockingbird Lane” If you’re familiar with Fuller’s work, you will know that he has a knack for dark comedy and quirkiness that will be an added addition to the world of our favorite monsters. Moreover, his aesthetic will be wonderful when it comes to painting and creating the world that these favorites of ours will inhabit. Honestly, I’m excited to see what Fuller does with this series simply because I love his body of work and I loved the original version of the show from the 60s. Starring: Herman Munster– Jerry O’Connell Lily– Portia de Rossi Grandpa– Eddie Izzard Marilyn– Charity Wakefield Eddie– Mason Cook While some of the casting choices seem a bit odd to me (*cough* Jerry O’Connell *cough*), I think that overall it’s a relatively strong cast. My overall favorite casting choice would be Eddie Izzard as Grandpa. To me, he is the right fit for the snarky and fun character that is Grandpa. . .Moreover, he’s a fabulous actor overall too. Anyway, here’s hoping that the final product is good. I know that I’ll be tuning in to see what happens. Still, I have faith in Fuller and the cast that has assembled (that feels like an Avengers joke… not intentional… but whatever). Here’s hoping that writing, filming, and editing goes well so that we’ll get to see this new gem in the fall. I await it with neck bared. For more information, check out this interview with Bryan Fuller by James Hibberd. A New Blog: Vampires in the Mist Recently, I created a new blog to narrow my subject matter a bit. Here, you know that you’re likely to find a plethora of randomness simply because that’s how I roll and don’t plan to stop doing so anytime soon. However, I additionally wanted to branch out and create another blog with more of a refined scope of what it’s about. So that’s how Vampires in the Mist was formed from my little, demented mind. Here, I hope to explore my fascination with this immortal, undead figure in movies, literature, television, etc. I have always been fascinated by vampires since I was a little boy, and now, through the glory of the internet, I have the ability to chat with other interested individuals about the same subject. I hope that some of my followers will follow that site too due to my phenomenally clever writing and cynical outlook on things, but if you don’t, I also understand. Here’s to my new blog! (Raises imaginary glass and clinks it with you all). Awesome!
https://blehwithbarry.com/tag/vampires/
On the Ethics of Protesting as ‘Zombies’ The Zombie Rights Campaign largely stayed out of commenting on the political arena this year, but we would like to, now that the campaign season has cooled down, issue a word of caution about a trend we are observing: Protesting as Zombies. In other words, dressing up as Zombies, not to protest on behalf of Zombies, to show solidarity with the Differently Animated, but to use the Undead image for your own, separate cause. Dressed as zombies and calling themselves “the learning dead,” Chicago public school students marched from CPS headquarters to City Hall on Friday to protest what they call “the death of Chicago public education.” The students demanded a meeting with Mayor Rahm Emanuel to address their requests, which include reallocating CPS funds given to charter schools back to public schools, installing a democratically elected board of education, and using the city’s TIF surplus for public education. The effort was organized by Chicago Student Union and included participants from at least 10 public schools. This is a concern for the Zombie Rights Movement. For one thing, as alluded to above, it can detract from attention paid to actual civil rights issues for the Undead. It could even be seen as co-opting their unique voices, which the ZRC feels strongly should be heard, even if they are sometimes (we’re not judgmental) more of a gutteral, growling sort of communication. No one is perfect. On the other hand, we also feel that public education is a vital tool for spreading Zombie Tolerance into larger American society. (see our pamphlet on Education for the Undead) As Justice Marshall lamented in 1974 (in a dissent for Milliken v. Bradley, for legal scholars), “ ..unless our children begin to learn together, there is little hope that our people will ever learn to live together.” So we share the great concern of these young individuals protesting the closure of their schools in Chicago for a robust future public education system. It’s one of the best chances Undead children have, after all. We just hope that the future of public education involves Zombies in the classroom, not only as symbols. For more, here’s the press release of said protesting ‘Zombies’. It’s not terribly Zombie Friendly.
http://zombierightscampaign.org/blog/?p=5131
There is no one definition of a zombie as there are a few types. Some zombies possess a small intellect. The most common zombie used are those who shamble around and claw at things with only the desire to kill. Most have zero non-instinctual knowledge, other than what their hivemind or ruling overlord has for them. Zombies may or may not be able to speak. Zombies may or may not be able to think. Do not be confused though. Zombies are created to be mindless. Zombies may or may not be able to run. Zombies may or may not possess motor skills such as opening and closing doors (would be for very advanced zombies). Zombies may or may not have rotting flesh and or missing limbs, but most commonly will. Depending on what type of zombie the person decides to play as they may or may not be able to bite, infect or otherwise turn another into a zombie. If the zombie can infect others, they cannot turn another undead into a zombie, as the zombie transformation is one of the weakest types and cannot over power other ones.
https://darais.fandom.com/wiki/Zombie
Editor Otto Penzler has followed up his 2009 vampire anthology with another outstanding collection that is perfect for the Halloween season. Zombies! Zombies! Zombies! brings together over 50 stories from “the broad spectrum and significant history of zombie literature.” In his introduction, Penzler explains how the creatures have changed over the years from W.B. Seabrook’s stories about re-animated Haitians brought back to life by voodoo in The Magic Island (1929). There appears a bit of contradiction though, as Penzler gives credit to George Romero’s 1968 classic horror film Night of the Living Dead for introducing the concept of the zombies having a “taste for human flesh” but in Arthur Leo Zagat’s “Crawling Madness” (1935), the opening teaser reveals (in all caps) there are “crawling horrors that slithered up from the grey moonlight to feed on human flesh!” But no matter who first invented the creatures’ appetite, Zombies! is filled with marvelous stories. The book begins in Haiti with Seabrook’s narrator trying to make sense of the “Dead Men Working in the Cane Fields” and ends there in Theodore Roscoe’s “Z is for Zombie” (1937). The order of the stories isn’t in chronological order as demonstrated by the second one being David Riley’s “After Nightfall” (1970), well selected as one of that year’s best horror stories by editor Richard Davis for its creepy nature as it tells of a man making the mistake of dealing with a community’s nighttime visitors. Not surprisingly, a number of well-known authors grace the pages of this collection. Edgar Allan Poe details “The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar” (1845) as the narrator attempts to hypnotize a man at the moment of his death. H. P. Lovecraft gets three entries: the “Herbert West – Reanimator” (1922) series that appeared monthly in Grewsome Tales, followed by “Pickman’s Model” (1927), and “The Outsider” (1926) towards the end of the book. Robert Bloch’s “Maternal Instinct,” an interesting choice for a title from the man who created one of the most famous mothers in Psycho, was published posthumously in 2006 and is an amusing tale about the President dealing with a zombie epidemic. Theodore Sturgeon’s “It” (1940) is a plant-based creature whose zombie designation may be questionable but the pleasure the story delivers is not. Robert E. Howard’s “Pigeons from Hell” (1951) is “one of the finest horror stories of [the 20th] century” according to Stephen King, whose “Home Delivery (1989) is included. There are a few stories written by pairs of authors. “The Song the Zombie Sang” (1970) is a joint venture between Harlan Ellison and Robert Silverberg about a zombie pianist at the Los Angeles Music Center who wishes to escape from his forced performances. Wife-and-husband team Edith and Ejler Jacobson reveal “Corpses on Parade” (1938) in New York City. Father-and-son team of Richard and Christian Matheson’s “When There’s a Will” (1980) could be set anywhere as the protagonist begins the story in a grave. Zombies aren’t restricted to horror stories. Michael Marshall Smith’s “Later” (1993) and Guy de Maupassant’s “Was It a Dream?” (1910) are both touching love stories about people unable to let go of a lover. Dale Bailey’s “Death and Sufferage” (2002), for which he won an International Horror Guild Award, is a fantastic piece that plays off the idea of the dead voting, something both political parties in the U.S. accuse each other of doing. Zombies! Zombies! Zombies! is ideal for horror fans and lovers of good writing. It’s great reading for Halloween and every other day of the year, particularly at night while under the covers.
https://blogcritics.org/book-review-zombies-zombies-zombies-the/
Zombie Simulator: Zombie Infection Simulation You never know when the next zombie epidemic will spread, so better be prepared. The first step – besides watching the obligatory documentaries – is to study the tactics of the enemy. Zombie Infection Simulation enables you to watch the undead doing their evil deed without putting yourself in danger. Probably based on extensive scientific research, this handy java applet simulates how a handful of zombies infects a human population. Zombies, civilians and soldiers are represented as pixels. When human pixels meet zombie pixels, they panic and run. If they get in contact with a zombie, they become zombified. Soldiers can kill zombies, especially if you allow them to use guns (press ‘a’). Nevertheless, soldiers are quite ineffective against zombies – expect your population to be consumed quickly unless you interfere. One way to interfere is to use advanced technology for surgical strikes (read: big bombs which leave nothing behind). By pressing ‘n’ you can activate an automated zombie annihilation which will undoubtedly kill countless civilians in the process – if there are any left. Links Zombie Infection Simulation This article in German Update 22.9.2008 Unfortunately, the original Zombie Infection Simulation seems to have gone offline. If anyone knows whether it can be found elsewhere, please leave a comment.
https://www.kreativrauschen.com/blog/2007/03/12/zombie-simulator/
The play A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen contains some elements of naturalism. Naturalism is a literary current that sees itself as a protest movement against realism. Naturalism, like realism, strives for an objective and accurate of reality, but in contrast to realism, the depiction of misery and ugliness is not rejected, but actually demanded. Above all, therefore, the depiction of the ever-growing social inequality between the wealthy middle class and the increasingly impoverished working class is at the center of the representation of naturalism. Henrik Ibsen's play A Doll's House, however, does not describe the social hardship and existing misery of the time, but limits itself to depicting a period of the life of a bourgeois family. The early representatives of naturalism, however, recognize in Ibsen's turn to contemporary material and socially critical themes a reference to their current. Ibsen's influence on the playwrights of naturalism is undisputed. Authors who used naturalism want to portray social problems as accurately and realistically as possible. Therefore, they use the colloquial language of the respective people and depict them in their typical social environment, which is also the case in Nora (see analysis "Language"). Closely connected to the characterization of the individual characters is therefore the precise use of language. The language of the people in the play clarifies their educational background, but is also repeatedly characterized by different levels of language and everyday speech. The authors of realism and naturalism represent two different views of humanity. The realist authors still grant the individual free will and autonomy, while the naturalists, on the other hand, understand people as being determined by the factors of biological heritage and social circumstances. The socially determined role of women Naturalism was used in literary works mostly between 1880 and 1900. Ibsen's work (1779) was written shortly before the beginning of this movement. Although the play contains many features of bourgeois realism, it already has some naturalistic traits that will play an important role. For naturalists, people are determined by their social circumstances, thus they are usually not responsible for their prob...
https://primestudyguides.com/a-dolls-house/perspectives/naturalism
What are the characteristics of naturalism in American literature? The characteristics of naturalism include a carefully detailed presentation of modern society, often featuring lower-class characters in an urban setting or a panoramic view of a slice of contemporary life; a deterministic philosophy that emphasizes the effects of heredity and environment; characters who act from … Is Maggie A Girl of the Streets realism or naturalism? naturalism Maggie: A Girl of the Streets by Stephen Crane is one of the modern novels presenting naturalism. Naturalism is a literary movement taking place from 1865 to 1900s that used detailed Realism to suggest that social conditions, heredity, and environment had inescapable force in shaping human character. What is determinism in naturalism literature? 2.1 One of these of naturalism is determinism. Determinism is basically the opposite of the notion of free will. For determinism, the idea that individual characters have a direct influence on the course of their lives is supplanted by a focus on nature or fate. What is narrative detachment? Narrators that are detached observers stick to the facts. They are a witness to the story. They report what unfolds in the story. They do not interject their conscious thoughts or opinions about the events or other characters. What is Impressionism in English literature? Impressionistic writing is a style that relies on abstract associations, the subjective point of view of the characters, and the rendering of sensory details to relay the “impression” of a person or event. The impressionistic style of writing leaves the reader to determine the author’s ultimate meaning. What is the difference between naturalism and materialism? In short, Naturalism is a system of thought which holds that everything can be explained by nature, where as Materialism simply believes that everything in existence is material. What are the major differences between realism and naturalism as an important movement in literature? Realism attempted to depict things as they actually are, which contrasted with the previously dominant aesthetic of romanticism. Naturalism attempted to depict things realistically, but focused on determinism, or the inability of people to resist their circumstances. What is meant by determinism? 2. the doctrine that all events, including human choices and decisions, are necessarily determined by motives, which are regarded as external forces acting on the will. Also called predeterminism. Cf. fatalism. What is a determinist view of the course of human life? Determinism is a philosophical concept. It means that the course of each human life is predetermined. Forces which predetermine in this way could be: God or a supreme being (as in some religious beliefs) Does determinism prohibit free will? Determinism, in philosophy, theory that all events, including moral choices, are completely determined by previously existing causes. Determinism is usually understood to preclude free will because it entails that humans cannot act otherwise than they do. What is a determinist view of the universe? Determinism is the view that, given the state of the universe (the complete physical properties of all its parts) at a certain time and… The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Augustyn.
https://durrell2012.com/what-are-the-characteristics-of-naturalism-in-american-literature/
This study will analyze elements of Tennessee Williams' play The Glass Menagerie. The play will be analyzed from the point of view of method acting, using the book Method Actors, by Steve Vineberg. This study disagrees with Williams himself, who says that his play should not be presented realistically. Method acting is based on the belief that emotions should be acted realistically. The theory of method acting as described by Vineberg began with Konstantin Stanislavski in Russia. Today, in the United States, Vineberg says that American culture has led our actors straight to it. . . . The Method, because of its link with realism, its affirmation of Freud, and its focus on adolescent rebellion as the core of much adult behavior, is a natural dramatic expression of the way Americans understand and define themselves (Vineberg xii). Williams' play is mainly about Laura's search for love and her fragileness. She is an extremely emotional character, and it is important for the success of the play that her emotions are expressed in a realistic and believable way. In the college production of the play which I saw, the actor playing Laura was not able to express the character's emotions realistically, and the result was painful and embarrassing. If she had been trained in the Method, she would have more likely been able to do so. The techniques of the Method help the actor express emotions through the character which let the audience believe that they are seeing a human being undergoing real and painful emotions. There were also problems with the other characters (especially Tom and Amanda) and their efforts to portray emotions realistically, but the actor playing Laura was the worst. Her failure was most important because she is the emotional center of the play. The part of the Method which this study will focus on is the realism which the Method is supposed to bring out in an actor's portrayal of a character. The production...
https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1690025.html
Contemporary art is often criticised as pointless or overvalued by art market elites. Even the word ‘artist’ has lost much of its meaning. The many ongoing global socio-political crises seem to make even the idea of art fade into insignificance. Most art either reflects local reality (landscapes, cityscapes, portraits) or internal ‘reality’ (surrealism, conceptual art). But there are artists (in this case, I will focus on painters) who do not shy away from depicting the difficulties facing ordinary people or the elites who create those difficulties in the first place. Here we will look at particular ways in which painters deal with contemporary reality using old and new forms of art to draw attention to injustices or general social issues. When we see art that is trying to depict contemporary reality we can easily be drawn into the content of the picture without realising that the very forms used are themselves a result of conflicts of differing styles for formal and ideological reasons arising from within the artistic ‘community’ itself. While the forms can range from the purely abstract to the hyper-real, most socio-political art tends towards differing degrees of realism. Contemporary versions of these approaches can be seen in the realist work of the American painterMax Ginsberg and the more expressionist approach of the English painter John Keane. Ginsburg’s painting Foreclosure has a baroque feel to it. While today baroque is associated with over-the-top exaggeration and opulence, it was rooted much more in realism than romanticism (a reaction to the Age of Enlightenment and the scientific rationalization of nature). The features of baroque consisted of dramatic tension, heightened realism, illusions of motion, and classical elements used without classical restraint. Ginsburg, like Beckman, is looking back at earlier forms to express contemporary dilemmas. The English artist John Keane uses expressionism as a form for dealing with Tony Blair’s ‘mercurial’ appearance at the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war. While Ginsburg’s work depicts ordinary people in sometimes extraordinary situations, Keane has focused on those who caused them. Here we can see realism used as a form to depict the victims of a state agenda and expressionist distortion used to depict one of the executors of that same agenda. The change in realism over time from Millet’s peasants to narrative painting has also seen the move from the depiction of people as oppressed objects to passive subjects to engaged subjects. It seems that the opposite happens with expressionist depictions – a shift from the subject to the object. By objectifying our problems, bad leaders etc a certain distancing is achieved. Images of unity in mass demonstrations counter media strategies of divide and rule while the subjective, up-close, prettified televised images of silver-tongued politicians need some objectification to put conservative policies and agendas into perspective. Socially and politically conscious artists counteract the controlled images of the state and find new ways of seeing by looking back to images and forms of the past while at the same time searching for new methods of depicting the problems of the present.
https://www.globalresearch.ca/old-forms-new-content-art-dealing-with-crises/5538278
What is an emotion? Contemporary philosophical treatments of that question (almost) all basically agree that emotions are intentional, world-relating and evaluative. Many theorists further concur with Richard Lazarus' proposal of what emotions are intentionally related to, namely "core relational themes" (or CRTs, see Lazarus 1991). CRTs should be understood as different ways in which aspects of situations relate to the well-being of organisms -- for example, an organism's fear relates to the CRT that something in a situation can have harmful consequences for the organism. Philosophers who agree on the intentional and evaluative nature of emotions have nevertheless diverged widely in their further thinking about what emotions are. On one side of the spectrum stand those allied with cognitivism. Cognitivists tend to emphasize the role of judgment, understood in the sense of fully-fledged propositional attitudes and to downplay the role of bodily processes. At the other end of the spectrum, some enactivist philosophers have argued that at least some forms of emotions are embodied reactions which, while being both intentional and evaluative, nevertheless do not involve representational content (see Hutto 2012, Colombetti 2014). Rebekka Hufendiek presents and defends a position on emotions which is critical both of existing cognitivist as well as embodied and enactive approaches. She agrees with embodied approaches that cognitivists overintellectualize emotions and neglect the importance of the body. Yet she also is dissatisfied with the main embodied and enactive accounts. At the heart of Hufendiek's position is a staunch realism about core relational themes. For instance, being dangerous or poisonous forms an objective threat to an organism's survival or well-being. More generally, Hufendiek claims that core relational themes are ontologically real because some themes are objectively good or bad with respect to biological or social norms. Hufendiek further proposes that CRTs are Gibsonian affordances -- a term famously coined by ecological psychologist J.J. Gibson to refer to the possibilities for action that are offered by an environmental object or situation. Expressing her realism in Gibsonian terms, she claims that emotional affordances "constitute the structure of our environment" (p. 174). Hufendiek understands these objectively existing CRTs as operating in a causal way by exercising selection pressure on organisms (p. 158). Thus, CRT's cause organisms to evolve mechanisms which at the same time represent the CRTs and motivate the organism to act with respect to them. That is to say, organisms develop action-oriented representations, or AORs. These AORs, so Hufendiek argues, are constituted by an organism's evolutionary appropriate embodied reactions to the CRT. Following the standard Millikanesque teleosemantic line, she takes these reactions to represent their evolutionary normal conditions of functioning. Hufendiek further holds that these bodily reactions also are intensional: they represent their CRTs in a certain way. By being or initiating reactions of withdrawal and escape, the bodily reactions of feeling danger are taken to represent danger as "danger-to-be-avoided" (p. 152). CRTs also have relations to each other. These relations exist as objectively as the CRTs and put pressure on how an organism's emotions relate to each other -- so that when, for example, someone fears losing something, the person is sad when he actually has lost it, and relieved when it is found again (to modify an example from page 175). This is the basic positive story presented in the book. However, a lot of space is devoted to criticising existing philosophical accounts of emotions, from all parts of the spectrum. Hufendiek makes a strong case for the conclusion that cognitivists look in the wrong place when trying to explain the relations between emotions. Instead of construing these in terms of relations between complex conceptual representations, as per cognitivism, the key to explaining these relations, so Hufendiek holds, lies in the world, and an organism's adaptation to it, either through evolution, or through learning -- the latter especially so when social emotions are at play. She also objects to cognitivism on empirical grounds. Hufendiek cites the fact that young children and animals show complex emotions, which she regards as hard to reconcile with the assumption that emotions involve complex representations. She also thinks the dismissal by cognitivists of a substantial role for bodily processes is unwarranted, given that there is empirical evidence, not for a unique correlation between specific bodily reactions and emotion, but nevertheless for typical dynamically organized complex reaction patterns (p. 75). Despite turning away from cognitivism's intellectualism, Hufendiek doesn't follow in the footsteps of enactivists, such as Daniel Hutto and Giovanna Colombetti, who see at least some emotions as a matter of embodied sensitivity to something like CRTs, without the intervention of any representational contents. Much of Hufendiek's resistance to these enactivists is based on a complicated argument rooted in her position on CRTs as ontologically real and as causally effective. I take the gist of her argument against enactivists to be that they construe CRTs as response-dependent properties. As such, enactivists, according to Hufendiek, are unable to account for the structure emotions have with respect to one another. That is, she thinks enactivists are guilty both of construing CRTs in terms of the reactions of organisms to worldly items, and of attempting to explain why the organisms have these reactions by invoking these reactions -- as in explaining why someone laughs with a joke by invoking the laughing itself. But if this is the argument, then it goes by far too quickly. For even if enactivists do indeed see CRTs as response-dependent -- a claim which Hufendiek admits is drawn from only incidental remarks made by both Hutto and Colombetti -- there are many ways for them to spell out this response dependency without also committing the sort of mistake of which Hufendiek thinks them guilty. They can, for example, draw a distinction between (a) potential reactions, or earlier reactions of the organism's ancestors or the organism itself and (b) actual, current reactions, and explain (b) in terms of (a). Moreover, it remains unclear how to construe Hufendiek's stark opposition to emotions being response-dependent with central features of her own account. If responses include effects on organisms, then the very idea of CRTs as involving situations to which organisms relate seems to imply response dependence. That is, on a plausible understanding of response dependence, the notion of an absolutely non-response-dependent CRT looks internally incoherent. Time and again, Hufendiek supports her position by claiming that there can be environmental CRTs, which are not (yet) responded to by organisms -- dangers which are feared, poisons which are disgusted or shames which are not felt. But nothing prevents enactivists from acknowledging such CRTs. Regardless, Hufendiek seems to confer certain causal and explanatory powers to pre-existing CRTs which enactivists don't. She insists that pre-existing CRTs cause organisms to adapt to them, and explain why organisms are adapted to them. Yet this has a pretty Lamarckian ring to it, if the idea is that the possible effects of, for example, danger play a causal role in evolution. It seems to confer a direct guiding role to the environment in evolution and to go against the Darwinian picture of evolution as blind and gradual -- a picture in which only actual historical effects matter in the causation and explanation of adaptations. This point can also be made in terms of affordances. Perhaps there are affordances (being edible, poisonous, dangerous) in the environments of animals. But to construe these affordances as literally causing them to be perceived and acted upon leads to void explanations, such as "coming to see something as dangerous because it is dangerous" -- precisely the kind of void "virtus dormativi" explanation Hufendiek claims to discern in enactivism. Both for evolution and for affordances, what one wants instead is a gradualist story about how organisms eventually come through environmental feedback (by initially reacting blindly, partially or incompletely) to genuinely acquire a sensitivity to complex properties such as danger. In the end, it is the enactivists who, by rejecting the existence of unexplained contents either in the head, or in the world, seem to be the better Darwinians. Enactivists may also complain that Hufendiek's commitment to representationalism is not sufficiently supported by her arguments. Teleosemantics is simply taken for granted, despite the widespread worry that there's a "root mismatch" between biological function and semantics (see Burge 2010, p. 301). Saying that representationalism is needed because it explains that an emotion can be appropriate or inappropriate in a situation in a semantic sense (as for example on page 106) sounds suspiciously circular as an argument for representationalism. Enactivists may also point out that conferring representational status to emotions is doing no real work in Hufendiek's theory of emotions. For example, accounting for the relations between emotions in terms of adaptation to the structure of the world is perfectly possible without assuming representations. Moreover, it should be noted that no work is in fact done by representations in the adaptive account Hufendiek offers in her book. The themes touched upon in this review are developed in five chapters, devoted respectively to cognitivism, the role of bodily process, embodied and enactive accounts, the ontology of CRTs and embodied Action-Oriented representations. The book is well organized, and the prose is clear, even if the phrase "accounting for" and all possible forms of "constitute" appear excessively. Though I am of the opinion that the constructive work presented can't support all of the weight of the criticisms offered, it certainly has the merit of applying a number of recently proposed influential ideas in the philosophy of mind and cognitive science to the field of emotions. If the book is seen as an exploration of where these ideas lead, as testing the waters rather than as offering a fully elaborated novel theory of emotions, it can be said to achieve its goals. REFERENCES Burge, Tyler. 2010. The Origins of Objectivity. Oxford University Press. Colombetti, Giovanna. 2014. The Feeling Body: Affective Science Meets the Enactive Mind. MIT Press. Hutto, Daniel. 2012. "Truly Enactive Emotion." Emotion Review 4 (2): 176-181. Lazarus, Richard. 1991, Emotion and Adaptation, Oxford University Press. Enactivists will also hold that organisms don't come to contentfully appreciate these properties as danger before they have learned to use language and the socioculturally established norms for the proper use of the word "danger". I am grateful to Victor Loughlin, Jan Van Eemeren, Karim Zahidi and Farid Zahnoun for feedback on a draft of this review.
https://ndpr.nd.edu/news/embodied-emotions-a-naturalist-approach-to-a-normative-phenomenon/
The following is a short rundown on the numerous approaches to the novel, from modernism to realism. The most famous works of literary modernism will be found in any self-respecting book shop, with a few of them being among the best books of all time-- however exactly what was modernism? Essentially, this was a bold response to the status quo of not only literature, but also art in general. A crucial emphasis within the literary framework of modernism was the focus on structural innovation; from absences of punctuation to narrative structure-- all of a sudden everything was up for grabs for revolutionary novelists seeking to make art 'new'. Modernist authors were cosmopolitan in their influences, equally inspired by symbolist poetry as they were by cubist painting. The hedge fund which owns Waterstones would undoubtedly acknowledge the appeal of the classic books of the 20th century, as would the company that owns AbeBooks. Fiction went through tremendous change throughout the 20th century. After the seismic innovations of the 1st couple of years, numerous sub-genres emerged, from dystopian fiction to absurdism. Historical fiction, now an incredibly popular approach to the artform, increased in popularity thanks to the large level of research that novelists put into their books, allowing readers to really immerse themselves in ancient times. Magical realism on the other hand, had a substantial influence on the latter half of the 20th century, offering a few of the best modern books of all time; this was a movement within the literary arts that first effectively arose in South America, where writers used realist and modernist literary techniques but incorporated certain magical components to otherwise realistically possible stories. Definitely, one of the major shareholders of WHSmith recognises the importance of providing a variety of fiction for instance. Writing from the 19th century is still extremely popular to this day. Just why is this the case then? Besides the quality of the writing, the themes of a few of the greatest books of all time often have a universal aspect to them, and literary books from the 1800s are no different; novelists from that time would concentrate on the development of the modern-day world, conflicting social attitudes and the battle of personal freedom-- problems that readers today can undoubtedly connect to. This was the century when the novel considerably gained in prominence, with a variety of a few of the most famous writers of all time from nations such as England, France, Russia and the U.S.A. publishing timeless works of literature. The literary landscape of the 1800s was incredibly varied; the romanticism widespread throughout literature undoubtedly had a huge impact on the fiction of the first few decades of the age, but by the 1850s, literary realism had actually become the de facto approach to the artform. This was a type of literature that aimed to properly depict characters and settings in a far more separated and unbiased style than in times previous; through unflinching presentation, much deeper analysis could be made of crucial modern concerns connected with a book's plotline.
https://truxgo.net/blogs/176220/218790/exploring-different-genres-within-literature-from-the-nineteen
Over time, art has continued to evolve from paintings made in caves to the current use of photography and live images. Art can be depicted in many forms and thus used to communicate a wide range of information faster and better than simple language. Artistic tools and styles are used by their creators to portray common as well as dangerous scenarios. The essay you are just about to read exposes the use of modern photography and video imaging to in reflecting all seasoned themes that affect society in dynamic ways. The essay compares and contrasts two pieces of art created to depict both daring and dangerous scenes that would not have been exposed in any other form of communication. The two pieces, a story about Braddock in Campaign for Braddock Hospital by Toya Ruby Frazier and Ready to Work Campaign for Levi’s by Wieden & Kennedy depict just what art can do. Frazier is a young lady, who was born in 1982. She currently works as a curator and teacher of photography in New Brunswick at a school called MasonGrossSchool of the Arts at Rutgers. She is an internationally known artist featuring in a number of international shows. Her passion for photography has its genesis in her childhood when she took photographs of her family and loved ones, which continued to influence her art. Frasier’s piece of work is rather daring owing to the fact that she is critical about political events. Frasier observes development and makes a call to exercise a critical eye. Her art mainly developed through politically motivated photography. Some of the photographs, featuring in her art, include those by Dorothea Lange and Lewis Hine and have political inclination. The use of political images to criticize social and economic setups makes her piece of art an attractive collision with other sectors and earns her infamous reputation among politicians – “the untouchables”. Her art is critical about the ruins in Braddock and she feels that somebody must be responsible for such misdeeds. She is not amused by America as a whole and she points fingers at the whole system of governance without just concentrating on Braddock. She uses documentaries of the 1930s to stage a campaign that would save the town’s own hospital. She is also unhappy with the “greedy opportunists” calling for progress at theexpense of other priorities. The Levi campaign, on the other hand, is a dangerous endeavor aimed at preparing people for change. The artists depict a future that has yet to be built, unaware of the oppositions that are likely to come up along the way. The symbolism of the money that they were willing to pay goes further to expose their willingness to engage in dangerous confrontations, which appear likely to emerge along the way. This piece of art portrays the strong-hearted citizens who were prepared to take risks on behalf of the people in the city. The extent of risks they were willing to take makes their endeavor a dangerous adventure. Another aspect making this endeavor dangerous is the invitation it makes for Americans of the West to carry on the duty of reconstructing the town. The art skips significant details in their campaign and they seem unaware of the cost the people would have to pay to the “pioneers” alluded to by the art. The two pieces of art are a depiction of the observations made in the Orvell. The two arts are developed by the use of camera and aimed at communicating varied information to the audience. On the one hand, the artists represent historical events, towns, and their lives and also have helped reconstruct a memory of the past. Indeed, as observed by the Orvell, by depicting the ruins of town and photography of the 1930s, the artists manage to create an image of the past in the eyes of the audience. On the other hand, the images depicted are not adequate for all events that took place neither in the past nor in the lives of the writers. The Levi campaign further enhances the understanding. The photographs used in this campaign are merely a creation of what the future would hold. The art is a call to the future, portraying little about the past and the present. Such images cannot be relied on to analyze people’s lives, neither can they speak about the past. Levi’s campaign presents the clothes images such as corduroys jeans, jackets, and shirts, which barely speak about the past of Braddock. The two pieces of work are a representation of two different views regarding the same town. Frazier’s work, on the one hand, is pessimistic and critical about the ordeal. Levi’s campaign, on the other hand, is optimistic bringing about an icon of hope for people. Levi’s campaign is a message of hope, a call for hard work and enncouragement to face the future with optimism. The risk presented by Wieden’s and Kennedy’s work is worth taking. It speaks of reconstruction of the industrial sector. The art is a foreshadow of better things, portraying images of a beautiful city with self-driven, loving, and hardworking citizens. This art positively influences the minds of those currently in despair with a promise for better days in the future. The audience of this art is persuaded to believe that all is well and the future holds better days for them. Whether such calls are made with good motive or not, the audience cannot tell. Frazier is critical about the whole ordeal. She feels that the destruction of social amenities was instigated by political setups. She is pessimistic about the whole economic setup as she feels that Braddock is a part of a bigger, global crisis, whereby she is not positive about any likely improvement in the ruins of the town. Frazier uses a political approach criticizing historical events, such as social injustices and the crushing of the steel industry. She does not offer any solution for the future and her work has no indication of what the society must do to get over what has already taken place. In addition, her work is fearless in pointing at weaknesses, as she exposes the untouchables as responsible for the new social injustice, the collapse of the town hospital. To her, the call to hard work is a portrayal of hypocrisy; she exposes underlying issues and spares no effort in challenging the society to reject deception. Her pessimism helps the audience identify weaknesses in governance. The art by Wieden & Kennedy revises the history of Braddock by portraying unique artistic images. The fine art of modeling and craftwork represents a society with a long history in textile and metalwork. The artists depict authentic images of waistbands, fine leather, fabrics, decorated with fine details, steel and brass artworks that could have seen more than a century of development. The art uses the term pioneer to allude to the American West. The art perceives the Americans to have had a longer history – that is what Levi’s campaign was aimed at achieving. The word pioneer is used to describe a people whose history had developed with regard to the steel and textile industry. The Western Americans would lead the re-construction of Levi workshops, doing what they had already achieved back at their homes.
https://primewritings.com/essays/art-essays/the-photography.php
There are currently no upcoming dates available for this course. Be the first to know when new dates are announced by joining the mailing list. The course will explore the wide-ranging and iconic art produced during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901). Each session will focus on specific artists and artistic movements within historical, social and cultural contexts. The module begins by exploring how classical and medieval art and culture offered inspiration for artists, designers and architects, such Leighton and Alma-Tadema. It also considers how the rise of the middle classes provided new patrons and audiences for art at the beginning of Victoria’s reign. The course examines how visual communication displayed in prints, cartoons, advertisements and other mass-produced material provided vehicles for disseminating attitudes towards class, morals, race and gender. Moreover, the course looks at the development of subject matter through the decades, paying particular attention to the mid-century and the social realism of the 1870-80s. Learning and teaching The module will be delivered through 10 two-hour sessions, made up of lectures, class discussions, small group work, and debates. Class sessions will be supplemented by resources available to students via Learning Central. Syllabus content - Week 1: Introduction to Victorian art and society: this is a module overview with a group exercise and assignment brief. - Week 2: The past: this class will explore classical and medieval inspiration in Victorian art, design, funerary art and architecture. - Week 3: Physiognomy and art: this class will explore the pseudo-science that was used to judge character and personality by the shape of the head and facial features. - Week 4: Early Victorian art: this session explores the tastes of the new middle classes as patrons and as audience. - Week 5: Social commentary 1840s: this class considers satirical cartoons, illustrations and artwork relating to the decade of social upheaval. - Week 6: Pre-Raphaelites: this class looks at the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, examining the work and inspirations of the original founder members and their circle. - Week 7: Social history 1850-60a: this class considers portrayals of Victorian life that depict (realistically or not) poverty, work and leisure. - Week 8: Social history 1850-60b: this class considers portrayals of Victorian life that depict attitudes towards moral respectability. - Week 9: Social realism of the 1870s and 1880s: this class explores the realist works of artists such as Frank Holl, Gustave Dore and Hubert Herkomer. - Week 10: Module recap and preparing for the assignment. Coursework and assessment To award credits we need to have evidence of the knowledge and skills you have gained or improved. Some of this has to be in a form that can be shown to external examiners so that we can be absolutely sure that standards are met across all courses and subjects. The most important element of assessment is that it should enhance your learning. Our methods are designed to increase your confidence and we try very hard to devise ways of assessing you that are enjoyable and suitable for adults with busy lives. Students will produce a portfolio of writing of around 1600 words. Reading suggestions - Birchall, H. 2010. Pre-Raphaelites. London: Taschen. - Pointon, M. 1997.History of Art: a Students Handbook. London: Routledge. - Prettejohn, E. 2007.The Art of the Pre-Raphaelites. London: Tate Publishing. - Rosenblum, R. and Janson, H.W. 2004.19th-Century Art. Harlow: Pearson. Other useful resources Library and computing facilities As a student on this course you are entitled to join and use the University’s library and computing facilities. Find out more about using these facilities. Accessibility Our aim is access for all. We aim to provide a confidential advice and support service for any student with a long term medical condition, disability or specific learning difficulty. We are able to offer one-to-one advice about disability, pre-enrolment visits, liaison with tutors and co-ordinating lecturers, material in alternative formats, arrangements for accessible courses, assessment arrangements, loan equipment and dyslexia screening.
https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/part-time-courses-for-adults/courses/view/victorian-art-and-society
Pizer suggests that "whatever was being produced in fiction during the s and s that was new, interesting, and roughly similar in a number of ways can be designated as realism, and that an equally new, interesting, and roughly similar body of writing produced at the turn of the century can be designated as naturalism" 5. A Fantasy New York, London: In the United States, at the end of the nineteenth century, there was a revival of interest in the historical romance, which overwhelmed the realistic movement. This was shocking to readers of its day. Like many another lover of his kind, he has sought to trace the evils of individual life to their source in this composite order, and to guess at the mode by which society shall right itself and drink up healthy and life-giving virtues from the soil. Such paintings as his Burial at Ornans and the Stone Breakerswhich he had exhibited in the Salon of —51, had already shocked the public and critics by the frank and unadorned factuality with which they depicted humble peasants and labourers. A Foregone Conclusion Boston: His plots, however, retained the romantic quality of melodrama. He wrote of men and women as they really were, often offending the romantic woman by teaching her to be more honest, more mature, more realistic, and healthier but usually making her lovable. Reminiscences and Criticisms New York, London: A Hazard of New Fortunes. Fields, he became editor, and remained in the position untilliving during this period in Cambridge. Wikipedia Realism In Literature The best way to begin to understand realism in literature is by defining the term realism. Why not post a question or comment yourself. In this series of novels and stories, the lives of every class of people come alive on the pages through long, lively descriptions. A Letter of Introduction: Put rather too simplistically, one rough distinction made by critics is that realism espousing a deterministic philosophy and focusing on the lower classes is considered naturalism. His was a sympathetic rather than a comic portrayal of people, often using a dark background to add to the warmth of the person depicted. He focused on individuals, strangers, quickly passing in the streets in towns and cities. The old life embedded in this historic country became the book whose leaves he turned, but he looked with the greatest interest and most sympathetic scrutiny on that which passed before his eyes. Through his ironic indictment of Editha, Howells criticizes the sentimentality of the day, which counteracted the realism in which he believed. Selective presentation of reality with an emphasis on verisimilitude, even at the expense of a well-made plot Character is more important than action and plot; complex ethical choices are often the subject. The German art movement known as the Neue Sachlichkeit New Objectivityon the other hand, worked in a realist style to express the cynicism and disillusionment of the post- World War I period in Germany. It was novel, it was quaint, it was filled with curious, unexpected betrayals of human nature, but it was above all real, actual, a thing to be touched and as it were fondled by hands that were deft by nature and were quickly becoming more skilful by use. The viewer is among the crowd rather than above it. David Douglas ; New York: He carried with him to Europe some conversance with French, German, Spanish, and Italian, and an insatiable thirst for literature in these, languages. The Coast of Bohemia: The Rise of Silas Lapham Boston: The Sleeping Car, and Other Farces. He would do such a common-place thing as take an excursion down the harbor, or even a ride to town in a horse-car, and come back to turn his experience into a piece of genuine literature. Howells's death occurred May 11, In fact, the philosophical origins or, rather, the philosophical nature of the movement can be traced back to the early 19th as a reaction to the Romanticism. Harper, in addition to the title farce: Between the Dark and the Daylight: Romanticism was an earlier movement that presented the world in much more idealized terms. Literary Realism. Anyone who thinks they might be able to muster up a decent definition of Realism in American literature probably can. Realism is just as it sounds - it was a style and type of. In general, realism in art and literature refers to the attempt to represent familiar and everyday people and situations in an accurate, unidealized manner. More specifically, the term "realism" refers to a literary and artistic movement of the late 's and early 's. This movement was a. William Dean Howells As editor of the Atlantic Monthly and of Harper's New Monthly Magazine, William Dean Howells promoted writers of realism as well as those writing local color fiction. Characteristics (from Richard Chase, The American Novel and Its Tradition). American Realism was a style in art, music and literature that depicted contemporary social realities and the lives and everyday activities of ordinary people. The movement began in literature in the midth century, and became an important tendency in visual art in the early 20th century. William Dean Howells (March 1, – May 11, ) was an American realist author and literary critic.
https://vynogyfyguwakuzo.douglasishere.com/william-dean-howells-and-realism-5021ny.html
Starting in January 2018, the Irkutsk Regional Art Museum held an exhibition titled, “Родная Земля,” (translated as “Homeland,”) celebrating the works of Anatoly Kostovsky. A native Irkutsk painter, Kostovsky graduated from the Irkutsk Art College in 1956 and built his career in realism around the diversity of the Irkutsk region, featuring local people, culture, and nature as subjects in his paintings. “Winter.” Kostovsky, a native of Irkutsk, spent his entire life painting life in Russia, often times focusing on simple, everyday scenes to create his realist style. While for many outside Russia, the image of Siberia consists of blank, neverending space, in actuality, the region is home to dozens of nationalities, landscapes, and cultures. The Homeland exhibit sought to challenge such representations, using Kostovsky’s unique ability to appreciate and capture Siberia’s diversity through art, to highlight such variety. Kostovsky’s works are known for embodying feelings of patriotism and spirituality in Russia. The rhetoric of the exhibit’s curation produced a similar effect, creating the space and opportunities for viewers to observe and appreciate their homeland. The museum’s main exhibition hall drew Kostovsky’s brightly colored oil paintings and sketches all into one space, exposing a plethora of emotions, activities, beauties, and realities which compose the Irkutsk region. While Kostovsky’s works consist of a recognizable style, his paintings were intentionally arranged to emphasize their differences. “Christmas Evening.” Unlike many other artists of his time, Kostovsky successfully remained true to his own style and view of art, despite political pressures from the Soviet regime. Irkutsk and its surrounding lands were displayed in all four seasons. “Christmas Evening,” a scene featuring one of Irkutsk’s many churches using cool winter tones, hung next to Kostovsky’s portrayal of the “Altai Gobi,” a bright summer scene with golden hues. These were also balanced with “Fall in Irkutsk,” and “Spring,” giving viewers insight into the varying seasonal experiences one finds living in Siberia. Life within the city was portrayed by paintings such as Kostovsky’s “Irkutsk Yard,” which depicts the wooden homes originally built by Decembrist exiles which still stand and compose the city today. “Angarsk Bridge,” on the other hand, further reveals the many colorless, Soviet-built concrete structures also existing within the city. “Ice Cream Cafe” provides a window into an energetic Irkutsk social gathering, whereas “Twilight in the Workshop” emphasizes feelings of calmness and solitude. Beside Kostovsky’s cityscapes, viewers found endless depictions of Siberia’s environment. “On Baikal” showcased the magical, wild character of the land, while images such as “Spring Ice” also expose the more simple, natural character of the region’s taiga. “Mongol with a Pipe.” Through his depictions of those living in the Irkutsk region, Kostovsky exposed the beauty of everyday life, as well as history of Siberian cultures. “Lean Years.” Kostovsky became an important observer of the realities of Russia during his time as an artist, often reflecting the struggles and challenges faced by the people during Soviet times. The successful organization of diverse Siberian images into one exhibit gave rise to the theme of unity, as, while Kostovsky’s paintings portrayed a variety of moods, colors, and emotions, they compliment each other, bringing a singular allure and wonder to the many different faces and places in Siberia. Interestingly, the idea of unity promoted in the exhibit also overlapped with a local ice trek, “Meeting with Baikal,” which was organized in March with the goal of promoting interethnic and intercultural education. Further, the exhibit was in time for the country’s presidential elections, potentially serving as a reminder to residents of their ability to remain unified, despite differences. While noted for its beauty and emotional effect on viewers, the Irkutsk Regional Artist Museum’s Homeland did not solely choose to display solely positive or brightly beautiful images. Rather, by recreating the Irkutsk region in its entirety, a more complex, complete, and true beauty emerged, providing local viewers with an opportunity to view their own backyard in its entirety – an opportunity which is often disrupted by the routines of everyday life – and leaving an impression of patriotic, unifying, and genuine character.
http://museumstudiesabroad.org/irkutsk-regional-art-museum-homeland/
Romanticism, 1750–1850, did not die out completely yet tinkered off, while artists continued to pursue romantics ways of viewing the world into the twentieth century. By 1830, there was a rise of a new movement of nineteenth century Realism, which called into question the over-emphasis of passions, irrationality, and subjectivity of the Romantics. Realists wanted a return to an objective framework that was more empirical and systematic, which followed philosopher Comte’s positivism of “promot[ing] science as the mind’s highest achievement and advocate[ing] a purely empirical approach to nature and society” (798). Realism was characterized by the need to be current, dealing with contemporary issues and social realities of the day. The Industrial Revolution was in full swing, spreading throughout the continent, and social relations were different. The Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels was published in 1848. This writing showed the history of class struggle and how those who controlled the means of production—the bourgeoisie—therefore controlled those who worked—the proletariat. Recognizing the reality for the average human became bleak: “man is compelled to face with sober senses, his real conditions of life, and his relations with his kind” (1331). Ultimately, realism raised the idea of modernity, changing how artists saw the world and their own art. Landseer’s The Stone Breaker and His Daughter represents the view of academic realism or appealing to the pallet of the bourgeoisie. The viewer has access to the faces. Here a father is relaxed and resting, while a daughter brings lunch to him of wine, fruit, and bread. Their dress is nice with differing colors. The lighting is brighter and beautiful, picturesque even. The setting shows more of the sky and natural world. This social environment of happy peasants is not the alienation that Marx would suggest. The vision of the working class life here is one that the middle class, wishing after the simpler life, would be comfortable seeing—thus romanticizing realism. In contrast to academic realism, Courbet’s The Stonebreakers (c. 1849) suggests avant-garde realism, where the artist advances the cause of art, perhaps at the risk of sacrificing fame and fortune. The canvas here is less beautiful, murky, and monochromatic. The quality is dull, and the finish is matte. Because of the loose brushstrokes, the composition seems rough and has a sense of randomness. This painting was shown in the Salon 1848, one year after expelling King Louis Phillip and the agitation of the proletariat. The museum-goers, the bourgeoisie, were confronted with their material existence and forced to look at individuals and their harsh realities. These figures were from the Paris countryside, repairing the roads, and “By juxtaposing youth and age, Courbet suggested that those born to poverty remain poor their entire lives” (798). This work was extremely menial, but the artist seems to give needed dignity back to the individuals. Without any idealization, realism is seen here by the terse figures wearing torn clothing, revealing dirty skin, and having shoes in a wretched state. Work here is not beautifully idyllic. There is little blue sky, almost used purely to taunt the figures. Additionally, the figures faces are hidden—could they be plotting? By pushing the figures to the front of the picture plane, the viewers have to look and confront the figures with their sense of reality. Realist art, therefore, was used to attempt to change society. The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, who “refused to be limited to the contemporary scenes strict Realists portrayed” (809), was a group of artists who were unhappy with the art being painted at this time and thought that art did not seem true, sincere, or real. They rebelled against the academy by looking at art made prior to Raphael. Yet Millias’s art seemed to still follow traces of Realism: “So painstakingly careful was Millias in his study of visual facts closely observed from nature that Charles Baudelaire . . . called him ‘the poet of meticulous detail’” (809). Millias’s Christ in the House of His Parents (c. 1848) reveals realism as the truth the artist wants to get to. The models did not come from the academy but from the streets. Dickens’s scathing review criticized that the scene was too real, too naturalistic, veering toward sacrilegious. The hair color of Christ and Mary is auburn, which would appeal to the redheads of the British audience. This would create greater accessibility, making it more real for the audience to connect with the paintings. Advances in science and technology changed society as well as art. The reality of science, including Darwin’s evidence of natural selection, evolution, and the idea that “[m]an still bears in his bodily frame the indelible stamp of his lowly origin” (1322), shook many people’s faith. Joseph Paxton’s Crystal Palace in London, England (c. 1850–51) looks like a modern cathedral yet an ode to science. It was built in only six months but used so much glass it literally glowed in the sunlight. The exterior had classical elements: “The plan borrowed much from ancient Roman and Christian basilicas, with a central flat-roofed ‘nave’ and a barrel-vaulted crossing ‘transept’” (813). The visitor was brought through the central nave or passage, and the actual movement of going down the center. It was a place where people go to see and to be seen. Here this new building suggested the new reality, showing what people worshiped now and what they prayed to, sought after, and found inspiration in all kinds of modern equipment. The Crystal Palace became the spectacle of modernity or modern experience. Rosa Bonheur’s Plowing in the Nivernais (c. 1849) depicts another example of realism according to how the bourgeoisie would have liked. Bonheur was the best-celebrated, nineteenth-century French artist, and “[a] Realist passion for accuracy in painting drove Bonheur, but she resisted depicting problematic social and political situations seen in the work of Courbet, Millet, Daumier, and other Realists” (803). Her art was seen as commemorating France. No flies, sweat, or manure are shown here, but rather it is a very sanitized representation of plowing. The earth is rich and realistically painted. The eyes of the animals gaze directly out to the viewer. The land and animals she painted celebrate all that is beautiful and good in life as well as French national identity. The lure of order, reason, and categorization in art continued into the 1870s. This time was a critical moment of formation of self, identity, economic sources, and nations. Later, realism would transfer into an emphasis on nationalism that would change the world after the “War to End all Wars” would occur.
https://thebippityboppitybeautifulblog.com/the-age-of-realism-art-history/
Gervais Tardif second in a family of twelve children, Gervais Tardif was born in St-Méthode on October 5, 1946. From his childhood spent on a farm, he retains a marked taste for nature and tranquility. In 1998, he retired early, left Montreal and settled in the countryside on the shores of a lake in the Township of Orford. In his new spare time, an affinity for the arts prompted him to explore different artistic avenues including sculpture. His meeting with a bird sculptor confirmed his choice and he enrolled in a few courses that enabled him to acquire the basics of sculpture and animal painting. This activity quickly became a passion that has not since declined. His realistic sculptures of birds of the region are made from lime wood, carved with the aid of rotary sanding tools and are completed with pyrography to increase the effect of realism of the plumage. The birds are then painted realistically with acrylic. A new facet of this animal art now allows him greater latitude by presenting birds more or less fictitious realistically, carved but presented without paint by relying on pyrography to accentuate the effect of plumage. His pieces are mounted on branches with natural artistic forms that represent the birds in their habitat. These mounts may be wall or table pieces.
https://circuitdesarts.com/en/artiste/gervais-tardif-2/
He was born in Hermosillo, Sonora, MX. He lives and works in Hermosillo, Sonora. Among the young and current generation of Mexican painters, the artistic personality of David Ozuna Huerta stands out, graduated with a degree in plastic arts from the University of Sonora in 2010, and his frequent participation in collective and individual exhibitions in Mexico and in the United States of America. Evidence on the one hand his intense work pace and on the other his concern to go through all the paths of the plastic trade as a necessary learning to consolidate his own ways of expression and mature his own artistic voice that will lead him without a doubt, to a place of privilege in the national plastic arts. His pictorial work is a constant search that varies from mimetic realism to pure structural forms, exposed composition axes, textures and strong contrasting colors combined with gestural graphics that little by little has been creating his own language and the foundations of his personality. . His theme, as well as his plastic forms, is variable and ranges from the practice of portraiture, in which he has achieved notable successes, to figurative expression for the purpose of formal plasticity and lately some forays into social realism reminiscent of German expressionism. A tireless traveler abroad and particularly in the various states of the country, he has rightly sought to live and learn from the cultural roots of each region he visits, considering that Mexico is a multicultural and multiethnic nation in which knowledge of any national cultural expression. Such is and has been the path traveled until today by the young Sonoran painter David Ozuna Huerta who currently lays the foundations for his future plastic work and who, based on his daily work, will be as valuable as his first pictorial glimpses. He has participated in around eighty collective and eighteen individual exhibitions in countries such as the United States, Canada and Mexico. His work can be found in different collections in Germany, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Spain, Italy and Argentina.
https://altamira.art/users/david-ozuna/art
The emotions play a huge part in everyday life. They are a dominant force as they are attached and remain in everything we think and do. Emotions are responsive and pure, they react quicker than the conscious mind and are subconscious. I focus on real life traumatic emotions to create a picture of individuals and their society. Fear and anxiety are ways of self-protecting, however when extreme can behave like a prison. We are fenced in by cultural histories, within a ‘box’, that dictates to us what is right and wrong. We as consumers, are susceptive and guided by an authoritative external world. We are part of a historical chronology, as the past is present within us. Social control through conventions and norms undermine people’s perceptions and a kind of fiction structures our experience and view of our world, so we live in a psychosocial bubble. I use my introspective work to comment on what is going on extrospectively. I analyse my own situations to seek resolutions as well as to try and understand the world around me. What is the individual’s value measured against the values of a community? How do we define and think in order to belong within a community in order to become autonomous and accepted? And can we be attracted to status symbols and aesthetics to achieve this acceptance and recognition? My work explores the public and private realms and how they conjoin and diverge. I also look at how emotions, empathy and humanity can bond us together, whereas constructs and rules can mentally segregate. The emotions reveal not just things about the individual but also about the world around them. It is only through relating, communication and understanding that we can achieve any harmony as a group...... .....These Paper Cages... “No man is an island...” The paper cages I create are psychological spaces that represent the microcosm of the mind. There is a conflict lurking within my immersive, light and shadow, paper cutting installations; one of beauty and comfort, alongside anxiety and isolation. These cages are conflicted zones that depict social alienation as they are protective, safe comfort-zones, that are also limiting, lonely and essentially about hiding. I highlight boundaries between inside and outside, private and public, mental and physical. I have always made art out of a personal need, so it has a raw and confessional foundation. I look specifically at the vivid nature of conformity and trauma within the memory and how it impedes the individual’s mental and physical well-being. By externalizing emotions, angst and hidden fears within my work, I expose something that is invisible into being something extremely tangible and debilitating. I am drawn to the fragility of paper, and the act of cutting it by hand allows me to have a close relationship with my work. Like the sewing of quilts at home or writing a diary in the bedroom; my work reflects a story telling within a private domestic setting. I weave words into symbolic and surreal narratives and use a fairytale-like style to depict an atmospheric realm. There is an element of a stunted growth, an arrested development, in order to stay in a comfortable place... My art is intuitive and an expression of the Individual. It stems primarily from the emotions and experiences of real people, revealing mental and emotional struggles with autonomy. These internal 'portraits' are highly idiosyncratic, releasing, and diaristic in content, and this Expressionistic element to the work inevitably brings with it a catharsis. Moreover, by revealing personal emotions of the individual I actually reveal something about the specific world around them. On the one hand, I expose an authority present within colloquial language and everyday status symbols. I portray society as a dominant, man-made decision and construct as I am curious about ideologies, patterns and collective ideas, which are absorbed by the individual from their surrounding community and culture. By juxtaposing the human need to fit in alongside social issues of idealism, aesthetics, right and wrong, mythologies, cultural histories and beauty, I link the mental with the social; looking at the individual's pursuit of value. On the other hand, I am interested in the unconscious in relation to ‘post-traumatic stress disorder', chronic psychological damage, emotional disruption and recollection. By relating psychoanalysis with the idea of community, I expose the complex psychosocial situation of the individual. How one sees oneself is based on the community's perceptions and ideas, therefore one's view is not only one's own. Although my art is extremely subjective it is also relational and compassionate. What intrigues me is the audience’s role within my experiential installations. My works are made to be seen and are performative for the viewer and myself. They contain boundaries and zones in which the viewer takes part in once they have entered the room. My collection ‘Beautiful Cages’ is about having an emotional response and exudes the striving of connection, empathy and communication, as well as the difficulty of doing so. I use art to sort through life emotionally and mentally. To find a way through a mental maze. I want to consider my relationship with the outside world, to learn and work out how to be with others. I also want to reveal the detrimental effects of isolation as a human condition. I believe in the healing and exposing notion of art and how an awareness of our social and psychological world is essential to improve mental and physical health.
https://www.chloewing.com/
It seems futile to write ‘nice’ poetry as the war in Gaza rages on. There are many other atrocities happening too. I have been moved by world events since childhood, so it is unlikely to change any time soon. This is nothing to complain about; emotions inspire action and change, whereas apathy is one of the roots of cruelty. Recently I have been pondering the role of literature and how words are central to presenting a picture of what people think, say, and do in society. What is written or read can inform, entertain, and educate. Stories and poems depict actions in life using characters; usually it is people who deliver messages. Most writers on the planet (except maybe a tiny minority who grew up in hermit-like situations) have been exposed to many people and events, so by default, the attitudes and values of our social world are always present in the writing. This is a good thing, because when real life events are shared as fiction they act as a mirror, allowing us to look at ourselves and make amends as needed. In a synopsis of “A World of Art,” the by Henry M. Sayre, who is Professor Emeritus of Art History at Oregon University in the US, Jeffrey Joyner mentions that in his book Sayre defines the four roles traditionally assigned to artists: • to produce a record of their immediate environment • to express emotions in a way that is tangible. • to uncover truths that were hidden or universal. • to offer a world view to people from a different perspective. Although Sayre wrote primarily about visual art, the same four pillars could apply to writing. In sociology, my research aim is to uncover truths and write about them in relation to public health and medicine. In poetry and prose, I am in awe of nature while simultaneously furious about social injustice. Poems are linked to my health just as much as sociology is, for self-expression is crucial to wellness, and I believe that to be true for everyone. For writers, the truth does not always emerge in a way that might be called ‘beautiful’, however truth is essential for justice, and not just as it is shared from the perspective of journalists. If caring begins with sharing, creative writing is a great way to tell someone’s story or to highlight an issue.
https://www.writing.ie/members_blog/the-roles-of-writing-by-kathryn-crowley/
13 How Mariama Ba Portrayed Feminism As An Escape From Cultural And Religious Restrictions In So Long A Letter In her feminist Novel So long A letter, Mariama Ba uses the protagonist of Ramatoulaye and her close friend Aissatou, in order to convey her messages of the criticism of culture and religion and subsequently the implications it has on the society and women in particular. As Ramatoulaye is depicted as a conservative feminist, the addressee of her letter, Aissatou, is shown as a radical feminist and this is evident in the manner in which they respond to the situations they find themselves in. As a conservative feminist, the expectation would be not to challenge decisions profoundly but rather, assume a less hands-on approach and not act contrary to the limits which have been set for them. On the other hand, a radical feminist is one who steps out of their ‘comfort zone’ and tackles situations in a stringent manner, not standing for any form of injustice served towards them and are often characterized as people who act in a rash manner or those who act ‘upon their emotions’. Faced with similar challenges, we see Aissatou react by more independently making the contrary choice in undertaking the unexpected for a woman in that society during the post-colonial period while Ramatoulaye, in a more orthodox manner, remains content, settles for, and compromises, against the desires of her heart, in the name of abiding by culture and remaining in union with religion as presented to her. I aim to scrutinise the effectiveness of the use of juxtaposition and parallelism by Ba, to find out how far her message that feminism is a rewarding method of escaping the shackles of culture and religion imposed upon women, and that feminism is the way forward for African women in the novel was successfully delivered to her audience to fulfil her intention. Ba introduces the nature of Ramatoulaye in the early stages of the novel, in order to present the conservative feminist. From the very beginning, she informs us of Ramatoulaye’s docile, submissive nature, where against her emotions, she refuses to react as a result of her anger, where she is evidently uncomfortable and not appreciative of her co-wife’s existence in her home and in her life as a whole. When we see Ba write “The presence of my co-wife irritates me. She has been installed in my house for the funeral, in accordance with tradition.” This quote goes to show the strong repercussions culture brought unto the women of Senegal through the writer’s choice of the words. The word “installed’ dictates of an object which has been placed or fixed somehwere forcefully, thus dehumanizing Binetou, and questioning implicitly Modou’s reasons for marrying her, while informing the audience of Ramatoulaye’s scorn for her co wife – Binetou. However, despite having expressed her disconcert, she does not do anything in protest, but rather endures, familiarizing the audience of the true nature of the conservative feminist. Her friend Aissatou’s actions, which make a significant statement of the character, are used to convey the radical feminist nature of Aissatou. When Aissatou, against all odds, defies the cultural expectation of women in the society where – as laid down by Seynabou – “…a woman does not need much education…” and pursues further education upon leaving her marriage eventually earning herself a job at the embassy. We notice her persistent nature to advance radical feminism in this society, by going against the cultural expectation of remaining docile and submitting to the men. The unexpected nature of this decision is brought out through Ramatoulaye’s reaction. “You had the surprising courage to take life into your own hands.” The use of the word “surprising” shows the unfamiliarity of the decision. “They enabled you to better yourself. What society refused you.” This shows the impeding characteristics of the Senegalese culture and the detrimental effect it had on the lives of women in this society. Through the quote “the first quality of a woman is docility” we see the society’s low regard for social progression of women. Thus, it was out of the ordinary for Aissatou even succeed let alone do it the way she did. Again, Aissatou buys her best friend Ramatoulaye a Fiat 125 when she mentions in passing her struggles with public transport. These feats show her character as persistent and independent- traits often characterized with radical feminists. Criticism from many including Mawdo’s mother and Modou who believed “…a goldsmith’s daughter had no heart.” only pushed Aissatou further to changing the norm. Ba’s vivid descriptions and concentration on Aissatou’s acts as being persistent, thorough and determined, depict her as a role model to Ramatoulaye, a feminist in her own respect, as a metaphor to represent feminism and the reward it can bring to women allowing them emancipation from the servitudes of culture. The two sides of feminism and their respective ‘representatives’ are juxtaposed and examined to depict the more fruitful one when both their husbands, Mawdo and Modou remarry in these relationships, and exercising of the traditional practice of polygamy subsequently inducing emotions of anger in both women as it is sufficiently portrayed to the audience. Ramatoulaye perseveres and pushes through her tattered marriage despite her dislike for her co-wife who stepped into her marriage and disoriented touch between Ramatoulaye and Modou. Ramatoulaye’s discomfort was no secret and she “…cried everyday…” in despair and despite, calls from her children to divorce Modou and “do what aunty Aissatou did” , she remains in the marriage where her love for her husband has not faded, yet, his own for her, is gone. Aissatou, upon Mawdo’s marriage of young Nabou, even in despair, decided to leave the marriage which she saw as non-beneficial to her well-being as it brought sadness, even though Mawdo ‘still loved her’. These scenarios depict the burden which polygamous relationships – a prominent aspect of Senegalese culture and the Islamic religion – bore on the women such that it bound Ramatoulaye to this ‘toxic’ marriage. Aissatou’s reaction however was that of a strong, self-sufficient woman, in that she found comfort in books and immersed herself fully in them to expand her knowledge, eventually overcoming her despair, much faster than Ramatoulaye did. This statement made by Aissatou challenges an aforementioned idea that “… a woman does not need much education.” The scenario shows the difference between the two types of feminism, in showing that feminism was a rewarding method of dealing with the issues that face women and even though radical feminism bore results faster than conservative feminism, at the end of it all, the two women, eventually are freed from the hurt they suffer from and are able to move forward, and step past the challenges. This is effective in showing the collaboration of women in feminism as a whole to achieve a common goal, and to show that feminism is the route towards an equal society where men would no longer be placed above women, rather than a competition between radical and conservative feminism to show which is ‘better’. This juxtaposition is put in place in order to question which side of feminism is more rewarding. The distinction in the reactions of the women, and the reaction of the society to their actions shows a difference in the two sides of feminism. Ba seeks to show her audience that both sides are one, and that there is no real answer as to which one is better, rather, they aim to achieve the same goal as eventually, Ramatoulaye and Aissatou’s happiness comes out on top, even though they took different routes. In conclusion, these techniques of parallelism, juxtaposition, imagery, characterization and paradoxes, set an abundant foundation for the bigger picture which Ba sought out to encapsulate in her audiences minds, the idea of the criticism of culture and religion in the African society towards women. Through this, it is no question that her themes, ideas and objectives were attained and her intended message of ‘feminism for all’ was received by the audience the way she envisioned it. This was also aided by the epistolary form, which allowed for the readers to understand the book from a personal point of view, that of a Senegalese woman who experienced the prejudice of the society first hand.
https://literatureessaysamples.com/how-mariama-ba-portrayed-feminism-as-an-escape-from-cultural-and-religious-restrictions-in-so-long-a-letter/
Presumably, one of the purposes of prison is to change or ‘rehabilitate’ inmates so that they do not reoffend – to reduce recidivism, in policy language. The reality is, many formerly incarcerated people do reoffend and many return to prison. Recidivism rates, therefore, are an important set of data for criminal justice policymakers. What’s more, internationally-funded projects addressing crime and violence are focusing more on the prison sector, especially on building education programs and alternatives to incarceration. This attention is much overdue: prisons are the least-resourced component of citizen security projects with international funding in the region, by far. These projects often import standard monitoring and evaluation tools, which demand clear, quantitative indicators. Recidivism is an important and commonly used indicator – but it is complex and requires a careful approach. It seems obvious that any project that can claim a reduction in recidivism should be called a success, and that the opposite would signal a problem. But simple statements of recidivism outcomes without a clear definition or a specific context can lead to misleading interpretations, especially when making comparisons across years or across countries. To examine this issue more concretely, we looked at recent corrections-sector projects implemented with international funding in Central America and the Caribbean, including IDB-funded loans. Varying Definitions of Recidivism The projects reviewed share similar objectives: reducing youth and/or adult perpetration of violent crime. Some specify the objective of reducing recidivism among juveniles and/or adults who are already incarcerated. These are clearly two separate objectives, as violent crime rates are not the same as recidivism rates. Violent crime rates typically draw on police data. In contrast, the definitions of recidivism vary substantially and lack detail. Some projects state that recidivism refers to re-offending, but do not specify whether this is tracked by arrest, conviction, incarceration, or something else. Others state that recidivism refers to re-admission to a detention facility, but do not specify charge or reason for detention. Still others define recidivism as a re-conviction within a given period of time after release. One project defines it as readmission three times or more over a lifetime. So, even in a small set of projects with relatively similar designs, the definitions of recidivism fall into at least three different categories: re-arrest, re-conviction, and re-admission. None of these are wrong approaches; there is no “ideal” way of measuring recidivism, though some methods have more limitations than others. The main challenge arises when comparisons of indicators do not take into account the differences in these definitions and in the context within which these are measured. Using re-arrest as a proxy for recidivism tends to over-count actual reoffending. Because arrest patterns often reflect shifting police tactics more than actual crimes, arrest rates are high for young men in “high risk” neighborhoods, and relatively low for less visible offenses, such as domestic violence. Conversely, using re-conviction as the definition can under-count actual reoffending. Re-conviction may be the best measure in theory, because it provides the justice system’s confirmation that the accused did commit the offense. But, conviction rates are low in Latin American and the Caribbean. For example, in Latin America, convictions occur only in 24% of reported homicide cases, compared to a global average of 43% and an 81% rate in Europe. Finally, using re-admission to prison as the definition may over-count “re-offending,” since many people are re-admitted on pretrial detention, for unpaid fines, or for technical violations. Asking merely whether or not it is a person’s second time through the prison door does not distinguish whether the first incarceration was a “real” offense. Also, some systems do not integrate data across facilities, and so may not count a second admission to a different facility as re-admission. Varying Sources Most of the projects do not explain the data source or methodology for recidivism figures, such as whether data are limited to a particular facility or population. What’s more, some do not take into account the difference between self-reported recidivism data (asking inmates whether they had been previously incarcerated) versus data from official records taken at different stages of incarceration. Finally, the sampling approach also varies: some projects track a sample of people who went through a certain program, some select a sample representative of the population, and some use records of the full population. The demographics and criminal justice history of the people in a sample influence their likely recidivism patterns, and so should be clearly set out. Again, all of these sources are valid, but comparing data with different types of sources can be misleading. Another aspect of defining data sources relates to whether there is a control group or not. General institutional-level recidivism data provide a window on the overall performance of the system, but evaluations of programs often compare the group that participated in the intervention to a control group that did not. Evaluations also compare recidivism rates of those who completed a program tothose who could not or did not complete for various reasons. Any comparison of recidivism data should explain the justification for the comparison and the design of the two comparison groups. Even though recidivism data is sometimes cited comparatively across countries, there is no single data warehouse that lays out these distinctions in what’s behind the data. Thus, it is difficult to draw conclusions and policy recommendations. Based on the limited information available through open-source policy and government reports, re-admission to the prison seems to be the most commonly-used definition. It is the most concrete and the easiest measure to track within a single institution. Potential Unintended Consequences of Comparing Recidivism Numbers These diverse approaches lead to recidivism “figures” that can become almost meaningless out of their own context. The projects examined in the study do not have final numbers for these indicators, but the potential misinterpretations are evident in recidivism figures listed in other recent government and policy reports. For example, reported figures range from 46% in Uruguay (2010 prisoner census: self-reported readmission) and 59% in Guatemala (2010-2013, government report on a sample of inmates) to 24% in the Bahamas (government reported figures for 2013), 46% in Argentina (2010 prisoner census: self-reported readmission with conviction), 15% in Belize (2006-2012 government report: recorded readmission), and 11% in El Salvador (2015 prisoner census: self-reported readmission). This comparison does not necessarily tell us much about whether the prison system in each country is performing well or is more or less effective at rehabilitating inmates. Countries that impose harsher sentences on more people, even for lesser crimes, such as much of Central America under mano dura hardline law enforcement tactics, are likely to have lower recidivism simply because more people are behind bars for longer, without a chance to reoffend. This is not necessarily “success” for the justice system. Conversely, a country that makes a clear policy decision to build alternatives to incarceration for certain types of defendants may actually see an increase in recidivism, as the people who remain in the prison system (and are counted in recidivism statistics) are the more serious, difficult inmates (more likely to reoffend). In this case, reducing overall incarceration may be a positive move for justice policy more broadly. Increases in recidivism rates are always a cause for concern and scrutiny. However, if rising recidivism rates are due mainly to desirable system-level policy changes, they should be explained in this context – and compared to a similar population in prior years – rather than interpreted simply as a “negative” outcome. Implications and Recommendations Recidivism data are a crucial tool for tracking the consequences of many aspects of the justice system, especially prisons. Yet, in the countries where data is most needed to guide policy, it is scarce, opaque, and inconsistent. Projects involving recidivism data should invest resources in building more robust data and in ensuring that the data parameters are clear and appropriate. The Urban Institute recommends some ways to improve recidivism data and also proposes alternative indicators to measure prison performance in the US; these lessons could be adapted for countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. First, data systems could track desistance from crime – that is, not reoffending – rather than just the first ‘failure’ of reoffending. Second, tracking the severity of the subsequent offense gives more nuance to recidivism data. Third, tracking specific behavior changes that are supposed to change due to a certain treatment programs generate additional indicators. Fourth, even basic re-arrest or re-conviction data should break down numbers by the risk level and supervision type (parole, probation, etc.) of the individual. An in-depth comparative study on measuring recidivism in some Latin American countries, published by the University of Chile’s Center on Citizen Security Studies, raises some similar concerns and recommendations. In short, as the standard requirements of project results frameworks and the complex context of prison systems converge, improving recidivism data is a priority. Simple indicators are tempting, but can conceal more than they reveal. Recidivism rates dropping and rising may not tell the story we assume at first glance. When presenting recidivism indicators, we must be able to clearly explain exactly what changed, how we know, and why it happened. By Jennifer Peirce and Lina Marmolejo Peirce and Marmolejo have been consultants for the IDB. Peirce is a PhD student in Criminology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholar. Marmolejo is a PhD student in Criminology at the George Mason University.
https://blogs.iadb.org/seguridad-ciudadana/en/why-measuring-recidivism-is-so-hard/
The State Justice Statistics (SJS) Program is designed to maintain and enhance each state's capacity to address criminal justice issues through collection and analysis of data. The SJS Program provides support to each state to coordinate and conduct statistical activities within the state, conduct research to estimate impacts of legislative and policy changes, and serve as a liaison in assisting BJS to gather data from respondent agencies within their states. The Massachusetts Statistical Analysis Center (SAC) is located within the Research and Policy Analysis Division (RPAD). RPAD is a division within the Office of Grants and Research, the arm of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) that serves as the State Administrative Agency for federal criminal justice, highway safety and homeland security grant funds. The SAC in conjunction with RPAD provides public safety and criminal justice research, policy analysis, program evaluation, and information services for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Under this award, the SAC will conduct two projects: One Core Capacity and One Special Emphasis. Under the core capacity project, the MA SAC will work with the Maine SAC on a joint project to study the recidivism rates of sex offenders who were released from supervision in 2005 or later. This project will enhance both SACs capacity to analyze criminal history records and corrections data and integrate the two datasets along with risk assessment data into one large dataset that can be queried to assess trends in re-offending behavior for those individuals originally convicted of a sex offense. This analysis has not been done in Maine or Massachusetts nor has it been done in most states. In addition, this project will enable both SACs to collaborate on a topic that is an important public safety concern in both states. Lastly, this study will contribute to the field of sex offender recidivism research by generating state sex offender recidivism rates. To conduct this project, both SACs will use the criminal history records in their respective states to track any type of arrest and/or conviction (in the case of Maine) or arraignment and/or conviction (in Massachusetts) for any member of this cohort. In addition, the Open Justice Broker Consortium will work with both SACs to develop a database accessible to both states with de-identified records that can be mined as each state sees fit. Criminal history records from each state will be shared with the other to identify cohort members who recidivate in the neighbor state. Analyses will focus on whether cohort members, categorized by offender type (rapist, child molester, other), were arrested and/or convicted of a subsequent sex offense, violent offense, or any other type of offense. Further analysis will focus on Static-99 risk scores to establish the effectiveness of the tool in predicting recidivism. Under the Special Emphasis project, the MA SAC will continue their efforts to develop the ICJIS Strategic Bond Plan of their FY 17 project. Specifically, the MA EOPSS will use the agency data dictionaries developed for this project to work with the county sheriffs departments to report on release data extracted from each of the sheriffs information systems to provide a statewide snapshot of adult county and state prisoners and offenders under parole supervision for the same time period. The report will establish a baseline for trend reports, ideally for mid-year and end of year populations.
https://bjs.ojp.gov/funding/awards/2019-86-cx-k036
Excerpt: Recidivism is not a comprehensive measure of success for criminal justice in general or for community corrections specifically. When used to judge the effects of justice interventions on behavior, the concept of recidivism may even be harmful, as it often reinforces the racial and class biases underlying much of the justice system. We encourage justice systems to rely on more flexible and more responsive outcome measures. Community correct ions agencies should encourage policymakers to rely on outcomes related to criminal desistance and the social integration of people on probation or parole. Measures focused on social development and community well-being are more useful for evaluating the effects of justice interventions, and they are less likely to distort policy discussions. This report contains the findings of the first-ever independent survey of federal prisoners, which focused on the type and quality of educational and vocational training programs, as well as substance abuse and mental health treatment, currently available in America’s federal prisons. “Using Time to Reduce Crime: Federal Prisoner Survey Results Show Ways to Reduce Recidivism” offers unique insights from inside federal prisons and includes 13 recommendations for reform. This report compares education, training levels and cognitive skills among incarcerated adults with those of the general population. It examines the skills of incarcerated adults in relationship to their work experiences and to their education and training in prison. The findings were drawn from a sample of 1,546 inmates across 98 participating prisons. National Institute of Justice's CrimeSolutions.gov rates as "promising" the use of monthly information letters and reminders in bringing probationers to pay court-ordered restitution. The report analyzes the nature and drivers of a 14-fold increase since 1970 in the number of women jailed compared to a 5-fold increase overall. Highlighting the growing need for gender-responsive policies, it also gives examples of initiatives designed to accommodate this demographic shift. This paper uses misdemeanor data from Harris County, Texas to look at the effect of pre-trial detention on case outcomes and future crime. The study finds that detained defendants more likely plead guilty, and are imprisoned with relatively longer jail sentences. They also find evidence of detention having a criminogenic effect. This brief compares the rate of growth in state and local expenditure on corrections and education for all 50 states. Between 1989-1990 to 2012-13, expenditure on prisons and jails increased at a rate thrice that of (from $17 billion to $71 billion) public PK-12 ($258 billion to $534 billion). On average higher education appropriations per full-time equivalent student fell by 28% compared to a per capita corrections increase of 44%. This report documents incarceration rates for whites, African Americans, and Hispanics in each state. It also provides racial and ethnic composition and rates of disparity by state. It identifies contributors to the disparities in imprisonment and makes recommendations for reform. The report comes from a year of study and analysis by the Statutory Court Fee Task Force, a statutorily elected body with bipartisan representation from all three branches of Illinois' government. The Task Force was created by the Access to Justice Act to conduct a review of statutory fees and fines imposed on civil litigants and defendants in criminal and traffic proceedings and to make appropriate recommendations. In 2005, approximately 43,000 people were placed under federal community supervision. About three-quarters of their prior arrests were non-federal (state and local) arrests. People released from federal prison had 5.6 prior arrests on average, compared to 10.8 prior arrests for people released from state prison. About 47% of federal prisoners released to community supervision were arrested within 5 years and about 30% returned to prison, compared to 77% and 60% for nonfederal prisoners released to community supervision, respectively. For federal prisoners released to community supervision, 68% of their arrests through 2010 were non-federal. To quote the authors, "across demographic characteristics or extent of prior criminal offending, state prisoners consistently had higher rates of recidivism than federal prisoners within 5 years after release." In the context of a decline in the number of people sentenced in federal courts, the report, based on a review of cases reported to the Commission in fiscal year 2015, provides information on federal caseload by offense category, individual characteristics (gender, race, citizenship and age), type of sentence imposed, most common crimes, organizational (corporations or partnerships) cases and sentence modifications and re-sentencing. Using data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ National Corrections Reporting Program, National Prisoner Statistics program, Survey of Inmates in State Correctional Facilities (1991 and 2004) and FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting program, this report examines demographic characteristics of aging state prison population and discusses factors contributing to its increase. With over 5 million U.S. children having experienced parental incarceration at some point in their lives, this report highlights the adverse impact of parental incarceration on children’s well-being and a dearth of resources in counteracting the impact. It also provides state-wise estimates of children who experienced parental incarceration in 2011-2012 and makes common sense proposals to address the increased poverty and stress experienced by children of incarcerated parents. This report provides a broad overview of key findings from the United States Sentencing Commission’s recidivism study based on 25,000 citizens serving a federal sentence. These people were either released from federal prison after serving a sentence of imprisonment or placed on a term of probation in 2005. Nearly half (49.3%) were rearrested within eight years for a new crime or a violation of conditions for supervision. Almost a third were re-convicted and a quarter re-incarcerated. Along with recidivism findings, the report also provides information on factors associated with differing rates of recidivism. The results of this Illinois Policy Institute-commissioned poll confirmed public support for criminal justice reform. 500 registered voters in Illinois of different political and ideological leanings were asked about their views on a range of issues pertinent to the criminal justice system- alternatives to bail, civil asset forfeiture, re-entry, occupational licensing, diversion, sentencing and the current system. Respondents also indicated how their support for a candidate would be influenced by a candidate's position on these issues. This national-level survey of 3,165 crime- affected people reports their preferences regarding the criminal justice system’s means and goals. A general preference for rehabilitation rather than punishment is evident. The Gavel Gap: Who Sits in Judgement on State Courts? This report looks at the gender and racial makeup of America's state court judges. This policy brief examines the practice of charging exorbitant fees and financial penalties during court involvement even in cases involving minor infractions. These are practices implemented to the detriment of low-income racial and ethnic minorities. The brief explains how courts use loopholes to imprison people for being poor, highlights subsequent community response and shares tools to end debtors’ prisons and the criminalization of poverty. This article discusses the concentration of parolees in some of Chicago's impoverished neighborhoods. It also contains a data set on the number of Illinois Department of Corrections parolees by zip code. At the end of 2014, about 4.7 million adults in the US were under community supervision (or about 1 in 52 adults.) Most of this population is on probation, which is usually an alternative to incarceration, rather than parole, which is supervision following incarceration. Despite a steady increase in the parole population since 2007, the probation population decreased by 1% during the course of 2014, contributing to an overall 10% decrease in the community supervised population since 2007. Compared to 2000, there are now more women and people supervised for felony offenses in the probation population; however, the re-incarceration rate of parolees has decreased. A neighborhood-based reentry program, Harlem Parole Reentry Court engages participating parolees for 6 to 9 months with a number of core elements like pre-release engagement, assessment and reentry planning, active judicial oversight, coordination of support services, graduated and judicious sanctions and positive incentives. The report provides a program overview and results from an evaluation following the implementation of evidence-based enhancements. A 22% reduction in re-conviction rate and a 60% reduction in felony re-conviction rate over an 18-month follow-up period were some of the favorable impacts. The checklist describes the short and long-term collateral consequences of a juvenile delinquency adjudication in Illinois. As states and localities are examining cost-saving measures and eliminating inefficient and costly programs, they should consider transferring funds from incarceration to community-based employment programs for diversion candidates and returning citizens. In addition, using community corrections for less serious crimes can be an effective approach in keeping Illinois’s communities safe and saving money. This briefing analyzes the trends in Illinois’ probation rate from the 1980s through 2011 alongside the introduction of mandatory prison sentence policies as well as fluctuations in drug arrests under less serious offense classes. It includes probation statistics broken down by demographics (age, race, gender), felony offense classes, and compares Cook County with other areas of Illinois. Additionally, the analysis finds the proportion of prison admissions of people on probation has remained relatively stable at 15%.
https://www.saferfoundation.org/Safer-Policy-Institute/Policy-Center/Corrections
The night of June 2, a 25-year-old Salem man allegedly ran a red light while driving drunk, plowing into a car and instantly killing three teens. After the crash, Juan Rodriguez-Palacios' blood-alcohol content was 0.239 percent — almost three times the legal limit of 0.08. It was not his first time being caught driving intoxicated. Four years earlier, Rodriguez-Palacios was one of the thousands of Oregonians who have participated in a DUI diversion program in order to get those charges dismissed. Yet, according to multiple state and local agencies, little is known about whether DUI diversion participants are less, or more, likely to drink and drive again. Officials with the Oregon Judicial Department, the Criminal Justice Commission, the Oregon Health Authority and Marion County Circuit Courts told the Statesman Journal they do not track recidivism rates of DUI diversion participants. And no data is available on how often these participants receive a second DUI conviction. Rodriguez-Palacios was arrested on DUI, hit-and-run, reckless driving and reckless endangerment charges in 2015 after he struck a trailer being towed on Lancaster Drive and fled the scene. According to court records, his blood-alcohol content was 0.145 percent at the time of the crash. He was driving home from a friend's house with three passengers in his car. Rodriguez-Palacios admitted to driving drunk, hit-and-run and reckless driving. But because of Oregon's diversion program allowing certain offenders to enter into treatment, abstain from alcohol and attend a victim impact panel in exchange for a lesser punishment, Rodriguez-Palacios' DUI charge was diverted and later dismissed. What's open Fourth of July? Independence Day business, government closures Diversion for dismissal Not everyone is able or willing to enter diversion. Those with a previous DUI conviction in the past 15 years or whose alleged crime involves a death or injury of another person are not eligible for diversion. And because offenders must plead guilty or no contest to be eligible for diversion, some choose to challenge their cases in court. Diversion programs have long been touted by proponents as a cheaper, more rehabilitation-oriented alternative to traditional prosecution and incarceration. Participants are often required to enter into treatment, classes or care programs that address the behaviors that first led to their criminal offenses. Proponents contend this leads to rehabilitation and decreases the chance of recidivism, ultimately saving money. Critics of diversion programs say some programs are too lenient or not effective enough in rehabilitating offenders. According to court records, Rodriguez-Palacios completed DUI treatment through Bridgeway and was discharged in February 2016. Three months earlier, he attended a victim impact panel at Salem Hospital. Panels typically include those impacted by impaired driving, including ER trauma nurses, survivors, family members of victims and defendants. According to Marion County Circuit Court data, the number of DUI cases and offenders who opt to enter diversion have remained steady over the past five years. According to the data, which does not includes cases handled through Salem Municipal Court, 958 DUI cases filtered through Marion County court in 2018. Less than half — 398 offenders — opted to enter diversion. In 2015, 922 cases were filed, with 370 people entering diversion. Rodriguez-Palacios was one of them. Court officials said some people charged with a DUI late in the year can end up entering diversion the next year. So far in 2019, 407 DUI cases have been filed in Marion County Circuit Court. Of those, 118 offenders entered diversion. Previous coverage: Driver arraigned as family, friends remember young women killed in Salem crash Program's success, failure unclear Data about recidivism rates, or what percentage of DUI diversion participants went on to get another DUI, is unavailable. The circuit court does not collect this information, and statewide, the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission only collects information on felony recidivism rates. The majority of DUI cases are misdemeanors. Analysts with the commission pointed to a 2007 study by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy. DUI defendants in Washington had the option of a two- to five-year deferred prosecution program or a similarly-structured diversion program. Manslaughter sentencing: Triple-fatal DUI crash on Hwy 22 means 19 years in prison for Lebanon man The study found that the participants in the DUI deferred prosecution program had a lower recidivism rate than those who pleaded guilty or were convicted. After three years, 22.6 percent of those with deferred prosecution had reoffended, compared to nearly 30 percent of those convicted of DUI. But the study found those in diversion programs had a slightly higher recidivism rate than those who pleaded guilty or were convicted. Defendants enrolled in DUI diversion programs who fail to follow the rules typically face the penalties of a conviction, which can include incarceration, thousands of dollars in fines and a driver's license suspension of at least one year. Even after dismissal, diverted charges still remain in criminal and court records. According to the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles, roughly 25,000 people are arrested for DUI every year in Oregon and about 40 percent of all traffic deaths are a direct result of people driving under the influence of alcohol or some other intoxicating substance. Many of those arrested on DUI manslaughter charges have a history of reported drunk driving. A Gervais man accused of killing a mother and four young children while driving drunk north of Salem had a previous DUI conviction and was facing additional DUI charges at the time of his 2017 arrest. A Lebanon man recently sentenced for causing the death of his girlfriend and two co-workers while driving drunk on Highway 22 reportedly told friends he had routinely drunk alcohol while driving and bragged in the past about never getting caught. Support local journalism: Get the latest on Salem-area crime and criminal justice news. Become a Statesman Journal subscriber and get unlimited digital access to stories that matter. Alcohol treatment required As part of his diversion program, Rodriguez-Palacios was required to enter into an alcohol treatment program, attend a victim impact panel and abstain from alcohol for one year. He agreed to have an ignition interlock device installed on any vehicle he operated for the year. Rodriguez-Palacios was sentenced to two-years probation for the hit-and-run and reckless driving charges. His driver's license was suspended for 90 days. The reckless endangerment charges were dismissed in a civil compromise after Rodriguez-Palacios' three passengers expressed their desire not to prosecute. One year after his conviction, the DUI charge against Rodriguez-Palacios was dismissed. He was back in court on DUI charges less than three years later. "(He) got the benefit of the diversion, and the education that comes with it, and here we are: Back in 2019," prosecutor Nicole Theobald said during Rodriguez-Palacios' arraignment. This time, Rodriguez-Palacios is facing manslaughter charges. Admits drinking eight beers About 11:30 p.m. on June 2, police say Rodriguez-Palacios ran a red light and crashed into a car carrying Madison Capobianco, 19, Trinity Watt, 19, and Makayla Tryon, 18 — three friends out on a snack run. According to their obituaries, Capobianco both worked and attended college full-time with the hopes of being a police officer. Watt, a vet tech as Salem Friends of Felines, loved the outdoors, animals, kids and art. Tryon worked at a bakery-cafe and loved animals, bargain-hunting at thrift stores and reading. All three were former Salem-Keizer Public Schools students. Their celebration of life service was held on June 17. After the crash, Rodriguez-Palacios initially told police he'd only had two beers. But his passenger reported thinking Rodriguez-Palacios was driving in a reckless manner and said he felt "worried" and "nervous." Later at the police station, Rodriguez-Palacios expressed worry about the condition of his Jeep, his phone and the DUI charge. According to police, he didn't mention the people in the car he hit until someone told him three teens died. Rodriguez-Palacios continued to insist he'd only drunk two beers and said he tested his blood-alcohol content using his friend's interlock device. He claimed to have blown a 0.05 percent. After receiving a second blood-alcohol test, he admitted to drinking eight beers. Theobald asked that Rodriguez-Palacios be held without bail, a decision supported by the victims' families. Later, the state filed a notice citing his lack of remorse, the fact that prior sanctions had not deterred him from re-offending and his demonstrated disregard for laws. Theobald said his incarceration was necessary for public safety. "This is a defendant who clearly represents a great danger in the community," she said.
https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/crime/2019/07/02/salem-man-accused-triple-fatal-dui-manslaughter-history-drunk-driving/1341470001/
(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Charles Mainor and Raj Mukherji (both D-Hudson) to measure the effectiveness of the state’s probation and rehabilitation programs was released Thursday by the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee. The bill (A-2417) requires the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts to establish a program to record and analyze recidivism rates for adults sentenced to a period of probation. “When done right, probation can be a useful tool in rehabilitating and preventing further crime,” said Mainor. “This bill will help give us a better idea of how the program is working and whether it is meeting its intended purpose, which is to keep people out of trouble and out of jail.” “Probation, in lieu of incarceration, is a second chance to get it right,” said Mukherji. “Analyzing recidivism rates and related data will help determine what is or is not working so that we can ensure we are effectively helping ex-offenders reenter and ensure public safety is not compromised.” Under the bill, the program would record data regarding the types of crimes that result in a sentence of probation, the arrests for all offenses committed by probationers within three years following their sentence of probation and any convictions resulting from the arrests, crimes committed while on probation, the number of repeat offenders and the number of probationers concurrently serving a parole sentence. This data would be analyzed to determine whether the rates and nature of re-arrests and convictions differ according to the criminal histories and personal characteristics of probationers, the treatment they received while on probation, participation and involvement in rehabilitation initiatives and programs, and such other factors as may be relevant, including, but not limited to, race, gender, ethnicity, and age, but without referencing personally identifying information. The bill is modeled on a similar program established in 2009 to record and analyze recidivism rates for adult and juvenile inmates released from incarceration. The purpose of that program was to measure the effectiveness of the State’s reentry initiatives and programs.
https://www.assemblydems.com/mainor-mukherji-bill-to-test-effectiveness-of-states-probation-rehabilitation-programs-advanced-by-assembly-panel/
This study involved an examination of the relationship between mental health treatment provided by a county court to drug court graduates and recidivism rates upon 1- and 3-year follow-ups. Participants included 54 graduates of drug court probation who were primarily male (n = 41, 79.5%) with an average age of 37.8. Information on mental health treatment and new criminal and traffic charges was collected through the Court's electronic records and justice network. Results indicated there was no significant relationship between treatment and recidivism in the 1-year data. The 3-year data showed graduates who engaged in mental health treatment were more likely than their counterparts to have new traffic or criminal charges. Theorized explanations for this finding, study limitations, and future areas of research are explored. Recommended Citation Baxter Nehotte, Erica, "Mental Health Treatment and Recidivism Among Probationers who Successfully Completed a Drug Court Treatment Program" (2022). Dissertations. 648.
https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/648/
Collects detailed information on confinement facilities, detention centers, jails, and other facilities operated by tribal authorities or the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Information is gathered on inmate counts, movements, facility operations, and staff. In selected years (1998, 2004, 2007, and 2011), additional information was collected on facility programs and services, such as medical assessments and mental health screening procedures, inmate work assignments, counseling, and educational programs. State Court Processing Statistics (SCPS) Census of State Court Organization Court Statistics Project (CSP) Survey of Inmates in Federal Correctional Facilities (SIFCF) Justice Expenditure and Employment Extracts Series Survey of State Criminal History Information Systems NICS Act State Record Estimates Emergency Room Statistics on Intentional Violence Recidivism Survey of Felons on Probation The one-time survey provided national estimates of the recidivism rate of felons sentenced to probation in selected years. In the survey, samples of convicted felons placed on probation were tracked for three years, and data were compiled on the percentage of them who were are rearrested, reconvicted, or reimprisoned for new crimes within the three-year follow-up period. The various recidivism measures were based on official criminal history records maintained by each state. City-Level Survey of Crime Victimization and Citizen Attitudes National Prisoner Statistics (NPS) Program Produces annual national- and state-level data on the number of prisoners in state and federal prison facilities. Aggregate data are collected on race and sex of prison inmates, inmates held in private facilities and local jails, system capacity, noncitizens, and persons age 17 or younger. Findings are released in the Prisoners series and the Corrections Statistical Analysis Tool (CSAT) - Prisoners. National Survey of Prosecutors (NSP) Recidivism of State Prisoners BJS uses criminal history records to study the number and types of crimes committed by state prisoners both prior to and following their release. The first study tracked a sample of state prisoners released in 11 states in 1983, and the second study followed a sample of state prisoners released in 15 states in 1994. Both studies had a 3-year follow-up period. The latest study tracked a sample of prisoners released in 30 states in 2005 for 9 years after release.
https://bjs.ojp.gov/data/data-collections/search?field_data_collection_status_value=All&release_date_min=&release_date_max=&combine=&page=1
The State Justice Statistics (SJS) Program is designed to maintain and enhance each state's capacity to address criminal justice issues through collection and analysis of data. The SJS Program provides support to each state to coordinate and conduct statistical activities within the state, conduct research to estimate impacts of legislative and policy changes, and serve as a liaison in assisting BJS to gather data from respondent agencies within their states. The MN SAC, housed within the MN Department of Public Safety (MNDPS), will use SJS funds to support one core capacity project (Website Enhancement) and one special emphasis project (Recidivism Study). For the Website Enhancement project, the MN SAC, in collaboration with the Office of Communications (OOC) and MNs IT Services (MN.IT) will redesign the public-facing website by reorganizing the navigation, reorganizing and expanding content, and creating a web environment that makes it easier for users to find and access content through the purchase of the Tableau platform. Currently, the website is based on plain text-based hyperlinks with navigation bars and the new design will implement more graphical displays and text boxes that highlight content areas throughout the website. The enhancements will make publications and interactive data more accessible as well as build additional sources of information through expanding the variety of data offered in the Tableau dashboards. For the Recidivism Study project, the MN SAC will research and analyze long-term sex offender recidivism by using data from the MN Department of Corrections (MNDOC) and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) which maintains MNs criminal history records. The MNDOC will provide a dataset that includes all sex offenders released from MN state prisons from 1990 to 2003. The 14 year time span will allow MNSAC to capture an abundant sample of sex offenders to include in the analyses as well as involve a period of consistent administrative record keeping practices. Once the offender data is collected from MNDOC, inmate records will be sent to BCA to collect arrest and reconviction data for any matches. Recidivism will be measured in many ways, including arrests, convictions, admissions to prison for new offenses, and supervision violation. Survival analysis will be used since key dates are available which maximizes time-dependent data in determining if an offender recidivates and how soon recidivism occurs. Recidivism data will be tracked through the end of calendar year 2017.
https://bjs.ojp.gov/funding/awards/2018-86-cx-k011
House Speaker Robert DeLeo (left) met with Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants and Chief Justice of the Trial Court Paula M. Carey Tuesday. Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants on Tuesday proposed a data-driven strategy to reduce Massachusetts’ incarceration rates, saying in his annual State of the Judiciary speech that the state should offer more rehabilitation programs for inmates and better monitor them once they are released from prison to make sure they do not return to a life of crime. “I am confident we can find common ground with the Legislature and the governor on ways to be smarter on sentencing so that we can reduce both the rate of incarceration and the rate of recidivism,” Gants told lawyers and legislators at the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Bench-Bar Symposium at John Adams Courthouse in Boston. For the second time since he was named chief justice in July 2014, Gants used the annual address to issue a call for sentencing reform. In a wide-ranging speech, he proposed increasing the amount of good time inmates can earn in prison and promoted so-called step-down programs that help inmates adjust to life in society before their release. Last year, Gants called for an end to mandatory-minimum sentences that force judges’ hands, regardless of the evidence of the case or the defendant’s background. Such sentences have not been abolished in the state but have become a focal point in criminal justice reform efforts. “I am committed to follow the data and allow it to drive the analysis, letting the chips fall where they may,” he said. Already, Gants said, the data collected in the study have shown that 46 percent of those released from state prisons in 2012 received no parole or probation supervision — one of the highest such rates in the nation — leaving the inmates with little resources once they reenter their communities. Of those released on some type of supervision, more are on probation rather than on parole, meaning they are subject to less strict supervision. Gants called for more leeway to allow judges to sentence convicts to some type of post-release supervision. “The goal is to ensure that each judge who imposes a sentence has the information needed about the defendant and the crime to determine an appropriate sentence and, where probation is imposed, to determine which conditions will best address the particular needs of the defendant,” Gants said. He said legislators should look at other ways to help defendants before their release. Robert W. Harnais, Massachusetts Bar Association president, praised Gants for “bringing vision back to the bench.” For instance, he praised Gants’s proposal to eliminate fees defendants have to pay the courts. “We’re spending dollars to collect nickels when it comes to fines,” Harnais said. He also embraced Gants’s proposals for sentencing reforms. Milton J. Valencia can be reached at mvalencia@globe.com.Follow him on Twitter @MiltonValencia.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/10/20/sjc-chief-justice-again-calls-for-sentencing-reform-raises-issue-court-fees-imposed-defendants/7OBCBYm9DElztaKpmnT7EP/story.html?s_campaign=8315
- Criminal history and age are important predictors of recidivism timing and desistance. - Younger men and those with “more involved” criminal histories were more likely to fail on parole quickly and less likely to desist. - Marriage delayed recidivism, and married men who were not drug-dependent were more likely to desist, while drug-dependent men failed on parole more quickly. - Men who are released from prison and transferred to transitional housing or placed on intensive parole fail on parole more quickly and are less likely to desist. - While differences remain across offender groups, the largest risk for recidivism comes in the immediate months of release. Description In the article, “Examining the Sources of Variation in Risk for Recidivism,” Huebner seeks to explain the diversity of recidivism patterns among reentering offenders by examining the data of 3,786 men released from prison from a single state in 1998 and follow-up data collected through May 2006. Huebner analyzes whether the influence of individual characteristics, criminal history, and community factors vary with patterns of recidivism. Huebner finds that men who failed within the first six months of release were younger, likely to be under intensive supervision probation, have had extensive criminal history records, and often a history of institutional misconduct records.
https://crimeandjusticeresearchalliance.org/rsrch/recidivism-patterns-among-reentering-offenders/
Statistics - Statistics - State The 50-State Report on Public Safety is a web-based resource that combines data analyses with practical examples to help policymakers craft impactful strategies to address their state’s specific public safety challenges. The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center analyzed millions of data points, and with support from the Association of State Correctional Administrators, interviewed corrections staff in all 50 states to collect new data on each state’s research capacity and supervision practices for use in this first-of-its-kind resource. This report is part of a series of annual comparative data reports presented to the Fiscal Affairs and Government Operations Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC). The information contained in this report is organized into ten sections, namely: Inmate Population Trends and Incarceration Rates; Prison and Jail Capacities, Budgetary Issues; Staffing Patterns and Select Inmate Characteristics; Projected Costs of New Prisons; Probation and Parole; Rehabilitation; Prison Industries; Privatization; and State Profiles. Each section of the report includes a summary of key findings, statistical tables and figures based on survey research involving each member state in the SLC. The fifteen states that make up the SLC are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. This study examined the proliferation of homelessness among those in the criminal justice system by administering questionnaires to a sample of inmates in the following seven jails: Arapahoe, Denver (city and county jails), El Paso, Larimer, Mesa, and Pueblo. Questionnaires were administered to 507 jail inmates who agreed to participate in the study, representing a response rate of 83.4%. Among those surveyed, 297 of 488 who answered the question identified as homeless (60.8%), however, the study design intentionally over sampled homeless respondents. Homelessness was defined as, in the past 30 days, living on the street, outdoors, in an abandoned building, shelter, living free with family/friends, or living in a motel. Data were collected between June 12, 2017 and October 22, 2017 at the seven jail facilities. "The Colorado Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), pursuant to 24 33.5-503(m), C.R.S., is mandated to prepare correctional population projections for the Legislative Council and the General Assembly. Per statute, DCJ has prepared projections of these populations since the mid-1980s. This report presents forecasts for the Colorado adult prison and parole populations and for the Colorado juvenile commitment, detention and parole populations based on population trends as of December, 2016. The adult prison and parole forecasts estimate the size of these populations across the upcoming seven years. Also included are estimates regarding average length of stay for future populations, which are used to calculate cost savings resulting from proposed legislation and policy changes. The juvenile commitment, detention and parole forecasts estimate the average daily populations over the upcoming five years." "A vital tool for policymakers across the region, Comparative Data Reports (CDRs) offer a snapshot of conditions on a number of issues. Published annually, the CDRs track a multitude of revenue sources, appropriations levels, and performance measures in Southern states, and provide a useful tool to state government officials and staff. CDRs are available for adult correctional systems, comparative revenues and revenue forecasts, education, Medicaid, and transportation." Corrections is worth one-half of the weight in ranking the Best States for crime & corrections. This subcategory is further broken into five metrics: incarceration rate, juvenile incarceration, racial equality in jailing, three-year recidivism rate and sexual violence in prisons. Corrections, including prisons, parole, juvenile and other programs, cost billions of dollars a year, with state and local spending increasing at triple the rate of public elementary and secondary education funding. The efficiency of a state’s corrections system shows how a state handles crime and public safety. The two Best States for corrections are New Hampshire and Maine, which both also rank in the top three for safety. New Hampshire also ranks in the top 10 overall, as do Massachusetts and Utah, the fourth and fifth Best States for corrections, respectively. Four of the top 5 Best States for corrections are in New England or the Far West, and Pennsylvania and South Dakota are the worst states for corrections. After bipartisan law passed in 2015, state’s prison population dropped 9% From 2004 to 2013, Utah’s prison population rose by 19 percent, five times the national average. Without changes to policies and practices, the state projected additional growth of 37 percent at a cost to taxpayers of $500 million over 20 years. Seeking to safely reverse this trend, lawmakers passed comprehensive criminal justice reform in 2015. The law prioritized prison space for people convicted of serious and violent offenses, strengthened community supervision, improved and expanded re-entry and treatment services, and provided oversight of the legislation’s implementation. Since then, the state has reinvested over $35 million in evidence based treatment and other alternatives to incarceration, and its prison population has declined. The state’s overall crime rate decreased 13 percent in the decade before the legislation was passed (2006-15) and continued to fall in the first year after reform (2016), dropping another 1 percent. Florida policy makers should be able to answer how well fundamental characteristics of Florida’s prison system — high incarceration rates, poor public safety returns, and enormous public expenditures — meet rigorous standards for both safety and cost-efficiency. Do the current investments, practices, and policy strategies employed by our state’s criminal justice and correctional systems result in the returns Floridians expect and deserve? It is possible to reengineer the prison system. A smaller system that judiciously reserved incarceration only for the purpose of incapacitating dangerous individuals would face far fewer challenges and accomplish better results. Achieving a better system will require sustained, purposeful, and systemic reform. As this report shows, previous adjustments in attempts to reduce the impacts of Florida’s criminal justice system were either too limited or too fleeting to overcome the forces of inefficiency that led to growth of our prisons. Given early discussions by the Florida Legislature, coupled with heightened attention to the continuing problems faced by the prison system, we are hopeful that the 2018 Legislative Session will be a notable line in Florida’s history — a place where we depart from historical inertia and growth and instead turn to rightsizing our state’s prison system. Florida can join our neighboring states — every single state that surrounds us and many more — and take deliberate steps toward more rational criminal justice policies and practices. We urge Florida leaders to begin to unravel the policies and practices that grow the prison population without making us safer. First and foremost, we urge Florida’s decision makers to embrace potential changes with more transparency and full accountability. This can be done with rigorous, relevant, and sustained oversight and data collection and evaluation. "The Research and Evaluation Center conducts applied research and evaluation projects that examine critical criminal and juvenile justice topics and criminal justice program implementation and outcomes in Illinois. Staff collect data through multiple research methods, conduct advanced statistical analyses, and summarize findings in publications that aim to inform policy and practice. The center also conducts presentations and offers technical assistance to help state and local programs and initiatives use data to inform and improve their work." "Justice reinvestment is a data-driven approach to criminal justice reform designed to examine and address correctional cost and population drivers to generate cost savings that can be reinvested in high-performing public safety strategies. The Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) state data tracker provides information on system-level indicators such as prison, probation, and parole populations and overall state savings and reinvestment. Although these indicators track trends on key JRI objectives, accurate interpretation requires careful consideration of contextual factors, as changes in these measures are affected by a wide range of policies and practices that extend beyond the reforms passed during JRI engagement."
https://nicic.gov/assign-library-item-package-accordion/statistics-statistics-state
Criminal justice reform bills are first to pass in 2017 LANSING — Criminal justice reform was a legislative priority left hanging in the 2016 lame duck session of the Michigan Legislature. But on Thursday, a 21-bill package became the first proposals to get action in the Senate, with nearly all of the bills receiving unanimous support. “A problem that has plagued the state for many years has been the rate of crime and the number of victims who have been impacted,” said Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph, the primary sponsor of the legislation. “We spend literally billions of dollars in criminal justice from the time we see folks when they enter the system as juveniles, all the way through end of life issues. The challenges of those costs are so significant that any time that we effect change, we have the opportunity for significant benefit.” About 42,000 people are incarcerated in state prisons and an additional 64,000 are under parole or probation supervision. The Michigan Department of Corrections budget is the largest single expenditure in the state’s general fund budget at nearly $2 billion. The annual cost to house an inmate in the state's prison system is $34,000. The goal of the package is to reduce recidivism, costs to the state, the number of people in state prisons and ultimately reduce crime in the state. Proos projected that the programs could result in the closure of one or two more prisons in this budget cycle. Each prison costs the state roughly $20 million to run each year. The bills would: - Provide for a 30-day maximum incarceration for technical probation violations unless there are multiple violations by a defendant. - Establish a set of established sanctions to supervise offenders on parole and provide funding for courts to implement “Swift and Sure Probation,” which offers early intervention for defendants. - Allow courts to reduce a defendant’s probation by 100% if certain conditions are met. - Require the Department of Corrections to adopt an incentive program that would provide funding for probation and parole field operations if a 10% reduction of parole and probation revocations occurs. - Create data bases on recidivism rates and provide quarterly reports to the Legislature. - Establish procedures to review gubernatorial requests for a reprieve, commutation or pardon for a prisoner based on medical conditions. - Require the state Talent and Economic Development department to create a program that provides grants to companies who hire people on probation or parole. - Require the Department of Corrections to allow representatives of various organizations into prisons to provide reentry services to inmates. - Require the DOC to ensure that prisoners who are 18-22 years old are housed only with prisoners of the same age range. - Prohibit the state Department of Health and Human Services from granting cash or food assistances to parole absconders. Nearly all of the bills -- SB 5-24 and 50 -- passed with unanimous support in the Senate and now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. Speaker of the House Tom Leonard, R-DeWitt, has said the package will be a top priority for House members.
https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2017/02/02/criminal-justice-reform-bills-first-pass-2017/97399550/
More than a quarter of the 600,000 Americans who are reincarcerated each year are sent back to prison because they have committed “technical violations” of their terms of probation or parole—not because they have committed new crimes. The high percentage of such violations, for behaviors like staying out past curfew or missing an appointment with a parole officer, raises uncomfortable questions about the goals and purposes of the country’s system of community supervision, say researchers at Florida State University (FSU). In the sixth of a series of quarterly studies examining “re-arrests” in seven states, researchers at the Institute for Justice, Research and Development at FSU’s College of Social Work argued that the nation’s high rates of recidivism bear little relation to the prevalence of criminal behavior among inmates released from prison. “Our data suggests that people may be returning to incarceration for reasons community members may not find acceptable,” said the study authors, noting that reincarceration triggers “cascading consequences” that have a negative impact on the lives of individuals who might otherwise be on a path towards reintegrating into civil society. “These consequences affect individuals who lose employment, housing, transportation, material goods, money, time, and momentum.” The impact is equally traumatic on children whose parents are returned to prison “and must endure another cycle of loss and separation,” the FSU report said. “How can we develop children’s well-being and help families heal when they feel this cycle may take years to end?” According to figures cited by the report, 45 percent of the more than 600,000 annual admissions to state prison are due to parole or probation revocations. And nearly half of those admissions—approximately 26 percent—are due to technical violations, including unpaid fines and fees. The report adds to the body of research powering a growing movement to re-think the structure of the nation’s community supervision system, which currently controls 4.5 million Americans—more than twice the number of individuals incarcerated in prisons and jails. In response to what many experts have called “revolving-door justice,” members of the criminal justice community, as well as politicians, advocacy groups and celebrities, are calling for a radically different approach to probation and parole. They are proposing an overhaul that would abandon the unnecessarily punitive aspects of the system and, instead, embrace a far more rehabilitative methodology and ethos. “If we really want people who have run afoul of the law to make it, we need a watershed rethinking of community supervision,” said Vincent Schiraldi, a former New York City Probation Commissioner who is now co-director of the Columbia Justice Lab, told The Crime Report in an interview last year. Speaking at a conference at John Jay College last month, former New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey, said it was time to reform a “flawed” probation and parole system that works well for only a small percentage of individuals leaving prison. Back Behind Bars for a Curfew Violation Noting that the search for accurate data about the reasons for re-arrest is complicated by widely varying policies across states and even counties, the researchers focused on interviews with 35 individuals who were returned to prison for non-technical and non-drug-related violations of their terms of release—and apparently posed no threat to public safety. Underlining critics’ arguments, the FSU researchers provided poignant examples from their interviews with participants: - - - “I was sitting in a car with my girlfriend outside my own apartment. My probation officer showed up and said it was a curfew violation.” - “I failed to register my vehicle change with the sheriff’s office.” - “I failed to register my new phone number.” - Among the most blatant examples were individuals whose parole or probation was revoked because they came “in contact with the police” for inadvertent, non-criminal behavior. One individual recounted that he told his parole officer he would be returning later than usual from his job because he had to drive his inebriated boss home. They were pulled over by police because he was driving with only running lights. “When the officer ran my license, he saw I was on parole and arrested me for breaking curfew and coming into contact with police,” the individual recounted. Another was re-arrested because, with his household budget already straining to support his children, he was overdue in payments for his supervision fees. Such stories explain why the recidivism statistics gathered by authorities paint a misleading picture, the FSU study said. “Many of the behaviors described in this report—like being in a bar—are acceptable for those not under community supervision,” the researchers wrote. “What makes this [being in a bar] worthy of re-arrest if their original offense is unrelated to substance abuse, and…[the individual] has no history of substance abuse? “Consider the participant who was unable to pay child support and subsequently spent spent six months in jail. How did incarceration help that participant be able to make child support payments? “How does incarceration help individuals to be accountable when they are managing family emergencies like the death of a parent, or the serious injury of a loved one?” Even if charges for the ambiguous violation of “coming into contact with the police” are eventually dropped, the researchers argued it was hard to see how bringing “violators” back to court or re-sentencing them even for a short stay behind bars would help them “to live positively as they move forward.” The FSU report stopped short of endorsing the more radical proposals emerging among some leaders of the community supervision community to abolish the present system and start again. But the researchers said they hoped their reports would “spark dialogue about the contributors to exceedingly high rates of recidivism, and discussion about what behaviors should warrant a re-arrest.” The authors of the report were Carrie Pettus-Davis, Ph.D., associate professor and founding director of FSU’s Institute for Justice Research and Development (IJRD); and Stephanie Kennedy, Ph.D., director of research dissemination at IJRD. Their latest report, as well as earlier studies in the series, “Going Back to Jail Without Committing a Crime,” can be downloaded here. This summary was prepared by Stephen Handelman, editor of The Crime Report.
https://thecrimereport.org/2020/03/05/the-hidden-driver-of-recidivism-technical-violations-of-probation-or-parole/
Release from prison during an economic upswing may reduce the chance an offender returns to jail, a new study finds. The issue: Over 10,000 prisoners are released from jail every week in the United States, according to the Department of Justice. Two-thirds are rearrested within three years. Academics have looked at numerous factors that may explain this recidivism rate. A new paper focuses on the role employment can play in helping former convicts adjust to life outside prison. An academic study worth reading: “Local Labor Markets and Criminal Recidivism,” published by the Journal of Public Economics in December, 2016. Study summary: Crystal Yang of Harvard Law School asks how the availability of jobs in the county where an offender was convicted – which is where 90 percent of inmates settle upon release – affects recidivism. She looks at government data on 4 million prisoners released nationwide between 2000 and 2013, a period of both rapid economic growth as well as decline. She compares this with employment and earnings data from the Census Bureau, specifically on the wages of low-skilled men, who are the primary ex-prisoner population. Noting that the are many reasons former offenders struggle to find jobs – beyond conditions in the local economy or the prejudices of potential employers – Yang adds: “The vast majority of ex-offenders have low human capital, limited job experience, and suffer from mental and substance-abuse issues, potentially impeding their ability to obtain employment regardless of criminal history.” To narrow the data, Yang looks only at an offender’s first release from jail and at recidivism within three years of release (the recidivism rate falls dramatically after a few years). Key takeaways: - During a typical economic expansion, wages for low-skilled jobs grow 4 to 5 percent. At the same time, recidivism falls by 2.3 to 4 percent. - A growth in low-skilled wages by 1 percent is associated with a 0.43 to 0.46 percent decline in the risk of returning to prison. - Males and younger offenders are more likely than women and older offenders to return to prison; black offenders are more likely to return than white or Hispanic offenders. Those with higher education levels are less likely to return to prison. - Black offenders are more likely than white offenders to respond positively to an increase in wages. - Prisoners convicted of theft are more likely to return to prison than those convicted of violent crimes or drug-related offenses. - Prisoners who are freed by a mandatory parole are more likely to return to prison than those who are released at the recommendation of a parole board. - Recidivism among prisoners released during the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009 increased by 5.5 to 9.6 percent. Some states like California released inmates during the recession to reduce overcrowding. But because of the tough job market at the time, the move “may have impeded the ability of ex-offenders to find employment, potentially increasing future recidivism and endangering public safety.” The association is especially apparent because wages in two industries that hire a number of former inmates – construction and manufacturing – fell at the time. - Yang calculates that 55,000 inmates released during the Great Recession were at risk of returning to prison within three years. With an average prison stay of over a year, “these offenders may entail over $1.6 billion in costs, in addition to decreases to public safety.” Helpful research and resources: - This 2016 paper in The Economic Journal finds that growth in construction and manufacturing jobs is associated with lower recidivism in California. - This 2014 study from the Bureau of Justice Statistics looks at recidivism patterns between 2005 and 2010. - Released in 2008, this longitudinal study looks at what former prisoners do upon release. It found 59 percent of former offenders did not have a legitimate job eight months after release. - The National Corrections Reporting Program at the Bureau of Justice Statistics is probably the most comprehensive survey of America’s prison population. - Ban the Box is a civil rights campaign to persuade employers not to ask applicants if they have a criminal record. - In 2012 the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, working under the powers of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, issued new guidance on how criminal records can be used in the hiring process. We welcome feedback. Please contact us here.
https://journalistsresource.org/studies/government/criminal-justice/economy-prison-recidivism-jobs-worker/
Policy discussions around the need for criminal justice reform like those happening in our state right now often feature the term “recidivism.” While the concept is central to this topic, it’s a somewhat wonky term that may be useful to unpack. So what is recidivism? And what can be done to reduce it in Kentucky? What is recidivism? Recidivism is the share of inmates released from prison who are reincarcerated within a particular period of time — for instance two or three years after leaving — either for committing a new crime or for violating a condition of parole such as failing to report to a parole officer or engaging in substance abuse while on parole. The recidivism rate in our state has been rising steadily. According to the most recent data available, 40.7 percent of inmates released in 2013 were reincarcerated within 2 years, and 43.3 percent of inmates released in 2012 were recincarcerated within three years. Source: Kentucky Department of Corrections. What can be done to reduce recidivism? Kentucky’s high recidivism rates contribute to its growing inmate population. Although the state has made some important steps toward reducing inmates’ likelihood of returning to prison there is more that can be done. 2011’s HB 463 – or the Public Safety and Offender Accountability Act — included some important provisions such as requiring the state’s criminal justice system to implement treatment and intervention programs as well as supervision policies and procedures shown to help reduce recidivism. In addition, the passage of felony expungement legislation during the 2016 General Assembly provided some Kentuckians who were previously convicted of a nonviolent felony offense with a better chance of getting a job, decreasing their likelihood of recidivism as a felony conviction can be a significant barrier to employment. There are many policies and actions that can help reduce recidivism. Here are a handful of ideas, some of which are being discussed at meetings of the state’s recently formed Criminal Justice Policy Assessment Council (CJPAC): Improving job options: A key way to keep former inmates from returning to prison is to improve their chances of getting a good job that will enable them to support themselves and their families. Increasing educational attainment is often an important step toward greater employability and is associated with a decreased likelihood of recidivating. While access to adult education in prison is now better than what was described in our previous report, there are challenges with a new, more rigorous GED exam. There are certain aspects of GED credential attainment that are now especially difficult for those who are incarcerated — for instance, having to do with the computer-based aspect of the test. In addition, state budget cuts to adult education also can make it hard for the state to increase or even maintain access to adult education outside of prison, including for those who were formerly incarcerated. Access to postsecondary education for inmates and those in the reentry process also continues to be limited due to declining college affordability in our state. Greater investments in these areas could help to reduce recidivism. Job training is another way to promote employment during reentry. As discussed in the July CJPAC meeting, Kentucky’s Labor Cabinet is relaunching an apprenticeship program in the state’s prisons. Ensuring that those released on probation don’t return for minor technical violations: HB 463 included graduated sanctions for those who commit technical, non-violent violations of parole — rather than automatically reincarcerating a parolee for a minor violation. However, these graduated sanctions are frequently not being followed, and too many people are being sent back to prison for relatively minor infractions. The state could require courts to first consider graduated sanctions when considering revoking parole and to have clear and convincing evidence for revocation. Reforming some sentencing policies: As emphasized in a presentation at the first CJPAC meeting in June, time in prison can actually result in an increased likelihood to commit crimes when released. There is evidence that imprisonment does not reduce the likelihood of reoffending more than other alternative sanctions, is likely “crime generating,” and low-risk offenders are most likely to experience the increase in recidivism associated with the negative impact of incarceration. Some common sense sentencing reforms are described here. Increasing access to felony expungement: The passage of felony expungement legislation this year is an important policy change in Kentucky that can help those who commit crimes to get their lives back on track. At the same time, there are a few revisions to the law that could greatly increase the number of Kentuckians who are able to apply. Currently the fee required to complete the felony expungement process is $500, which is higher than all but one other state’s; reducing the fee would make expungement possible for more Kentuckians. In addition, the list of eligible felonies could be expanded to include several common charges — including bail jumping, fraudulent use of a credit card and low level drug trafficking charges. Making a felony eligible for expungement does not mean expungement would necessarily be granted as a court ultimately reviews each case and determines if expungement is appropriate or whether the felon’s record should stand.
https://kypolicy.org/recidivism-can-done-reduce/