Warm Bodies: A look at the state of Connection and Narcissism as

reflected in art

Dr. Emily Fox-Kales

Dr. William Sharp

@DrwilliamSharp#WarnBodies

Warm Bodies: Zombies

• Undead- The Living Dead• Limited real talking/communication between

themselves • Generally operating on lowest common

denominator- reptilian brain• Some remnants of humanness- clothing, etc. • Experience hunger

• “lack” = collector/hoarder• “musical tastes”= ???

• Live in the airport

Warm Bodies: Bonies

• Anger- “they’ll eat anything with a heartbeat, but at least I am conflicted about it.”

• Hopeless- given up, “this is what I have to look forward to”; “we all become them someday”

• Naked- nothing but raw exposed bone

Warm Bodies: Humans

• Alive- but what kind of life? “My fathers idea of living is putting us in a box and waiting for us to die.”

• Brave? – is adherence to a rule brave? It gets Perry killed. (Julie – yes, as the exception)

• Projection- uncaring, unfeeling, incapable of remorse, “sound like anyone we know dad?”

Why Zombies

An interest in Zombies tends to spike when the economy sputters- Sarah Juliet Lauro, Clemson University, NYT 7/31/13,

“At zombie races, It is survival of the undeadest”, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/01/fashion/at-zombie-races-its-survival-of-the-undeadest.html

Talking about how the discharge of running decreases tension of something that you can’t quite put your finger on.

Song #1- Sitting here in limbo- Jimmy CliffSong #3- Missing You- John Waite

Why Zombies?

Why Zombies (cont)

But what if the lack is the result of technology?

The scene before the first attack, there is a PSP working.

What is the lack?

A patient recently told me about a new game…

Love your body, friends, and life

Online with an avatar.

“Now, pleased with your looks, you have the potential, as Second Life puts it, to live a life that will enable

you to love your life.” p158

Maslow’s Pyramid V Self Esteem

Love and Belonging come BEFORE Self-Esteem, not after it.

What if….

Technology is Neutral

There is nothing bad nor good- rather how we use it- some may connect- others disconnect and remain free from the risk of narcissistic injury.

A way to not grow into the difficult “adult” or mature state of mind with all the shades of grey it requires.

How do we risk our heart beating again?

“Cinema reflects mankinds historical drive to manifest his consciousness outside of his mind, in front of his eyes”

-George Youngblood

Song #8 – Hungry Heart, Bruce SpringsteenSogn #9 – Shelter from the Storm, Bob Dylan

Yalom – Love’s Executioner

”…therapist must discourage false solutions. One's efforts to escape isolation can sabotage one's

relationships with other people. Many a friendship or marriage has failed because, instead of relating to, and caring for, one

another, one person uses another as a shield against isolation. p11

The Fear in Connection

Narcissistic Injury

Song #4- The Bad in Each Other- Feist

“Be Dead”R is a collector/hoarder- Very Klienian to incorporate, as Zombies do.

Playing a Vinyl record, “You’re a purist”, “Just sounds more real- more alive. “

Images of connection are mostly nostalgia: the snow globe, old-time 3D Stereo-viewer, and they take photos with a Polaroid (not digital)

Re: Perry– Lots of bad things happened to him, he was dead before R killed him, she “already kinda knew” R had killed him.

Perry’s death becomes revolting to R and he spits out the brains. But, he will kill for Julie, even hits Marcus.

Hand holding at the airport gets them through.

The Dead do not sleep [dream, bleed, get cold.]

Is there hope?

EXHUME

Stay Together. Keep safe.

Stay together. We are changing everything.

The Power of Connection