Does this Zombie Costume Cross the Line?
Toronto is obsessed with zombies. There's no denying that. But while perusing the blogTO Flickr pool (which has lots of great photos, like the one above, from this week's 2009 Toronto Zombie Walk), I came across a particularly graphic one...
A zombie doctor and zombie patient, complete with a bloody baby being dragged on the ground... hanging by its umbilical cord.
It got me wondering if this zombie costume concept crosses the line or not. I know "the line" is highly subjective. What's your take?
WARNING: The following photo may or may not be safe for work (depends on your circumstances). Although it's merely an elaborate costume, it is very graphic and may be disturbing to some viewers.
Are there no boundaries when we portray the undead?
Comments (97)
You're welcome. :D http://twitter.com/DjDATZ/status/5232985409
I don't think it does. It's pretty ingenious if you ask me... LOL
For the record, I didn't see your Tweet. Photo is in our pool. Next time, please shoot us a Twitter DM or drop us a news tip & we'll get it up quicker & give you a nod for the find! :)
My bad! I thought you saw my tweet. :D Will do next time. Feel free to edit that chunk out if you want.
IMHO there is no such this as a too offensive zombie costume. The only thing that would have made this better was if it was a mangled aborted fetus.
Zombies are people too. They should have the right to choose whether or not they want to abort their babies or eat them.
Actually, at some point during the parade (intentionally or not) there was also a zombie walking a dog right behind the above pair... and the dog was trying to bite the 'baby'... Tasteless? Maybe, but I know I laughed.
This isn't offensive to me. It *might* have been offensive if the zombie mother had been holding the baby (still attached to the umbilical cord) sucking on a straw trepanned in the baby's skull.
On the other hand, maybe not and I'd think it was COOL!
Perhaps "offend" isn't the right word, that since that I think that implies causing feelings of displeasure, anger, resentment, etc. If you ask me if it "distresses" me, I can say without any doubt - yes.
It's alright in my books I suppose. What I do think is crossing the line are zombies who ended up walking into a funeral home during a funeral service at last years zombie walk.
They were trying to get a refund!
On the other hand, I've always found it kind of unfortunate/amusing that the Funeral Home itself is across the street from Toronto Western. Also wondered if they have an underground tunnel from the morgue...
No. But I saw a teenager on the streetcar the other night in a "zombie" costume that made him look like a retarded guy in black face.
He crossed the line without even knowing it.
You're out in public and children can see you?
Yeah it crosses the line.
Zombie doctor and patient are assholes.
Was that particular costume so necessary to have a good time?
I think it's tasteless, but some people are just that.
In a private situation, whatever and to each their own. But out and about around the city in daylight? The owner of the costume should have thought twice about it.
I just don't understand the costume, frankly. Was the woman delivering the baby at the precise moment she turned? Seems dumb.
While I sympathize with the bad-taste-in-public comment and personally don't find the fetus thing amusing, I believe more strongly in freedom of expression. If you are concerned about what your kids might see, I think it would be good advice to keep them away from zombie walks, period. Who wants their kids watching that kind of grossness?
This photo is why I love Toronto....
This post is why I do not. It shouldn't really be necessary to debate our freedoms.
Having said that, it is interesting to generate a discussion around it :)
Hooray for highlighting offensive humour!
One of the biggest weaknesses of the modern North American society is the ridiculous out-of-proportion fear of offending somebody. Anybody. By anything. That's why I really appreciate it when someone dares to cross "the lines" that some overly sensitive types have connected to form a tiny polygon (in case of Zombie walks probably a pentagramm) within which we're supposed to be constrained. Take one step away from any ultra-PC stance on any notion and you're bound to be "crossing lines". George Orwell, anyone?..
If the baby had a coat hanger sticking out of it, that might be crossing the line. Is making a comment like that crossing the line?
Next year they should definitely use a battery operated doll that can walk. Undead, and all that.
refuckinglax it's a costume I think people can wear what ever they want whether someone complains about it or not. It's all in fun I'm sure the person wearing it wanted to be controversial not offensive.
I don't do zombie because I don't feel "dead people" are funny, but I'm not so concerned if what others do crosses the line or not ... they are pretty harmless.
I don't really see why this would be any more offensive, or rather, distressing (I completely aggree with this distinction, Nancy), than any of the other zombie costumes. If you think that the baby is a person, then it's just as dead/undead as everyone else, and therefore just as offensive/distressing. If it isn't, then it's just a thing, an innanimate object, and therefore no more offensive than tying a frisbee or a typewriter to your crotch. But I agree that I don't really get it- are they both zombies? Did she die during childbirth? Is the fetus stillborn? What's the sequence of events here? Is this just totally over-thinking it?
I think you're crossing the line by making a big deal over this zombie COSTUME! Stop being a shit disturber and trying to get people all in a frenzy over something that is not at all to be taken seriously.
Blog.to needs a "report spam" function for the comments (see two links above).
Overall, I guess it depends on who "sees" it if it is offensive or not. Not offensive to me but maybe it has a different impact if seen in person.
Zombies are over the top monsters so I can rationalize that they're cartoonish and relatively harmless.
A zombie with a dead baby dragging on the ground hanging on by umbilical cord isn't okay for children or pregnant women or women who have recently lost a baby to be exposed to. I don't think it's reasonable for people to expect a woman(or her partner) to lighten up and see the joke if they've recently gone through this kind of personal tragedy.
I think common sense and human decency is a bit more important than a cool costume. There are countless other things you could do with a zombie outfit - siamese twins, a detached head or limbs, carrying around someone else's torso, zombie dog. zombie parakeet on your shoulder, small platoon of zombie squirrels in a wagon, etc etc.
If it was a private event in a bar, then I could forgive it. But it's out in public, so it's offensive.
I was the zombie doctor on call that day. I was delivering this woman's baby and just as the baby was coming out she "turned" and attacked me. After all I did for her, she bit me! I though we had a bond but I was wrong. So, question! Would that make the baby a zombie? Reply with your answer.
It's a themed costume with a little thought put into it. Sorry if we offended you. Overall, people laughed about it and that was its intention. See you next year people. We'll be the ones with the over the top themed costume. LOL
If you love zombies, Halloween and everything about it add me to FaceBook. jason dasti
Jason, thank you for posting your side of the story behind your excellent zombie costume! I think people are getting in a tizzy over nothing and need to remember that this is all done in fun and need to lighten up!
You wrote:
"A zombie with a dead baby dragging on the ground hanging on by umbilical cord isn't okay for children or pregnant women or women who have recently lost a baby to be exposed to. I don't think it's reasonable for people to expect a woman(or her partner) to lighten up and see the joke if they've recently gone through this kind of personal tragedy."
How about those who have lost loved ones recently, because they were dismembered in a freak/car accident. Shouldn't they be offended by a "living dead" walk in general?
Point is, the idea & presentation of zombies is meant for fun and as a parodical social commentary on groupthink, mob mentalities, and a society that discourages independent thought. If the dead baby attached to its' dead mothers birth canal via umbilical cord shocks you, maybe you should ask yourself why, and possibly learn something about yourself.
Also, for all the Maude Flanders' out there ("Oh won't SOMEONE please think of the CHILDREN!"), we shouldn't have to shelter kids in public from thinks we may find unsettling. It's not a perfect world and if children ask questions about these questionable displays they see in public, this is a good thing; it encourages discussion between parent and child, and hopefull the child can learn some critical think at a young age.
@Jason: It was a good costume!
Speaking as someone who was once a baby and potentially could be a zombie in years to come...i find it to be downright awesome!
Being P.C. is as dead as...well a zombie.
Now if you dressed as a 13 yr old hockey player that was dead...that might be a tad too soon.
Alex Siddiqi on October 29, 2009 at 10:32 AM , replying to a comment from brains
Also, do you really have to patronize women so much? Geez, it's nauseating.
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Hey dumbass I said women or their partners.
Why don't you go parade the costume through Sick Kids and laugh yourself silly.
I think this costume was amusing. Lighten up, it was just for fun. I went to the Zombie Walk and I had a great time. There were a lot of costumes that were just as bad as this, but no one took offence to them. I don't now if anyone remembers, but there was a woman with a fetus hand sticking out of her belly. It's all for fun...and sorry if I'm a horrible person for laughing at these interesting costumes.
So you are patronizing women AND their partners...who could also be women?
"Women" constitutes a very broad section of society.
And no, I won't take your suggestion of wearing that costume through Sick Kids. What's wrong with you? No one would do that - @Jason: would you do something like this?
No! The costume belongs at the Toronto Zombie Walk. Why would someone suggest to wear this costume at sick kids. What's wrong with that person.
Alex Siddiqi on October 29, 2009 at 11:58 AM , replying to a comment from brains
So you are patronizing women AND their partners...who could also be women?
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Nope. Just talking from personal experience, you asshole.
Perhaps you've been made dizzy by all the retarded comments over this complete non-issue, but I refuse to explain my joke if you didn't get it. You, ma'am, should lighten up on your kneejerk reactions :P
Sorry about that, I forgot that I clicked on your name earlier to reply. Yes, I did get your joke, and I forgot to give you a high five for it. =P
The first time Madonna was pregnant someone did the same thing on Halloween. They were dressed as Madonna carrying a baby on the umbilical cord.
I'd say that's much worse than Zombies.
This is truly one of the most entertaining postings ever to appear on BlogTO. The responses are both ingenious and hilarious.
If you cant get a laugh out of zombie babies, what can you get a laught out of?
H1N1? Ya i guess thats a killer joke too.
I suggest you watch your language - there could be children or women with children reading these blog posts. If this was a private page, then it would be okay, but this is public domain. So it's offensive.
Wah, wah, wah. Seriously? You don't think the image in question would be more damaging to the "child" than the use of the word "asshole"?
Just an FYI, way easier to find questionable content on the interwwwebz than to read through the comments of a zombie picture. You know, just in case you haven't noticed.
When a woman dies either during childbirth or just before labor (esp. very, very, as in overdue, pregnant), the fetus can be expelled as the muscles contract in rigor mortis. This usually only happens if the woman is unattended during birth, otherwise medical personnel will attempt to deliver the baby and save it's life. Otherwise, when mom dies, baby dies, and sometimes a corpse mom births a corpse baby. So it could happen. But the doctor must have been real crap.
And if it offends you - look away. We all have the freedom to do that too. If you don't look away and forget about it, you're probably just too repressed to admit that you find it as awesome as everyone else. Just sayin'.
People! I'm being sarcastic - follow the flirtation between myself and the ironically-named "brains" and you will understand what I wrote.
As a mother to two live children and one who did not survive the pregnancy...
I find this hilarious and so did my 4 and 6 year olds who KNOW it is nothing more than a costume.
You people need to lighten up and educate your children rather than wallowing in self pity and ignorance.
like someone said in the beginning of the comments, and like many others are saying, IT IS THE ZOMBIE WALK. this picture has been taken totally out of context and that is unfair. Being a person who, myself, was born and stayed in sick kids' hospital for 3 months, being a 3 month premie baby, i don't find this offensive because it is completed unrelated to reality. It's not some deep mystical comment on human life. Its for fun. If you want to talk ethics, the entire zombie walk is unethical because it represents things that should not happen, happening. Everyone needs to relax their faces off and just realize it was for the zombie walk, to stay at the zombie walk, and not be reiterated outside of that realm.
I think that is amazing...What a great zombie ( I am from Toronto and love the Zombie walk). Great work
I'm glad you had an option for 'what line?' as I don't think that there should be a line you 'could' cross for zombie costumes. I think it's highly inventive!
I had a girl show up to my party a couple years ago with a fetus hanging out of her...and she wasnt even supposed to be a zombie either.
I don't think this costume is crossing the line, IT'S THE ZOMBIE WALK for heaven sake. To be honest I don't know what the line is. Everyone is covered in blood and eating intestines how is this any different? What costume do you think would be "crossing the line"??
By rights of the baby being born at the same time she became a zombie we should also have a....BABY ZOMBIE cause the disease traveled through the attached umbilical cord....
Yeah, what line? This is newsworthy? Oh, BlogTO. Way to try - and fail - to make something out of nothing.
Tania, you are so right about the foster care system. JK, whether it's newsworhty or not that is the way of . If you don't like it don't get involved in it by making negative comments. Do you have a blog?
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