Monstrous reflections: Crisis, Escape, and Cultural Anxieties in All of Us Are Dead

Abstract

This paper examines the 2022 Korean drama All of Us Are Dead, directed by Lee Jae-kyoo and Kim, through the lens of Jeffrey Jerome Cohen's Monster Culture framework. Set in an apocalyptic world devastated by zombie attacks, the drama serves as a fertile ground for exploring cultural fears and anxieties. The analysis focuses on three of Cohen's seven theses: The Monster’s Body is a Cultural Body, which demonstrates how monsters embody collective cultural fears; The Monster Always Escapes, suggesting that monsters are never fully eliminated but reappear in new forms, symbolizing evolving societal anxieties; and The Monster Is the Harbinger of Category Crisis, highlighting how monsters challenge conventional boundaries and norms. Employing Catherine Belsey’s textual analysis method, this study critically investigates how these thematic elements are depicted in the series. The findings reveal that All of Us Are Dead not only reflects contemporary cultural fears surrounding epidemics and societal collapse but also exemplifies the ongoing presence and adaptability of monsters within cultural narratives. Through Cohen's framework, the drama is positioned as a mirror of the collective unconscious, illustrating the enduring relevance of monster symbolism in understanding societal anxieties in modern media.