Free Fall Baltimore: The Golem: A Horrific Hero with Feet of Clay

 Export to My Calendar

These days, you don't have to wait for Halloween to find horror—and especially the living dead—in every corner of pop culture. But where are the Jewish zombies? The mythical golem is an artificially constructed, supernaturally animated, liminal being caught between life and death. Jewish folklore often features this creature in stories of injustice and vengeance. Tales of the golem provide a vital link between the more familiar global legends of the living dead and a Jewish tradition that mingles horror with heroism; it's time for the golem to get a little respect.

Arnold T. Blumberg teaches courses in zombies in popular media (Univ. of Baltimore) and comic book literature (UMBC).