Watch: TEDx Talk Explores the History of the Living Dead

Step into the classroom, make sure you're not bitten, and get ready to take notes, because a new TEDx Talk video featuring James Close explores the fascinating history of how centuries of humans have viewed the living dead.

"Here is a plot you will likely be familiar with: the dead rising to outnumber the living. It’s a story that permeates modern culture, but do you know where the stories come from? James Close explores archaeological evidence and historical literature to tell us how stories of the undead have evolved over thousands of years.

In 2002 I received a D. Phil from the University of Oxford in genome biology, where I continued to pursue a research career. However, I left academia for around a decade, applying my research skills in a variety of contexts including playing internet poker for a living, trading financial markets and popular science writing. Over the last year I have been pursuing formal academic research, where I am investigating new models of care in the Department of Primary Care at Plymouth University.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx"