New Normal - Zone One

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Normal - it’s what we’re used to. A routine, the usual. But at what point does change or a “new normal” become just, normal? Why do we have a desire to make things as they were, even if others have never experienced it? This theme is present in Colson Whitehead's Zone One. A virus has taken over that turns people into feral zombies. This plague conquered the world, and while the worst seems to have passed there is still an area of Manhattan that must be cleared of the zombies before rebuilding is possible. In Zone One they are so close to rebuilding, yet, it seems almost impossible with the events that have occurred and the P.A.S.D. (Post Apocalyptic Stress Disorder) that many suffer from. This new stress alone, shows how the world will not be as it was before. This desire to rebuild and return to “normal” reminds me of another novel we discussed: Station Eleven. In Station Eleven a flu like virus spreads rapidly throughout the world, killing persons infected in 24 hours. Technology no longer functions, cars are not used, and museums are made that house this “old” technology. Throughout this novel those who had lived with technology had a major debate and struggle of what to teach their kids about the past. They longed for an easier life, a life they knew, a life that was “normal,” yet this life was long gone and a ways away. Children who have never experienced life with technology, yet they still want to return to “normal” even though they have never experienced it. What is seen in these novels is also present in our current pandemic. The desire to return to “normalcy” but there are some small children who don’t know what that is. I read a story about an online kindergarten teacher who gave her zoom class some free time and they decided to play school. Instead of saying things like “raise your hand, come to the board, sit on the carpet” they said things like “unmute your mic, turn on your camera, am I sharing my screen,” things that a year ago would make zero sense. To these kids this is normal. They’ve never been to school in a classroom. So why do we want to return to “normal?” Is it because it’s safe? Or easy? Or is it really because it is “normal?”

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