Zombies

• Doreen Oliver shares her story about her son wanting to be a princess for Halloween, and how the white-washed princess costumes gave her pause. [The New York Times]
• Speaking of the dead, you can always pay your respects by visiting the grave sites of some of America's most famous writers. Here's a run-down of their final resting places.  [The Atlantic]
• Scary flicks are a must on this spooky holiday, but don't be fooled by all of the misrepresented and stigmatized depictions of women with mental illness often found in horror films. Here's a read to make you think twice before you judge that "crazy bitch." [Bitch Flicks]
• Here's a fabulous list of some of the most badass (and overlooked) horror film heroines of all time. But watch out! They might bite. [The Hairpin]
• People can't seem to get enough of zombies these days. Ever wondered where their story originated? Amy Wilentz lays it out. [The New York Times]
• Don't be racist, don't be racist, don't be racist! Kelsey shared a good run-down last week, but here is another eloquent take on how to not be racist for Halloween. [Tiger Beatdown]
• What's creepier than the creepiest horror film you've ever seen? When they're real! Here's a list of scary movies based on true stories. [Flavorwire]
• UTNE is posting some of their best posts on contemporary witchcraft and feminst spirituality—here's one of them. [UTNE Reader]
• And finally, Sociological Images has rounded up their Halloween-themed posts, that range from the good (women laughing with salad!), the bad ("Anna Rexia"), and the ugly (did we mention that people are really racist on Halloween?) [Sociological Images]

So what are you costumed in for the holiday? Read anyting good? Share in the comments section below!

News in tired feminist stereotypes has taken a turn for the weird in this month's issue of Harper's Bazaar. Fashion designer (and future zombie-lookalike contest winner) Karl Lagerfeld is the author of an article wherein he interviews the long-deceased Coco Chanel, playing the part of both the interviewer and subject by channeling Chanel from beyond the grave. (Hey, you were warned about the weirdness.)

At any rate, this might just be another example of extreme (and extremely creepy) fashion industry navel-gazing if it weren't for a few particularly obnoxious questions/answers by the zombie-esque Lagerfeld and his familiar, the actual zombie Chanel. (Fear not: Though Chanel is in fact answering questions from beyond the grave, there is no evidence yet to support her status as an actual zombie.) An excerpt from the "interview":

HB: Your clothing liberated women in the 1920s. Are you still a feminist?

CC: I was never a feminist because I was never ugly enough for that.

Puh-leez. Lagerfeld, are you serious? Can we EVER get away from the feminists-are-ugly attack? It looks like some people in the fashion industry are still using this insult even 38 years after they have DIED! Get over it already! And stop channeling dead people in order to take cheap shots at feminists! Not cool!

The past two weeks have been chock full of news about upcoming genre-bending film adaptations of the Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice.  Elizabeth Bennet slaying zombies!  Mr. Darcy doing combat with Predator!  Highbrow time travel!  Yes!

More details after the jump...