hmmmm... I'm skeptical. I agree with most of the people who commented-- isn't it unnecessary?
The point of caskets intended to prevent our disease-ridden bodies from contaminating our water sources is a good one, but aren't caskets going to decompose (eventually), too? We seem to be perpetually postponing problems, but never solving them. We come up with short-term solutions, rather than long-term ones. Might a body filled with formaldehyde hundreds of years from now be much worse for our water than a body today whose life was ended by swine flu or some other trendy illness? (sorry for the cynicism. swine flu isn't funny.)
This sort of reminds me of the song "Mexican Wine" by Fountains of Wayne: "He was killed by a cellular phone explosion They scattered his ashes across the ocean The water was used to make baby lotion The wheels of promotion were set into motion."
We're drinking the same water that dinosaurs peed in... that is, if dinosaurs peed. I don't really know... speaking of dinosaurs, although this is a bit unrelated, does anyone know how those things reproduced? I mean, I'm guessing they had reproductive organs and stuff, but come on, let's face it... the T-Rex really just wasn't built for sex. right??
ANYWAY... back to the point. When I die, I don't really care much to have my memory "preserved" for future generations. Nah, just toss me into the ground, thanks. Better yet, cook me and eat me for dinner. Unless I died of something nasty.
Thinking about the Circle of Life......... time to watch The Lion King!
I saw a great documentary (no recollection of the title) a number of years ago about do-it-yourself, natural burials complete with biodegradable coffins. Also...I read Stiff a number of years ago (must brush up on it). It seems to me that nature does an excellent job of swallowing/reclaiming the human body. I worry about safety related to the people-eating fungi but otherwise think this art piece is interesting and thought-provoking.
The modern Western world is too timid/removed from death and the funeral industry preys on the grieving...or preys on the folks who believe the proper last moments/gestures/etc. can immortalize an existence. It would be great to see death return to nature's industry. When my father passed away a few years ago, I was horrified at the choices my family made in regard to the funeral (ie....the casket selected, the money spent, etc.). That said...I recently had a conversation with a faculty member at UAlbany who told me about Nigerian funerals which - despite the poverty of the mourning families - can be quite opulent. Death culture is fascinating. However, I'd rather spend $7-$10K while LIVING to make a mark in the world and not on funeral expenses.
I appreciate art that exposes the problem with our current standard method of burial. I think preserving dead bodies and sending them into the ground surrounded by a layer of concrete and casket isn't the way to go (literally and figuratively....).
hmmmm... I'm skeptical. I agree with most of the people who commented-- isn't it unnecessary?
ReplyDeleteThe point of caskets intended to prevent our disease-ridden bodies from contaminating our water sources is a good one, but aren't caskets going to decompose (eventually), too?
We seem to be perpetually postponing problems, but never solving them. We come up with short-term solutions, rather than long-term ones. Might a body filled with formaldehyde hundreds of years from now be much worse for our water than a body today whose life was ended by swine flu or some other trendy illness?
(sorry for the cynicism. swine flu isn't funny.)
This sort of reminds me of the song "Mexican Wine" by Fountains of Wayne:
"He was killed by a cellular phone explosion
They scattered his ashes across the ocean
The water was used to make baby lotion
The wheels of promotion were set into motion."
We're drinking the same water that dinosaurs peed in... that is, if dinosaurs peed. I don't really know... speaking of dinosaurs, although this is a bit unrelated, does anyone know how those things reproduced? I mean, I'm guessing they had reproductive organs and stuff, but come on, let's face it... the T-Rex really just wasn't built for sex.
right??
ANYWAY... back to the point. When I die, I don't really care much to have my memory "preserved" for future generations. Nah, just toss me into the ground, thanks. Better yet, cook me and eat me for dinner. Unless I died of something nasty.
Thinking about the Circle of Life......... time to watch The Lion King!
I saw a great documentary (no recollection of the title) a number of years ago about do-it-yourself, natural burials complete with biodegradable coffins. Also...I read Stiff a number of years ago (must brush up on it). It seems to me that nature does an excellent job of swallowing/reclaiming the human body. I worry about safety related to the people-eating fungi but otherwise think this art piece is interesting and thought-provoking.
ReplyDeleteThe modern Western world is too timid/removed from death and the funeral industry preys on the grieving...or preys on the folks who believe the proper last moments/gestures/etc. can immortalize an existence. It would be great to see death return to nature's industry. When my father passed away a few years ago, I was horrified at the choices my family made in regard to the funeral (ie....the casket selected, the money spent, etc.). That said...I recently had a conversation with a faculty member at UAlbany who told me about Nigerian funerals which - despite the poverty of the mourning families - can be quite opulent. Death culture is fascinating. However, I'd rather spend $7-$10K while LIVING to make a mark in the world and not on funeral expenses.
I appreciate art that exposes the problem with our current standard method of burial. I think preserving dead bodies and sending them into the ground surrounded by a layer of concrete and casket isn't the way to go (literally and figuratively....).