2016’s Most Memorable Death Articles and More
2016 will very likely be remembered as the year of the Dead Celebrity. Prince was certainly a tough death for Death Ref. And yet, a…
Cemeteries
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December 31, 2016 -
July 27, 2014Day 27: On Sundays, the Death Reference Desk Kicks It Cemetery Style
Does the Death Reference Desk know how to party, or WHAT?!
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July 26, 2014Day 26: Photos of London’s Afro-Caribbean Funerals
How great thou art: 50 years of Afro-Caribbean funerals – in pictures Charlie Phillips, in The Guardian (July 25, 2014) The spirituals sung, the Scotch…
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May 26, 2014
Grave Matters… Muahahahaha!
Grave Matters (podcast)
BackStory, with the American History Guys (May 23, 2014)This week the genius history podcast BackStory rebroadcasted their show “Grave Matters” in honor of Memorial Day.
Did you know that the term “funeral parlors” was a marketing riff on the Victorian parlor room of the home, the inevitable site of the wake and funeral? To kick the dour image of death, the parlor eventually morphed into the “living” room. BOOM!
Do check it out. Always informative and entertaining, BackStory is one my (Meg’s) favorite podcasts.
Grave Matters (podcast) BackStory, with the American History Guys (May 23, 2014) This week the genius history podcast BackStory rebroadcasted their show “Grave Matters” in…
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June 16, 2013The Future of Death, Dead Bodies, and Cemeteries talk on June 20 in London
Future Death. Future Dead Bodies. Future Cemeteries Illustrated lecture by Dr. John Troyer, Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath 20th June…
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October 21, 2012
Future Death. Future Dead Bodies. Future Cemeteries. TEDx Talk by John Troyer
Future Death. Future Dead Bodies. Future Cemeteries
John Troyer, TEDxBristol Talk (September 15, 2012)On September 15, 2012 I was one of the TEDxBristol speakers. The TEDxBristol 2012 theme was Future Shock, so I took the opportunity to discuss three of my favorite topics: Future Death, Future Dead Bodies, and Future Cemeteries.
The entire TEDx event was organized exceptionally well, and I was impressed by all the speakers. I usually count on at least one speaker who completely blows it and becomes that guy (because it’s almost always one of the male speakers) so that I can be relieved that I wasn’t that guy. But no.
John Troyer using officially recognizable TED talk hand gestures
What really stands out for me from the day is the live drawing being done by artist Nat Al-Tahhan as each of us spoke. Nat drew images reflecting our talks, while we spoke, and she nailed the day down. I love the images. You can see them here.
I’m fairly certain that Death Ref readers can determine when I spoke, based only on the drawings.
The video of my talk is now up and you can watch it on YouTube here or above.
Future Death. Future Dead Bodies. Future Cemeteries John Troyer, TEDxBristol Talk (September 15, 2012) On September 15, 2012 I was one of the TEDxBristol speakers….
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July 7, 2012A Brief Glimpse into the Future Cemetery.
The Future Cemetery Project is sneaking up behind you. Right now. You. I. We all know that death is the future Follow the Future Cemetery…
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January 29, 2012The Kindness of Strangers and the Internet: Finding William’s Grave at Mountain View
For all our morbid bent and grave humor, plenty warms our hearts at the Death Reference Desk. Personally I (Meg) am a stickler for serendipity…
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November 11, 2011Virtual Graves for Armistice Day
How to visit a Virtual Grave Alison Winward, The Guardian (November 10, 2010) Armistice Day Marked Around the World – In Pictures The Guardian…
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June 29, 2011
Enter now the FBI into the Arlington Cemetery Debacle
Arlington Cemetery’s Mishandling of Remains Prompts FBI Criminal Probe Jerry Markon and Christian Davenport, The Washington Post (June 29, 2011) The Justice Department is investigating…
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April 22, 2011No More Big Dead Tombs in China
As China’s Income Gap Grows, Tombs Are a Target Sharon LaFraniere, The New York Times (April 22, 2011) Since 1997, official policy limits the size…
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April 15, 2011
Dead Body and Technology Lecture Tuesday April 19
Future Death: The Dead Human Body as Biomass An Illustrated lecture with Dr. John Troyer Deputy Director Centre for Death and Society University of Bath…
