Saturday

On morbidity

It's bizarre because, although I'm all pink and pastel and girly, I'm absolutely fascinated by death. I can't remember when this fascination began, although I have strong memories of reading my dad's copy of The Fireside Book of Death when I was 8. These interests are things I've mentioned in past posts, such as my visits to cemeteries, taxidermy and reviews of serial killer books
Victorian Cemetery at Highgate
I follow a blog called The Chick and the Dead, written by Carla Valentine, who pretty much has my dream job- she is in the process of restoring the anatomy specimens at Bart's Pathology Museum, which you must visit if you get a chance. It's not open to the public, but they host regular events such as taxidermy workshops and I attended a talk on serial killing by Channel 5's most prolific criminologist David Wilson. 

Anyway, waffling aside, Carla's blog is obviously incredibly interesting to me, especially as, try as I might, I just cannot find any similar. What do you do if you can't find what you're looking for? You create it yourself. So with that in mind, I'm hoping to add some death-related posts on here. Maybe a monthly series? I haven't decided yet. I figure I'll use this post to garner interest before getting all morbid on you.
Some things I am interested in that may make an appearance:

- Cemeteries 
- Taxidermy
- True crime
- Victorian mourning (such as memento mori)
- Art surrounding death (links nicely to my art series, non?) 

I should point out here that I am always highly respectful. I understand that this is a sensitive issue but it's something I think is very important to learn about from a historical perspective. As an example, when I visit cemeteries, I never photograph graves that are less than 80 years old or so and I wouldn't dream of taking selfies in them (something I have seen, complete with selfie stick!). This isn't me lording about thinking I'm so alternative and edgy.

If this is something you'd be interested in, I'd love to read your suggestions on content I could feature. Let me know in the comments what you'd like to read and I'll look into it.

PS: My dad recently gave me his Fireside Book of Death which, although it sounds bizarre, was quite a moving moment for me. I'm currently reading it so there will be a review up soon. 

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16 comments :

  1. I am also fascinated in death, but terrified at the same time. The feeling you get walking through a cemetery consumes me every single time and depending on which one I either feel like I'm having a lovely outer body experience or like I have a heavy weight on my shoulders instantly. I find it so so strange because no one else that I've spoke to seems to feel anything like that but because of it I've always grown an interest in death with that being one of the reasons. Would really love to know when you do decide to post these up because I'd love reading them!

    Have a fab day sweetie,
    Kim x
    www.andonthatnoteshewrote.com

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  2. Would love to read a feature like this. I too am the same...girly but obsessed with all things morbid! I really recommend 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes' (Caitlin Doughty) if you like this kind of thing...it's a really good read.

    Naomi // Getting to Nomi

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  3. I would love to see those kind of posts on your blog! My views on death are probably quite unorthodox too. I see it as a very positive and highly spiritual process of simply transitioning back into the non-physical :) Looking forward to reading your posts.

    www.lunarlook.blogspot.co.uk

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  4. It's an inescapable part of life that we, in the West, so rarely talk about until we have no choice so I have no problem at all in seeing more posts relating to this subject. As a humanist I've been asked in the past if having no belief in an afterlife or god makes me sad. It doesn't at all, if anything it makes me value the present and the time I have.

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  5. Death, and the ceremonies around it, are fascinating! Can't wait to read more on your blog about it, I also love crime novels :)

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  6. We all pass away, and I recently read an article that pointed out how weird we are when it comes to dealing with that. Other cultures celebrate the dead and their remains, while we hide them away and have all sorts of rituals and respects to pay. Being so closed definitely contributes to a) fear of death and b) difficulty in dealing with it, in my opinion, so I would love to learn more.

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  7. I'm really looking forward to seeing where you take this as I am also weirdly morbid and always have been - death fascinates me!!

    Jess xo
    http://just-jesss.blogspot.co.uk

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  8. I thought i was the only one! I love going to cemeteries and reading when people died and i like reading about crime in my area.

    emyii90.blogspot.co.uk

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  9. I'm the same! I absolutely love reading about serial killers and unsolved murders. It's really weird but I find them so fascinating!

    hellomissjordan.com xx

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  10. I'm not morbid, its a fact of life. My parents are dead and it's something I have to deal with always. I say post up the death stuff, we could all do with being less squeamish about it

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  11. As you well know, I'm also extremely fascinated by morbidity, serial killers, the macabre. I'm a Victorianist so the celebration of death is so intriguing to me, as is how a cemetery was built/designed. I can't wait to read your series.

    Sarah x

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  12. My mum has been really into tracing our family history on those genealogy websites, downloading old censuses and visiting graveyards to find our ancestors...so I've spent more time than most people having around the dead! I find it so fascinating and often cemeteries are very peaceful places, but is it weird to say I find them relaxing? I'm sure you know what I mean!

    Hannah Simpson Writes

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  13. I LOVE this kind of stuff. When my parents took me to Rome the first place I dragged them to was Capuchin Crypt. Google it, it's amazing. My parents think I'm weird.
    tl;dr I'd love a series on morbidity.

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  14. Fascinating but terrifying subject, death. I'll look forward to whatever posts you write on the subject, there is no doubt at all in my mind that you'll do it with anything other than massive respect and sensitivity. I do *adore* how diverse your blog topics are.

    :) x

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  15. I love morbid stuff! I'm so game for posts on any of the following topics above, my friends call my living room the room of dead things cause I have a few antlers hung up and a small entomology collection haha. I've had a love of this type of stuff for as long as I can remember, it's one of the reasons I wanted to be a pathologist from the age of 7 I just had a morbid fascination with death and everything that surrounds it and the human body. You'd have loved some of my lectures at uni haha, we even got to go see an autopsy!
    Kloe xx
    skullsandkisses.com

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