Death and Culture.

Many phycologists have come forward to create an Death exhibition in Bristol Museum & Art Gallery. The intention behind the exhibition is to celebrate death, to ensure the masses that death should not be a taboo subject it happens to all of us we all experience grieving at some stage in life, as it is something that happens to everyone they suggest that cultures should come together to celebrate death. Death is genuinely perceived in a negative, daunting light, phycologist!!! suggests that as a society and to children we need to talk about death more to make the topic less scary.

The exhibition displays symbols of death in a string of cultures. It is interesting to see how cultures interpret the death process I will post images of the symbols that I found interesting and why, analysing how they will help me to develop ideas and designs.

The room was dimly lit, there was an unnerving atmosphere as you walked through the display, the exhibition took each individual on a journey through death, the exhibition showed methods of death, and had a section making you reflect on whether we should have the option to end our own lives, the exhibition then continues to display cultural objects of death, right through to the mourning process.

The obvious emblematic figure which represents death in all cultures is the skull. Interestingly the skull has been symbolic of both life and death, I feel as though it is important to include representations of death within my project photoshoots  to communicate a semi- meaning, it could communicate mortality, rebellion or even can be decoded as fear.

The doctors mask is associated with death specifically in Europe and England where the plague had a huge impact of the death increase. Doctors in the 14th century would wear these daunting masks, the beaks would be filled with herbs to block out the smell of rotting bodies. I think the plague mask is rather scary as you can only see the eyes making the person under the mask a mystery, it reminds me of a gas mask of which is a possible way I could explore the theme of affixation within one of my narratives.

 Life or death?

As established death is a taboo subject however after walking past the exhibition of props the display transitioned into a thought provoking experience. Making everyone think about what our personal attitude is towards death and what are the influences? Do we have the right to end our lives? I believe this question is dependent on circumstances, however many may disagree if they are religious as it can be seen as murder and as a selfish act if there are hurt ones left behind, I firmly believe that without being in another position you cannot judge the situation or how much mental suffering one is going through.

At the end of the exhibition I found myself feeling less uncomfortable about death it's a natural process and if anything it should be viewed as an adventure as you do not know what is going to happen after, is there an after life? it may not be the final chapter, the exhibition really does make you question the way you think about the subject.

This exhibition has been used for research purposes to investigate the idea of death further it is important to look at traditional and cultural elements as well as the contemporary to gain a strong understanding and to develop ideas. It has encouraged me to playa round with props to create  meaningful images that stimulate the brain.