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Post by playgames1970 on Jan 30, 2014 12:18:37 GMT -5
Perhaps this should go into the off topic section, as it is not directly about the films, but it does sort of relate to Phantasm in general, too, as Don Coscarelli has said in several places that the films were inspired by what he thought odd/remarkable/unusual about the American way of death compared to other countries and cultures. I'm a college writing instructor, and I ran across an essay in a new textbook I'm required to use for one of my courses that is obviously a bit grim, but also interesting, having to do with the way bodies are prepared by morticians for viewing. With that obviously being a major theme in the Phantasm films, I thought that some here may be interested in reading Jessica Mitford's essay "Behind the Formaldehyde Curtain." I found it online after seeing it in the textbook I am using, so here is a link if you are interested (and actually it is still a link even if you are not interested, come to think of it!): mcneill-bindon.ca/files/2009/04/Mitford-Behind-the-Formaldehyde-Curtain.pdf
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Post by gopher in heat on Jan 30, 2014 18:08:27 GMT -5
Very interesting! Thanks for sharing that.
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Post by ogredixon on Sept 3, 2014 8:13:15 GMT -5
OK, now that I have read that and am totally freaked out, what an interesting thing this way of death in North America. Very interesting reading, thanks for posting.
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Post by fabienvanec on Sept 5, 2014 12:33:46 GMT -5
Thanks ! It was very interesting to read. Im' Phrench by the way So sorry for the mistakes. I watched "six feet under" some years ago, it's only a fiction but some stories could contradict some points on the essay. So to me the truth is between both. On one side it seems as a weird, unclear business, but on the other side I'm sure some people got some relief thanks to corpse(s) "rebuilt". As Jody would say :"It's easy to read, understanding...it takes a little more time "
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Post by postmortem on Sept 6, 2014 1:54:32 GMT -5
I'm not able to access the link, however I'm guessing this is a chapter from Jessica Mitford's infamous T he American Way of Death (long out of print). I read that book back in 1979 and it certainly was an eye opener! Mitford was very pro-cremation and anti-embalming in her mindset, and with her amusing--but caustic--British wit, thoroughly (though perhaps too ruthlessly) chastised the American funeral profession in her tome. She was, in the seventies, much hated by the funeral biz (I still remember the heated discussions about her and her book in Mortuary Management magazine, the American Funeral Director, and NFDA literature). A lot of morticians during that period felt that Mitford was personally out to destroy the business. Ironically, over time, her views have been adopted by most Americans in the early 21st century. People are leaning towards much simpler services with far less focus on the body. I'm not entirely sure this doesn't somehow delay the grieving process, but it is definitely the preference of today's generation. There is something to be admired in the simplicity of direct cremations followed by memorial services or simple scatterings. But there is also much healing and closure with allowing family/friends to view/touch the deceased, or to do a traditional burial (for me, the more hands on I was able to participate/view my own loved ones, the faster I was able to come to terms with the death). Laying to rest family members or beloved pets, no matter how traumatic, always felt like a calling--even something sacred--to me. I've helped my "families" through both methods and I've never tried to steer anyone into going one route or another. Modern embalming is a bit sordid, true, but the end result has truly brought much peace to various families. I don't like to discuss what really is done, but I could tell you of many encounters years later at the supermarket where I have been tearfully hugged and thanked for my work. I have Mitford to thank for one thing, though. She wrote a chapter about how conniving mortuaries are in setting up the casket showroom, to instill guilt in clients, steering them towards higher priced caskets. When I trained as a mortician, they wanted me to memorize a sales pitch with very specific wording about the various caskets--and just like Mitford discussed, the premise was to psychologically manipulate the grieving families into buying a casket they didn't original want. I destroyed my copy of the casket sales pitch and refused to ever subject any of my families to such an act. I never made them feel ashamed about any of the caskets they selected, and I tried my best to help them find financial ways (such as the Los Angeles Funeral Society) to reduce costs. I sucked as a salesperson, but as a grief counselor and director, I think I did a lot of good. Strangely, a lot of times my families would select a certain casket that I was fond of! No matter how far I stayed away from the model--I tried everything not to touch it or even look at it--they would purchase it! Other funeral directors on the staff said the same bizarre phenomenon would often happen with their families too (and we all had different caskets we liked). Speaking of British wit, has anyone read Evelyn Waugh's The Loved One? It was a satire about Forest Lawn (ironically, just a few miles down the street from me) that was made into a movie.
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Post by ogredixon on Sept 8, 2014 13:24:00 GMT -5
I figured if anyone could make sense of the mortuary/mortician side of things it would be you Kris. See ya Saturday at Son of Monsteraplooza
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phanboy
Graver
Now this won't hurt a bit. Well, maybe just a little bit.
Posts: 180
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Post by phanboy on Sept 9, 2014 8:56:50 GMT -5
I figured if anyone could make sense of the mortuary/mortician side of things it would be you Kris. See ya Saturday at Son of Monsteraplooza My thoughts exactly except I won't be at Monsteraplooza unfortunately . Somebody please ask Don about a " Jim The World's Greatest" DVD release'
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Post by ogredixon on Sept 9, 2014 11:02:27 GMT -5
I will try to remember that, goodness knows there are a bunch of us that would like to see it.
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vitaman2007
Sentinel Sphere
"Be de be de be de...f#@ you Buck!"
Posts: 698
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Post by vitaman2007 on Sept 25, 2014 9:25:12 GMT -5
... I sucked as a salesperson.... Me too. I'm fine with pine. We're all pretty much subjected to "selling" in today's world. link
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