Recently in Death Category

This multifaith stained glass window is arguably the iconic image of the Lost finale, if not the whole series. The screenshot is from Jezebel, where Tracie Egan provides a characteristically insightful analysis of the show's Buddhist themes:

a component of Tibetan Buddhism, bardos are the different phases the deceased experience between dying and rebirth. It's a dream-like reality, created by the "awareness" (or a soul) that is freed from the body upon death. Because of the disconnect of the awareness from the physical body, the deceased doesn't immediately realize that he or she is dead. In the different bardo phases, the "awareness" needs guidance—from different deities, or, you know, guides (hello, Desmond)—to attain enlightenment, i.e., realize that they're dead. A karmic mirror (remember all those mirrors?) is held up to the deceased so that s/he can reflect and eventually recognize. Once this happens—and it can happen in any of the bardo phases, depending on how much emotional baggage a person has packed for the afterlife—the deceased achieves Nirvana, and can "move on." Depending on your belief system, this can be heaven, reincarnation, or some kind of simulated reality, like Eloise Hawking for herself and her son.

For more on how Tibetan Buddhism relates to other faiths, check out this new NY Times op-ed by the Dalai Lama himself--who, for all his spiritual insight, still fails to explain the deeper meaning of Lost's polar bear.

In Western culture, the display of the deceased at a wake tends to reinforce the metaphor of rest--the body is lying down, eyes closed and fully clothed, as if napping on a couch until resurrection. Culture and the relation between technology and identity are, however, evolving, as evidenced by the above video from Puerto Rico, where a funeral home placed the embalmed body of twenty-two-year-old shooting victim David Morales Colon on his motorcycle in full riding gear.

From what I can gather, Ehara Hiroyuki is Japan's John Edward, purporting to have a psychic ability to speak to the dead.

What that has to do with children's toys I don't know, though apparently if you buy tickets to this Christmas season event you can get an official Hiroyuki charm.

Organized by Spike Lee & the Borough of Brooklyn, this block party celebrates Jackson's role as an inspirational icon. Personal and civic identity resonate in this contemporary version of the saint's day festival:

Anybody and everybody is invited to attend Michael Jackson’s 51st birthday party on Saturday, August 29, from noon to 5 p.m., at Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn, New York. DJ Spinna will be spinning all things Jackson, from the Jackson 5 to the Jacksons to Michael Jackson. The Brooklyn borough president will be on hand to declare Aug. 29 “Michael Jackson Day.”

“At the end, we’ll all sing Happy Birthday to Michael,” Lee says. “We’re going to make sure he hears us, too. All over the world, people are going to be celebrating his birthday. But he’s going to hear Brooklyn; Brooklyn is going to be in the house. Deep.”

Because of massive work commitments I wasn't able to make it to the San Diego Comic Con, where costumes are a standard way of expressing one's identity. But that's not the only way it's done in the community--to mark the occasion here are several notable comic & cartoon tombstones!

Rich Morrissey, legendary comics historian & letter column denizen (thanks Michael!):

Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs Bunny (among countless others!):

Alfred Harvey, founder of Harvey Comics, publisher of Casper the Friendly Ghost:

Heroclix prototype model of the Joker at Robin II's grave:

Mark Gruenwald, comic book writer, who was cremated & had his ashes mixed in the ink for the first edition of his collected series Squadron Supreme--a copy of which was a standard part of my law school classes on corporate life & personal identity!

After LA Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed by a drunk driver earlier this season, fans created this memorial outside the stadium. Besides the painting, it consists of caps, signs and Rally Monkeys.

The urge to transcend nature takes many forms. As Animal NY reminds us, 32 years ago George Willig scaled the World Trade Center and memorialized his effort by writing his name on roof of WTC 2.

The tower is gone, but his mark of immortality remains in this photo.

Target marketing comes to the pop occult with Hasbro's new pink Ouija board for girls.

With carrying case!

New research positing that early humans ate Neanderthals has been making the rounds. Whether that actually occurred is open to debate; somewhat less disputed is that we apparently used Neanderthal teeth in our necklaces.

Below: more contemporary tooth necklaces from Marc Luscher:

A 100-year-old-plus set of wedding rings provides a vivid reminder of the vows.