Photography and Death: Framing Death Throughout History

201 Pages·2020·3.232 MB·English

by  Racheal Harris

PHOTOGRAPHY AND
DEATH
EMERALD STUDIES IN
DEATH AND CULTURE
Series Editors:
Ruth Penfold-Mounce, University of York, UK; Julie Rugg,
University of York, UK; Jack Denham, University of York
St John, UK
Editorial Advisory Board:
Jacque Lynn Foltyn, National University, USA; Lisa McCormick,
University of Edinburgh, UK; Ben Poore, University of York,
UK, Melissa Schrift, East Tennessee State University, USA; Kate
Woodthorpe, University of Bath, UK
Emerald Studies in Death and Culture provides an outlet for
cross-disciplinary exploration of aspects of mortality. The series cre-
ates a new forum for the publication of interdisciplinary research
that approaches death from a cultural perspective. Published texts
will be at the forefront of new ideas, new subjects, new theoreti-
cal applications and new explorations of less conventional cultural
engagements with death and the dead.
Published titles
Brian Parsons, The Evolution of the British Funeral Industry in
the 20th Century: From Undertaker to Funeral Director
Ruth Penfold-Mounce, Death, The Dead and Popular Culture
Matthew Spokes, Death, Memorialization and Deviant Spaces
Racheal Harris, Skin, Meaning, and Symbolism in Pet Memori-
als: Tattoos, Taxidermy, and Trinkets
Dina Khapaeva, Man-Eating Monsters: Anthropocentrism and
Popular Culture
PHOTOGRAPHY AND
DEATH: FRAMING DEATH
THROUGHOUT HISTORY
BY
RACHEAL HARRIS
United Kingdom – North America – Japan – India
Malaysia – China
Emerald Publishing Limited
Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley BD16 1WA, UK
First edition 2020
© 2020 Racheal Harris. Published under exclusive licence by
Emerald Publishing Limited
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Contact: [email protected]
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system, transmitted in any form or by any means electronic,
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either the prior written permission of the publisher or a licence
permitting restricted copying issued in the UK by The Copyright
Licensing Agency and in the USA by The Copyright Clearance
Center. Any opinions expressed in the chapters are those of the
authors. Whilst Emerald makes every effort to ensure the quality
and accuracy of its content, Emerald makes no representation
implied or otherwise, as to the chapters’ suitability and
application and disclaims any warranties, express or implied, to
their use.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British
Library
ISBN: 978-1-83909-048-6 (Print)
ISBN: 978-1-83909-045-5 (Online)
ISBN: 978-1-83909-047-9 (Epub)
For Roy and Julie, my parents.
I know that all my strange and morbid childhood
fascinations were once a cause for concern. As we see
now however, everything in life has its purpose…
CONTENTS
List of Images vii
Acknowledgements ix
Introduction: Death and Post-mortem
Photography in History 1
1. Romance: Post-mortem Photography 19
2. Anonymity: War Photography 41
3. Continuance: Spirit Photography 63
Pictorial Inserts 85
4. Violence: The Lynching Photograph 109
5. Ownership: Celebrity Death 129
6. Science: Forensic Photography 151
Conclusion: Future Living through Death Images 171
Further Resources 175
References 179
Index 189
vi
LIST OF IMAGES
Image 1. Camera Obscura
Image 2. Flower Wreath
Image 3. Civil War Era Amputation Saw
Image 4. Antique Chair
Image 5. Mourning Photograph of a Small Child
Image 6. Mother and Deceased Child
Image 7. Study of a Dead Child
Image 8. A Harvest of Death
Image 9. The Home of the Rebel Sharpshooter
Image 10. Bodies Awaiting Mass Burial,
Belsen Concentration Camp
Image 11. Civil War Embalmer at Work
Image 12. Jesse James Death Card
Image 13. Jesse James in Coffin
Image 14. Jesse James Dressed for Burial
Image 15. The Dalton Gang
Image 16. Bronson Murray
Image 17. Double Exposure of a Female Medium
Image 18. John K. Hallowell and 15 Other Faces
Image 19. Medium Eva C
Image 20. Medium Eva C
Image 21. Spirit Photograph for Stereoscope
Image 22. Stereoscope Viewer
Image 23. Accidental Spirit Photograph
Image 24. Lynching of Frank McManus
Image 25. Anonymous Lynching Victim
vii
viii List of Images
Image 26. Body of James Brown
Image 27. Grave of Jim Morrison 2018
Image 28. Grave of Jim Morrison 2019
Image 29. Grave of Elvis Presley
Image 30. Barren tree
Image 31. Clap board
Image 32. Crime scene markers
Image 33. Coffin
Image 34. Camera on Tripod
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A resounding thank you is necessary to all the members of
my personal support crew, mentioned below in no particular
order.
Anne McConnell, who taught me the most important les-
son about proof reading that I have ever learned! Michelle
Meehan for assisting my early research into dead celebrity
figures; Byron Ware for always being proud of me, regard-
less of the direction in which I end up traveling; and Piotr
Jurek for rescuing me when that direction lands me stranded
and exhausted at Kings Cross Station, with a broken suitcase.
I have also been thankful every day for Elwood, who has sat
by my side through endless drafts and tantrums, delivering
judgment only via the occasional purr.
I am deeply indebted to my brother, Elliott Harris, who
was the benefactor for my early fieldwork for this project.
Without that assistance, this book would likely never have
come together.
Finally, Tom, your gentle encouragement, good humor and
endless patience are comforts which continue to be appreci-
ated … I do hope you never tire of finding new ways to say,
“I told you so.”
Beyond all of this, each of you are, and have long been, a
blessing in my life.
You are loved most for that.
ix