Memento Mori: The Dead Among Us
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.22 (506 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0500517789 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 208 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2015-05-18 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
Through photos taken at more than 250 sites in thirty countries over a decade, Paul Koudounaris has captured death around the world. The astonishing story of how the dead live on in memorials and traditions across the globe, from Ethiopia and Nepal to Cambodia and Rwanda, told through arresting images and captivating narration Death is universal, but the human response to death varies widely. In Western society, death is usually medicalized and taboo, and kept apart from the world of the living, while in much of the rest of the world, and for much of human history, death has commonly been far more integrated into peoples’ daily existence, and human remains are as much a reminder of life, memento vitae, as of death, memento mori. 500+ color illustrations. From Bolivia’s “festival of the little pug-nosed ones,” where skulls are festooned with flowers and given cigarettes to smoke and beanie hats to protect them from the weather to Indonesian families who dress mummies and include them in their household routines; from naturally preserved Buddhist monks and memorials to genocide in Rwanda and Cambodia to the dramatic climax of Europe’s great ossuaries, Memento Mori defies taboo
YOU NEED THIS BOOK IN YOUR LIBRARY REALLY Coffee Table Book? Scholarly, Textbook? Amazingly it can be BOTH!Koudounaris has this subject so well showcased in his 3rd book. Very VERY nice. Aesthetically, the cover is a very exquisite blue shiny fabric - silk like. He has such a great way of photographing the subjects. Disarmingly beautiful and respectful of the subjects. He obviously knows the subject matter and history, has done impeccable research. Kudos Mr. K.. "Paul Koudounaris has another great book." according to annieb. This is my third book by Paul Koudounaris, and he does not disappoint (as long as you're into mummies, skeletons, burial customs, etc.). So many fascinating insights into cultures that are foreign to me; fantastic pictures; I can't find anything I don't like about this book.. Gorgeous Amie Fournier-flather This is a beautiful book filled with colorful and interesting photos of how several different cultures treat and view their dead - or better, display their dead. It could best be described as a coffee table book due to its size (just over 13" tall) so it doesn't stand upright on a bookshelf very nicely unless your shelves are highly spaced apart. The photos and the stories/information contained within do make this book a real treasure to read, look at a
Paul Koudounaris received his doctorate from the art history department at UCLA. . His previous books include The Empire of Death and Heavenly Bodies. He lives in Los Angeles
“Shows, in stunning visual terms, mankind’s universal desire to cross the threshold of death and continue a meaningful relationship with those who have departed.” - Heavy Metal“Memento Mori is led by the visuals: spellbinding images of decorated skulls, elaborate burials, and other death-related customs from around the world.” - Vice“10 Best New Photography Books of Spring 2015” - American Photo“Visually stunning documents how different cultures around the world from Ethiopia to Rwanda to Nepal honor their dead.” - OnMilwaukee“Skull after painted or bejeweled skull relays a story that’s as much about life as it is about death. Oversized with an embossed cover and spine, Memento Mori sports outstanding color prints and beautiful design.” - Boing Boing