Mourning Photos

"The painting may cheerfully portray the life of the deceased, but to nineteenth-century eyes, the daguerreotype, in showing the moment of death, or one just afterward, does a better job at portraying the person, the essence of the child, his soul."

Links:

• The Social Construction of the American Daguerreotype Portrait: Chapter 3, The Mourning Portrait
• Paul Frecker Photography
• Creepy Photo
• Photos of 'Living' Dead

Two Essays

Two essays for thought...

1.) "Is Poetry a Job, Is a Poem a Product?" by Murat Nemet-Nejat

Not your typical why-can't-poets-make-money type of whiny essay, he draws some really cool parallels between poetry and money, observations about class, and audience.

2.) "Sucking" by Ariana Reines

Went to see her read this past week, and came across this essay when I googled her beforehand. Intelligent, funny, personal. I like what she says about shit. And the French.