Death as Invitation in the Age of Social Media

In light of the death of painter, filmmaker and coffee-drinker, David Lynch, something has become apparent about the way in which social media treats the death of an international name. In ways I can’t imagine are like any prior age, the death of the international name sees immediate widespread attention and gratitude towards the person and their work.

With the nature of algorithms feeding us what is currently trending as well as that which we express interest in, a simple like of a post announcing someone’s death can mean the encouragement of more content pushed towards the liker. Much of this content is aesthetically pleasing on the basis of honouring he who has passed. This brings about another like. And another, and another. And before the liker can comprehend the extent of their algorithm-influencing interest, they have become absorbed into the world of someone who, prior, they knew little about.

What is especially poignant about the death of someone like Lynch is that he had his own very explicit niche. Of course, every artist has their style, but Lynch took absurdist philosophy (as started by Albert Camus) and made it the life and essence of his work. My aunt and I may laugh at the absurdity of me putting on What Did Jack Do? as if there would be something there for both of us to enjoy. And yes, it did feel silly. This absurdist art meant nothing to my aunt and I found it difficult to put something together about it myself. However, I believe there is no other filmmaker that could have generated that moment between me and my aunt, and no matter what we had both interpreted, the outcome would still be one that left us feeling a way no other filmmaker could.

I bring this up because the extent of an artist’s niche makes the desire of many to bring attention to their work, post-mortem, all the more heightened. This is because we know that there will not be another to do the same. Or, if similar comes around, it will never be able avoid reference to its pioneer.

Resultantly, this heightened desire to draw attention generates creation of more social media posts to capture broader attention, meaning more invitations to newcomers to become involved in the life, work and community of the international name.

This is good for the passionistas, bad for the gatekeepers, but undeniably beautiful.

There is a further discussion to be had about the marketing that can occur after the death of an international name and the ethics of using their face to draw an income. However, we are lucky with Lynch for the attention towards him to be driven by his fans and friends. Which, I think, makes this event all the more beautiful, even if it is bound in loss.

As a result, in some ways, at this moment, Lynch feels more alive than ever.