Virtual Afterlives: Grieving the Dead in the Twenty-First Century

Title Page, Copyright Page, Dedication, Quotes

Virtual Afterlives Virtual afterliVes Grieving the Dead in the Twenty-First Century Candi K. Cann Copyright © 2014 by The University Press of Kentucky Scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth, serving Bellarmine University, Berea College, Centre College of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, The Filson Historical Society, Georgetown College, Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky State University, Morehead State University, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University, Transylvania University, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and Western Kentucky University. All rights reserved. Editorial and Sales Offices: The University Press of Kentucky 663 South Limestone Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40508-4008 www.kentuckypress.com Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Cann, Candi K. Virtual afterlives : grieving the dead in the twenty-first century / Candi K. Cann. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-8131-4541-9 (hardcover : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0-8131-4543-3 (pdf) — ISBN 978-0-8131-4542-6 (epub) 1. Memorialization—Social aspects. 2. Death—Social aspects. 3. Bereavement—Social aspects. 4. Internet—Social aspects. I. Title. GT3390.C36 2014 393—dc23 2014003472 This book is printed on acid-free paper meeting the requirements of the American National Standard for Permanence in Paper for Printed Library Materials. Manufactured in the United States of America. Member of the Association of American University Presses Due to variations in the technical specifications of different electronic reading devices, some elements of this ebook may not appear as they do in the print edition. Readers are encouraged to experiment with user settings for optimum results. This book is dedicated to my brother Kelly Ryan Cann (1972–2012). Kelly, here are thousands and thousands of paragraphs just for you! I love and miss you. Thanks for being my little brother. Never again will the real have the chance to produce itself—such is the vital function of the model in a system of death, or rather of anticipated resurrection, that no longer gives the event of death a chance. —Jean Baudrillard I believe that ghosts are part of the future and that the modern technology of images . . . like cinematography and telecommunication . . . enhances the power of ghosts and their ability to haunt us. — Jacques Derrida ...