These Were People Once: The Online Trade in Human Remains and Why It Matters

People buy and sell human remains online, primarily through social media. A study analyzes the vast volume of social media posts to understand how the 21st century understands and constructs heritage, highlighting the individual expertise and desire for community and validation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 236 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2023
Publisher: Berghahn Books

Online trading of human remains has become a prevalent practice, particularly through social media platforms. In their comprehensive study on this "bone trade," the authors employ a diverse range of methods derived from the digital humanities to analyze the vast abundance of social media posts. Through this analysis, they seek to unravel the workings, significance, and implications of this online exchange. The findings shed light on how the 21st century perceives and constructs heritage, emphasizing the individual's expertise while simultaneously seeking community and validation. This phenomenon resembles the practices of major encyclopedic museums, which, like digital neocolonialists, establish hierarchies and distinctions based on the Othering of the deceased.
Online trading of human remains has become a prevalent practice, particularly through social media platforms. In their comprehensive study on this "bone trade," the authors employ a diverse range of methods derived from the digital humanities to analyze the vast abundance of social media posts. Through this analysis, they seek to unravel the workings, significance, and implications of this online exchange. The findings shed light on how the 21st century perceives and constructs heritage, emphasizing the individual's expertise while simultaneously seeking community and validation. This phenomenon resembles the practices of major encyclopedic museums, which, like digital neocolonialists, establish hierarchies and distinctions based on the Othering of the deceased.

Online trading of human remains has become a prevalent practice, particularly through social media platforms. In their comprehensive study on this "bone trade," the authors employ a diverse range of methods derived from the digital humanities to analyze the vast abundance of social media posts. Through this analysis, they seek to unravel the workings, significance, and implications of this online exchange. The findings shed light on how the 21st century perceives and constructs heritage, emphasizing the individual's expertise while simultaneously seeking community and validation. This phenomenon resembles the practices of major encyclopedic museums, which, like digital neocolonialists, establish hierarchies and distinctions based on the Othering of the deceased.

Weight: 470g
Dimension: 158 x 251 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781805390862