Opinion Piece | I See Dead People

Words: Caroline Foran

OK. Remember when people died and you'd say RIP? Last time I checked it meant 'Rest in Peace' not 'Resurrect In Profit'. RIP was a phrase founded on the idea that when someone, (depending of course on your particular religious persuasion) passes to the next life, you put them to rest in respect of the life they lived. You don't employ advancements in technology to resurrect them, take them on tour or use them to condone the consumption of Pepsi.

It's one thing bringing unfinished recordings of late superstars to the attention of their grieving fans. Those recordings actually happened while they were still alive so in my book, that's OK. Releasing that to the public still retains a certain level of respect and dignity. Making money off touring a 3D hologram of the dead person, however, doesn't.

As expected, the Tupac Coachella stunt reverberated right around the world and was greeted by a largely positive reception. It was cool. It was novel and it had never been done before. But it's the potential for this technology that worries me. It's the ignorance of our most fundamental human ethics that causes concern. If our technological know-how allows it, then where does it stop? Tupac will likely go on tour. Or as Canada's Metro mused earlier today, they could bring Jacko back in hologram form so that him and his brothers could relive the Victory Tour of 1984. The original The Who line-up could do another farewell tour. Kurt Cobain and Jimi Hendrix could collaborate. Ray Charles could once again sit at his piano. Then there's Elvis, Johnny Cash, and what about Marilyn Monroe? Will she grace us once more with a glimpse of her underwear as she did in The Seven Year Itch? I hope not. These people died and most of them died tragically. Am I alone in thinking that this is innately sick?

Ever since Tupac graced that Coachella stage, what were once far fetched ideas became not so far fetched at all. There are already reports that TLC are to Bring Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes' hologram along for the ride of their 20th Anniversary tour. What becomes somewhat sickening is not that they'd resurrect someone who has been dead for quite some time, but rather the reality that they'd make far more money from a spectacle that, let's face it, without which, the tour wouldn't happen. Why see just T Boz and Chilli when you can add Left Eye into the mix as well?

Worryingly, it's not just the fans or artists (still living) who'll profit from such unnatural occurences. It's corporate giants like Pepsi. Reported by Ireland's Metro just today, Michael Jackson's resurrection could be sooner than we think. Despite being brown bread for the past three years, poor oul Jacko will continue, against his will (how does free will work when you're dead anyway?) to attach his name to media campaigns.

Pepsi have announced a deal with Jackson's estate to use his image in a new global adverts campaign. Will they use footage from those videos of his ghost lurking around Neverland? How will it work? As per the Metro, this is how: The promotion will include a TV ad along with special edition cans bearing the late singer's image and chances to download remixes of his biggest hits. What's more, it's not only nostalgia they're exploiting to meet their financial ends, it's also the painful memory of Jackson's hair famously catching fire while filming an ad for the soft drinks giant back in 84.

'I know!', some heartless corporate mogul probably said, 'Let's bring back a dead superstar whose head we singed, a man killed by acute propofol intoxication or, if you will, the manslaughter on the part of his doctor, and capitalise on all the joy it will bring to his fans.' What a nice idea.

I'm actually looking for a celebrity to endorse my new brand of cheese burgers. I reckon Elvis would be a good fit and sure he's not going to mind is he? Better yet, maybe Buddy Holly could come back and promote that new airline I'm launching.

Ignorance is bliss, when you're six feet under.

Story by EI Team | 09:00 | Friday 4th May 2012 | Other

673

Comments

• elky

  well at least MCA can rest assured his head will forever be kept alive on futurama. mayve that is the way forward>>?

  Posted 17:06 | Sat 5th May 2012

Log in to leave a comment

Login or register to leave a comment

Enter your email:

Enter Password: Lost Your Password?