Death of A Posthuman
David Bullard
United States of America
Syracuse University, 2019
Carolina Hasbun Elias
Dominican Republic
Syracuse University, 2019
Death of A Posthuman
#Ritual #Posthuman #Identity #Anthropocene #FlatOntology
The culture of death in the 21st century has evolved to demand an architecture that acknowledges changes in culture and impact on the natural environment. 21st century humanity presents two realities; the split presence of the digital and physical identity, and advancements in science and biotechnology that facilitate augmented humanity. This merging of human and technology, defined as posthuman, makes it more plausible to memorialize and mourn the human in the absence of the body. We propose a new architecture for the physical disposal and memorialization of dead bodies and their digital counterparts, where the separation of memorial from the corporeal can be achieved. We see architecture as the medium through which this new death ritual is created; becoming the space that narrates, memorializes, and recycles our posthuman bodies. This project recycles and exports organs, e-waste, and compost from the decedent, seeking to memorialize the disposal process of the digital and physical, human and non-human facets of the 21st century identity. In doing so, we level the importance of human and non-human and critique the current processes accorded to human death and come to realize that the environment can no longer afford for humans to treat themselves with greater value.