Came across what I thought at first was a tasteless, crass, and opportunistic new product/service offered to the bereaved - a multimedia tribute to the deceased encased in a gravestone, monument or panel at a mausoleum. Can you imagine visiting a cemetery, going up and down the rows, and watching 5 minute videos of dead strangers?!
Here's what I read at their website:
The VIDSTONE Serenity Panel is the first personal memorial monument product of its kind. Utilizing solar-power technology and a weatherproof LCD panel it provides families the option of viewing a personalized video tribute right at their loved one’s final resting place. The VIDSTONE Serenity panel features a 5-10 minute multimedia memorial detailing the most precious memories of your loved one’s life. Their unique memories are no longer solely relived in your mind , but at your loved one’s place of rest. While nothing ever replaces the gift of life, memories can now come one step closer to forever being remembered and not forgotten with a Vidstone Serenity Panel.
How lowbrow. But then I got to thinking, wouldn't that be a genealogist's dream-come-true? Instead of filling in the dash between the dates with cold hard facts, you could catch a glimpse of the person's soul. It would be especially meaningful to family members and future generations. And, I'd have to admit, it would be interesting to those of us who can imagine visiting a cemetery and going up and down the rows looking at the tombstones of dead strangers!
After all, what's wrong with remembering a loved one via a short slideshow? We do that at funerals and memorial services, and even on our computers. We've always been "multimedia" people - from story tellers and balladeers to movie makers and modern artists. So why not have an ongoing medium to remember a friend or family member? At the cemetery, you ask? Well, does the location matter? Thoughts and comments please.
Reflecting on John 11.1-45
GT
Hey, you asked the right person! I just met with a cemetery client of mine and they are thinking of ordering up this "lowbrow, crass, tasteless, opportunistic" product of which you speak. :-) And at first I thought...great idea! For people who never really knew their ancestors, what a great way to pass along important tidbits that do show more than just the cold hard facts. And we are multimedia people these days (good, bad or indifferent). But (big BUT), I must admit there are aspects of it that are just as you described, especially when you imagine that kids will run through the cemetery late at night and set all the videos going at once (kind of like the Halloween display at Walmart right now, with the talking/singing/dancing whatnots, that are kept talking/singing/dancing continuously by the push of a button). And how long will they really last? Will they even last to the next generation? We've all seen disintegrated photos of the deceased on tombstones. I'm not so sure I like the idea. Whatever happened to the oral tradition? Or even keeping track of these soulful tidbits in a family album/journal/Bible and simply using the written word, keeping private information in the hands of just the family? Count me "skeptical."
Posted by: Gwynne at September 12, 2005 10:45 AM
