Blog
We have been working hard on the designing and updating new version of DeadSocial. It will officially be launching at Dying Matters 'Day of the Dead Conference 2014. However, we would like to give you a little glimpse of the new site and hope your like the new style?
The new Profile page...
Leaving messages for future distribution
The new (responsive) website looks great on mobile too...
This is the first of many upcoming changes to our service. We hope that you like them.
Which London cemetery is rumoured to host a time machine? How would your body be disposed of if you were to perish in a mass fatality? Where can you visit a collection of 35,000 skeletons of deceased Londoners? What will happen to your Facebook account after you die?
Event curators Antique Beat and A Curious Invitation have programmed a London Month of the Dead to answer these and many other intriguing questions about the past, present and future of death in the metropolis.
Throughout October 2014 and concluding on All Souls Day, a series of talks and workshops will take place investigating the capital’s relationship with its late residents. You can meet an undertaker or the world’s foremost expert on near death experiences; visit the Museum of London’s bone archive or take part in a séance; learn about the history of dissection or try your own hand at it in a taxidermy workshop. A series of Sunday salons in the cemetery will centre around themes of London’s macabre heritage with talks on forgotten burial grounds, embalming techniques, the paranormal and immortality.
DeadSocial are delighted to be involved with London Month of the Dead.
The World without us - The future, fatality and Facebook A salon in the cemetery with Dr John Troyer and James Norris will take place on Sunday 26th October from 1 to 3 pm
The choices for death are increasing. DR JOHN TROYER of Bath University's Centre for Death and Society gives a glimpse into new and coming technologies of 'disposal' including green burial, freeze drying, sonic boom dispersion and holographic graveyards. He poses the question “What do you want done with your body when you die?’ and provides some possible answers with thoughts on Future Death, Future Dead Bodies, and Future Cemeteries with some surprising facts for Londoners. What will happen to our online life when we’re gone? Is a social media presence possible in the hereafter?
JAMES NORRIS, the founder of DeadSocial, will pose the question 'Have you made plans for both your digital and physical possessions? DeadSocial provide a free end of life 'digital legacy tool' enabling living Londoners to creatively cross into their real 'Second Life'. James will investigate the ways in which digital and social media are changing the ways we remember and mourn. Tickets £12 including a Hendrick's Gin Cocktail
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Dr. John Troyer is the Deputy Director of the Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath. His interdisciplinary research focuses on contemporary memorialisation practices, concepts of spatial historiography, and the dead body’s relationship with technology. Dr. Troyer is also a theatre director and installation artist with extensive experience in site-specific performance across the United States and Europe.
James Norris is a lecturer and mentor on Digital & Social Media at University College London, and founder of DeadSocial. DeadSocial is a tool that allows anyone to create scheduled messages. These are distributed across their social networks after we pass away. This allows for final goodbyes to be told whilst enabling us continue to communicate once we have gone.
ABOUT THE OTHER AMAZING EVENTS & WHERE THEY ARE BEING HELD
All the events will be hosted at the chapels in two of the capital’s great gardens of sleep, Brompton and Kensal Green. Both are part of the ‘Magnificent Seven’, the glorious septet of Victorian cemeteries that became showcases for neo-classical and new-Gothic architecture within six miles of St Paul’s Cathedral.
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A diagram of Brompton Cemetery's domed Chapel where some of the events will be taking place
Lovely Brompton cemetery where we will have our #monthofthedead http://t.co/qzwhqH4mND @suzettefield @AntiqueBeat pic.twitter.com/Dlgafd2GNw
— The Clerkenwell Kid (@realtuesdayweld) September 5, 2014
To evoke the spirits of the living as we listen to talks on death, Hendrick’s Gin have devised seven bespoke cocktails, one in honour of each cemetery in London’s Magnificent Seven and each guest will be served a complimentary cocktail of their choice.
Sadly the capital’s historic burial grounds are suffering from neglect and our talks and workshops will run in conjunction with a fund-raising appeal for the restoration of Brompton Cemetery, the 39 acre Grade 1 listed West London burial ground managed by Royal Parks. Twenty percent of all ticket sales will be donated to the conservation of this important site. The Heritage Lottery Fund has pledged a match funding campaign, meaning all donations will automatically be doubled in value and, once a total of £500,000 is reached, a further £3.7m conservation fund will be unlocked.
The London Month of the Dead has been curated by a Curious Invitation and Antique Beat to inform, entertain and provoke on the subject of death and London cemeteries whilst leaving you feeling more alive than ever. The full schedule of events can be found here: http://www.londonmonthofthedead.com
We are currently working day and night in order to ensure that the new version of DeadSocial is as good as it possibly can be. It will all be revealed at Dying Matters 'Day of the Dead Conference 2014' on the 3rd November. We do however do leave our office in Camden, London to speak at industry and public events in order to highlight the importance of death and preparing to help ensure our wishes are met whilst making it easier for those left behind
If you are able to attend any of the events that we are speaking at please let us know
- Ideal Death Show (6th September) - The Beeches, Bournville (Birmingham)
- London Month of the Dead (26th October) - Kensal Green Cemetery Dissenters’ Chapel Kensal Green Cemetery Chapel, London
- Dying Matters Day of the Dead Conference (3rd November) - Institute of Latin American Studies, University of London
- Health 2.0 Europe (11th November) - The Mermaid Conference Centre, London
- Macmillan Primary Care Conference (Thursday 27th November) Hilton, Gatwick Airport, West Sussex
- Digital Legacy Conference (TBA)
Jon Underwood gives an incredible presentation about Death Cafe at DeadSocial's Social Media Week 2014 event: 'Death Digital Demise Community and our digital legacy'.
We will be announcing our Social Media Week 2014 event very, very soon.
We recently interviewed Charles the founder of the 'Ideal Death Show' & 'The Good Funeral Awards'. In this interview Charles provides an overview about the event and insight as to whether or not it is healthy for the general public to attend such a show.
What’s your name and where do you come from?
James Norris (DeadSocial’s CEO) will be speaking about “digital death” and our “digital legacies” at the Ideal Death Show. If you are planning to attend and interested in the seminar come along! If you cannot make seminar but would like to say “hello” please visit our stand in the exhibition hall.
More information about the Ideal Death Show can be found at: www.IdealDeathShow.co.uk
Dan Shaffer at WebpageFX put together a visual guide to social media life after death. While Twitter will start deleting accounts after six months of inactivity, most other social networks won't touch your profile unless specifically asked by a family member or an agent of law enforcement.
Whether your account is left as it is, deleted, deactivated or extended using DeadSocial, your online accounts and information will help inform your legacy and digital legacy.
Over the last few years Infographics have become an extremely effective way to tell stories using data. Infographics are (in short) graphical representations of datasets. They are often focused around one or more pieces of data and provide insights into a specific subject matter.
Their visual and narrative nature have helped make a lot of information more appealing to the general public and (when telling a good story) can appeal to almost every demographic. For Dying Matters Awareness Week we launched and built an art installation called the #LivINFOGRAPHIC (living-Infographic). The LivINFOGRAPHIC lived within a physical space and used data that was being attained to alter it accordingly.
The LivINFOGRAPHIC was visited by many during it's lifespan in the ‘You Only Die Once’ Popup Shop' (69 Camden High Street, London). We took data from the ‘Digital Death Survey’ and updated it over the week. The installation was sat on 3 metres x 2 metres of real turf (grass) and lived and breathed over this period.
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The data was attained and then updated (in near real-time). Although the installation has now been dismantled the ‘Digital Death Survey’ wil remain live for the next four weeks. It is a very short and anonymous survey. If you have two minutes to spare we would still really appreciate your input: http://www.deadsoci.al/blog/114-digital-death-survey.
This survey asks questions about end of life matters in relation to our online accounts and in today's digitally connected society. The installation’s concept was devised by James Norris (CEO DeadSocial) and was built with the help of the installation and performance artist, Natalie Jackson.
The LivINFOGRAPHIC was just one of many initiatives and events hosted in the ‘You Only Die Once’ Pop-Up shop'. These included workshops, Death Cafes, live music, poetry, photography and art. Organisations involved ranged from the NHS and The Good Funeral Guide to Save the Male and The Natural Death Centre.
In the next 2-3 weeks we will release a report with the findings from the Digital Death Survey 2014. The results will be published here and on our Facebook, Google+ and Twitter pages.
We have launched the Digital Death Survey and would be very grateful if you were to fill it in. You are welcome to fill in the form below anonymously if desired.
If the scrolling action on the form below annoys you feel free to open the form in a full window by clicking on this link: http://bit.ly/Digital-Death
DeadSocial will be running a pop-up shop in aid of ‘Dying Matters Awareness Week’ again this year. Below is the full lineup of events, happenings, death cafes, performances, art installations and workshops. These range from NHS workshops to DeadSocial’s art installation that uses realtime data to update a realtime infographic (something we call a LivInfographic). This year’s theme for Dying Matters Awareness Week is ‘You only die once’.
Dialogues about Death
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Between the 6th – 9th May DeadSocial will be running a pop-up shop to help support Dying Matters Awareness Week. During this week a number of organisations, artists and charities will use the space to address end of life issues, run seminars, workshops and host Death Cafes. The ‘You Only Die Once’ art exhibition will also run in the space throughout the week & feature the internationally acclaimed artists:
Sequin Kay & Lauren Baker, Natalie Jackson, Marianne Hamel & Nikki Johnson, Janne Parvianen, Krystle Mickael & Beth Hughes
Sequin Kay & Lauren Baker - Lucid Visions
Marianne Hamel & Nikki Johnson - Trichrome of small bowel
Tim Watt Performing at DeadSocial's London party in 2013
The Pop-Up shop will conclude with the DeadSocial Party & The YODO Art Exhibition Private View. For those of you haven't attended a DeadSocial party before watch the video below (from South by South West) .
DeadSocial Launch Party video at South By South West (SXSW), Austin Texas. 8th March 2013
Sweetcorn Bread
Sweetcornbread are an original 5 piece band delivering a foot stomping blend of genres that will keep you dancing, entertained and warmed, from the melodic three part vocal harmonies to the shredding banjo riffs and electronic bass grooves. Following a BBC live session and 6music airtime of the forthcoming single release 'fajita', sweetcornbread are on the up and coming list and are certainly a band set for goodtimes.
Sweetcorn Bread, Fajitas (music video)
Timetable
Pre-Party - 6.30pm- 8pm: Save The Male.
Save the Male is a comedy, poetry and music showcase, raising awareness of the male suicide prevention charity CALM. Compered by stand-up poet Jack Rooke and curated by Cecilia Knapp, the showcase aims to encourage and inspire people of all ages to engage in creative expression.
Confirmed acts:
Laurie Bolger @lauriebolger host of standup poetry night Bang Said The Gun and radio presenter.
Zia Ahmed @ziasighs winner of Roundhouse Poetry Slam 2011
Cecilia Knapp @ceciliaknapp musician/poet and associate artist of The Roundhouse
Party Friday 8pm-11pm: DeadSocial's London Party & The You Only Die Once Art Exhibition (Private View)
(8pmish) - Paul Sant (House DJ)
(9pm) - Sweetcorn bread (folk band)
(9.45pm - 11pm) Paul Sant (House DJ)
"Thank you" Levertons for providing the drinks. Tickets for the event is free however you need to signup below ahead of the event to attain entry. If you are on an artists guestlist you do not need to register for a ticket.
How to find the party /The Collective Pop-Up Shop - 69 Camden High Street:
Stay up to date via our social media channels
Sometimes football fans can be amazing! The video below is a tribute by the German football club 'Borussia Dortmund' for the 96 Liverpool fans who were killed exactly 25 years earlier in the 'Hillsborough disaster'.
In the video the iconic Liverpool anthem 'You'll never walk alone' is sung by the football fans in the stadium exactly 25 years on from the tragedy.
DeadSocial will be running the ‘Dying Matters Awareness Week Pop-Up shop’ at the Collective Pop-Up, 69 Camden High Street, London once again this year. In 2013 the space played host to a number of events, workshops and meetups. This year organisations, charities and those working within the end of life sector are invited to propose their own events and ‘take over’ the space for periods at a time. The space will be made available for free during both the day (10am-5pm) and the evening (6pm-10.30pm).
Video from last years Pop-Up Shop
Confirmed events & participants so far include: DeadSocial's 1st Birthday Party, The ‘You Only Die Once’ art exhibition, Death Café with Jon Underwood, Leverton & Sons, The Natural Death Centre and The Good Funeral Guide. The Pop-Up shop will take place the week leading up to Dying Matters Awareness week 2014. An interactive end of life installation will be announced here (http://www.deadsoci.al/blog) in the coming days.
Organisations, Charities, Healthcare departments etc interested in hosting an event and those interested in running workshops and seminars should email proposals by Wednesday 23rd April to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Any artists interested in exhibiting in the ‘You Only Die Once’ Art exhibition should also email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Where the Collective Pop-Up Shop is located:
We are really looking forward to this years Dying Matters Awareness Week and hope that you can join us for one or more event. More information and the full schedule of events and speakers will be announced in the coming days.
About Dying Matters Awareness Week
We only get one chance to have our dying wishes met, that’s why the theme of the fifth annual Dying Matters Awareness Week is ‘Dying Matters: You only die once’. Dying Matters have a range of resources to help you get involved, including leaflets, posters, banners, advice on organising your own events and resources to help you engage with local media. More information about Dying Matters Awareness Week and the good work they carryout can be found at http://dyingmatters.org/YODO
AVG have created a new resource called 'Dealing with Digital Death'. This highlights ways in which you can get your digital affairs in order now to help make life as easier for your loved ones when you pass away.
Yesterday Russell Brand’s take on the UK News (The Trews, Episode 30) examined how the media dealt with the sudden death of Peaches Geldof. Russell states that a negative undercurrent was portrayed within the media towards Peaches death and the circumstances surrounding it. He goes on to state that this “unsavory” tone goes against the social values we adhere to.
Change?
“We need to ensure that characteristics that have proven to be successful in print media: salaciousness, intrusion, condemnation, seductiveness, simplification that kind of ideology can’t prevail because it’s inhuman. It's an inhuman ideology”. – Russell Brand, 8th April 2014