When people think about death, they might plan out where they want their ashes released or which friend is best suited to perform the guitar solo of Dust in the Wind. But how many of us think about who will maintain our online presence?
Andi Prewitt has done more than ruminate over this dark social phenomenon. She conducted an in-depth content analysis on MyDeathSpace, an online depository of deceased MySpace profiles. Her research was nationally recognized by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC), where she presented a paper in August. The paper, “The Digital Boneyard: An Exploration of Death, Simulacra, and Social Networking Sites” arose from a course taught by Prof. Leslie Rill.
Andi said: “People continue to post messages, photographs, and videos, on these pages—talking directly to the deceased as if they could still see the communication. This action allows the profile to live on... The flood of comments posted online tends to get further from the source that sparked them in the first place: the individual’s death.”
In addition to researching online death memorials, Andi spends time dabbling in what some would consider an even more macabre topic: public speaking. Her passion for speech and rhetoric is evident when she encourages her students to give impromptu speeches on the park blocks. Andi enjoys helping students having fun while doing an activity that “most people are deathly afraid of.”
Andi completed her master’s degree in communication in 2010 and currently works as a news writer and part-time teacher Portland State. Although she has completed her formal studies, she says communication theory is something that will continually interest her.
Story and photo by
Melissa Shavlik |
