After witnessing two deaths in the same year a few years ago, I realized that dying portrayed in movies is nothing like the real thing. I'm sure there are instances of peacefully slipping away, but in these cases, even unconscious, there was a prolonged "death rattle" and then a last gasp and a terrified expression that came over their faces. It's jarring to see, to say the least. It certainly gave a strong sense of finality even though we knew it was coming.
It's a terrible thing. I think lots of fiction does a disservice to people when it shields us from painful truths. Another big one is "happily ever after," or "finding closure."
Also, I liked the quote from Hasids: “like a finger plucking a hair from a glass of milk.” That is sort of like Death- Distasteful, gross, messy, and ultimately, once you see it, you don't want to have anything to do with it.
A REALLY uncomfortable truth is that the circumstances of death can be funny. I have often been accused of being "callous" and "mean" when I see the humor in death. You are, of course, correct. Death is "often painful, brutal, and excruciating." But it is part of life. I think in some ways rivaled only by birth in importance. That said, just living is "often painful, brutal, and excruciating." But it's also often damned funny, joyful, and awesome. I have been attempting to get into the heads of my characters and figure out what they are feeling at any given moment, then write with the emotional "tone" that they would be feeling. It has slaughtered my productivity. However, the little that I have accomplished seems solid.
After witnessing two deaths in the same year a few years ago, I realized that dying portrayed in movies is nothing like the real thing. I'm sure there are instances of peacefully slipping away, but in these cases, even unconscious, there was a prolonged "death rattle" and then a last gasp and a terrified expression that came over their faces. It's jarring to see, to say the least. It certainly gave a strong sense of finality even though we knew it was coming.
It's a terrible thing. I think lots of fiction does a disservice to people when it shields us from painful truths. Another big one is "happily ever after," or "finding closure."
Also, I liked the quote from Hasids: “like a finger plucking a hair from a glass of milk.” That is sort of like Death- Distasteful, gross, messy, and ultimately, once you see it, you don't want to have anything to do with it.
A REALLY uncomfortable truth is that the circumstances of death can be funny. I have often been accused of being "callous" and "mean" when I see the humor in death. You are, of course, correct. Death is "often painful, brutal, and excruciating." But it is part of life. I think in some ways rivaled only by birth in importance. That said, just living is "often painful, brutal, and excruciating." But it's also often damned funny, joyful, and awesome. I have been attempting to get into the heads of my characters and figure out what they are feeling at any given moment, then write with the emotional "tone" that they would be feeling. It has slaughtered my productivity. However, the little that I have accomplished seems solid.
Yes, I also am a fan of morbid humor. ;)