Untitled (deceased man in coffin in funeral home, close up) c. 1950

Curator: This photograph, taken by Harry Annas, presents a deceased man in a coffin, within a funeral home. Editor: It's stark, isn’t it? Almost clinical. The close-up creates a kind of uncomfortable intimacy. Curator: The materiality of the coffin itself, the plush fabric and ornate detailing, speaks to the commodification of death rituals. Think about the labor involved, the industries supported... Editor: It's as if, even in death, we’re still performing. The stiff collar, the pristine white shroud…a final, perfect presentation. A poignant, if unsettling, reflection on how we package mortality. Curator: Absolutely. Annas pushes us to consider the socio-economic structures inherent in mourning. Editor: It's a harsh, but necessary view. It holds a mirror to our own anxieties. Curator: Indeed, hopefully it's something our listeners will also reflect on.