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仰恩大学 - 《仰恩大学报》

The Undertones of the Funeral Photo

作者:Jessica  (Xu  Yimian)    
2024-08-12    

As early April brings its drizzly days, the Qingming Festival quietly approaches. For many, tomb-sweeping stands as the primary ac‐tivity during this solemn occasion, inherently linked with themes of death and sorrow. It inevi‐tably evokes thoughts of funerals, prompting recollections of a particular video that has cap‐tured widespread attention: the touching story of a young man resonating with a posthumous photo. This incident serves as a powerful testa‐ment to the profound essence of funeral photog‐raphy—love.

A recent online sensation titled Shooting Photos for Funeral showcases the heartwarm‐ing tale of Wu Muliang, a blogger who em‐barked on a heartfelt mission. Inspired by his grandmother's poignant query, "Do you have any photos to develop for my future use?" (a eu‐phemism for "funeral"), Wu was struck by the realization that despite years of smartphone us‐age, he possessed no such photos. Determined to rectify this, he decided to capture a photo of his grandmother, only to be surprised by her re‐quest to have her hair darkened and to don her finest attire. As the camera clicked, she shylysmiled, appearing as youthful as an 18-year-old. This touching moment prompted a wave of en‐thusiasm among the elderly in the village, who eagerly sought to have their photos taken as well. Moved by this experience, Wu crafted a powerful video that soon spread like wildfire on‐line.

Beneath the lens, there's a thought-provoking reflection on human nature. In an age dominated by cell phones, we often take the most cherished aspects of life for granted. While technology affords us unparalleled conve‐nience and efficiency, it has led to a neglect of capturing meaningful moments with our loved ones. We assume that time stretches endlessly before us, failing to recognize the unpredictabil‐ity of life. However, the reality of sudden part‐ings serves as a sobering reminder that mo‐ments shared with loved ones are fleeting. The comments section of the aforementioned video reveals heartbreaking tales of regret, underscor‐ing the importance of preserving memories through photography. As the film Coco poi‐gnantly asserts, "Death is not the end of life, for‐getting is. " Photographs immortalize cherishedmemories, serving as enduring reminders of love and connection.

Furthermore, the video sheds light on the attitudes of the elderly towards death, challeng‐ing preconceived notions held by younger gen‐erations. Far from being reticent, the elderly embrace the opportunity to have their photos taken, exuding joy and enthusiasm. Their radi‐ant smiles convey not fear of death, but rather a readiness to bid farewell to the world. As Hino‐hara Shigeaki, a Japanese centenarian, aptly stated, "There is no need to elude death since no human can escape it." Embracing death with courage and acceptance, the elderly view fu‐neral photography as a means of leaving behind a lasting legacy for their descendants.

Ultimately, the true essence of a funeral photo lies in love—a powerful force that tran‐scends fear and transforms our perceptions of death. Through the stirring narrative of Wu Mu‐liang and the village elders, we are reminded to cherish life's precious moments, express our love openly, and confront death with courage and resilience.