The Suspension of Death. The Cryonic Utopia in the Context of the U.S. Funeral Culture
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17192/mjr.2010.15.3421Abstract
This article outlines the history of cryonics, starting with fictional novels and movies and the actual formation of the cryonic movement in the 1960s. Cryonics has been considered – by its advocates – to overcome religion by offering a technological way of immortality. Since cryonics never gained serious attention outside the United States it is promising to ask for the specific frame of American funeral culture as a condition for the emergence (and the limitations) of cryonics.
References
● Alcor, 1983 – ‘Ev Cooper. 1926-1983’, Cryonics, March 1983:7-9.
● Berger, Peter L. & R. Lieban, 1963 – ‘Kulturelle Wertstruktur und Bestattungspraktiken in den Vereinigten Staaten’, Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie 12:224-
236.
● Boussenard, Louis, 1890 – Dix mille ans dans un bloc de glace. Paris: Marpon & Flammarion. 1st ed. 1889.
● Bryant, Clifton D. & William E. Snizek, 1973 – ‘The Cryonics Movement and Frozen Immortality’, Society (11/1), Nov/Dec 1973:56-61.
● Burroughs, Edgar R., 1937 – ‘The Resurrection of Jimber Jaw’, Argosy Feb. 20. Cryonics Institute, 2003 – ‘Directors of the Cryonics Institute’, retrieved on 11/25/2005.
Retrieved from: http://www.cryonics.org/bio.html#Robert_Ettinger.
● Coffin, Margaret M., 1976 – Death in Early America. Nashville: Nelson.
● Darwin, Mike, 1981 – ‘An Interview with Saul Kent’, Cryonics, Nov 1981:13-20.
● Ibid., 1991 – ‘Evaluation of the Condition of Dr. Bedford after 24 years of Cryonic Suspension’, Cryonics, Aug 1991:22-25.
● Doyle, Richard, 2003 – Wetwares. Experiments in Postvital Living. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
● Ettinger, Robert C., 1948 – ‘The Penultimate Trump’, Startling Stories, March 1948.
● Ibid., 1964 – The Prospect of Immortality. New York: Doubleday.
● Ibid., 1967 – ‘Cryonics and the Purpose of Life’, The Christian Century 84/40:1250-1253.
● Ibid., 1989 – Man into Superman. New York: Martin’s Press. 1st ed. 1972.
● Ibid., 2002 – ‘Cryonics Institute. A brief History and Overview’, Retrieved on 11/25/2005.
Retrieved from: http://www.cryonics.org/
● Huntington, Richard & Peter Metcalf, 1991 – Celebrations of Death. The Anthropology of Mortuary Ritual. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
● Iserson, Kenneth V., 1994 – Death to Dust. What Happens to Dead Bodies? Tuscon: Galen Press.
● Jones, Neil R., 1931 – ‘The Jameson Satellite’, Amazing, July 1931.
● Jones, Tanya, 2004 – ‘CryoPreservation Case Report: The Cryopreservation of Patient A- 1099’, Cryonics 4/2004:4-11.
● Kent, Saul, 1983 – ‘The first Cryonicist’, Cryonics, March 1983:9-12.
● Kephart, William M., 1950 – ‘Status after Death’, American Sociological Review 15/5:635-643. Krüger, Oliver, 2004 – Virtualität und Unsterblichkeit. Die Visionen des Posthumanismus. Freiburg: Rombach.
● Laderman, Gary, 1996 – The Sacred Remains. American Attitudes towards Death, 1799-1883. New Haven: Yale University Press.
● Larsen, Dave, 1967 – ‘Cancer Victim’s Body Frozen for Future Revival Experiment’, In: Los Angeles Times, Jan 19.
● Lindsey, Robert, 1980 – ‘California Officials Criticize Freezing and Storing of Bodies’, New York Times, May 12.
● Mann, Laurie D., 1981 – ‘How the Cryonics Movement Thawed Out’, Cryonics, Nov 1981:9-12.
● Metcalf, Peter & Richard Huntington, 1991 – Celebrations of Death. The Anthropology of Mortuary Rituals. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
● Nelson, Harry, 1967 – ‘Rivival of Frozen Man Held Absurd’, Los Angeles Times, Jan 20.
● Nelson, Robert, 1968 – We Froze the First Man. The Startling True Story of the First Great Step toward Human Immortality. New York: Dell.
● Nowlan, Philip F., 1928 – ‘Armageddon 2419 AD’, Amazing, Aug. 1928.
● Oliver, Myrna, 1981a – ‘Distress told at Cryonics Trial’, Los Angeles Times, May 12.
● Ibid., 1981b – ‘Families Awarded Nearly $ 1 Million in Cryonics Suit’, Los Angeles Times, Jun 6.
● Perry, R. Michael, 1991 – ‘For the Record – First Suspension no ‘Slue Sky’ Event’, Cryonics, July 1991:11-12.
● Ibid., 2000 – Forever for All. Moral Philosophy, Cryonics, and the Scientific Prospects for Immortality. USA: Universal Publishers.
● Platt, Charles, 1996 – ‘The Man who Named Cryonics’, Cryocare Report 8, July 1996.
Retrieved from: http://www.cryocare.org/index.cgi?subdir=&url=ccrpt8.html Retrieved on
11/28/2005. Quaife, Art, 1981 – ‘Appeal to Members of California Cryonics Organisations’, Cryonics,
Nov 1981:29-31.
● Quigley, Christine, 1996 – The Corpse. A History. Jefferson: Mc Farland & Company.
● Ibid., 1998 – Modern Mummies. The Preservation of the Human Body in the Twentieth Century. Jefferson: McFarland & Company.
● Regis, Ed, 1990 – Great Mambo Chicken and the Transhuman Condition. Science Slightly over the Edge. Reading (Mas): Addison-Wesley.
● Rievman, Ellen B., 1976 – The Cryonics Society. A Study of Variant Behavior among the Immortalists. Diss., Florida Atlantic University.
● Russell, William C., 1974 – The Frozen Pirate. Volumes 1 and 2 (Reprint of 1887 Edition). New York: Arno Press. 1st ed. 1887.
● Sandomir, Richard, 2002 – ‘Williams Children Agree to Keep Their Father Frozen’, New York Times, Dec 21.
● Searl, Edward, 1993 – In Memoriam. A guide to Modern Funeral and Memorial Services. Boston: Skinner House Books.
● Sheskin, Arlene, 1979 – Cryonics. A Sociology of Death and Bereavement. New York: Irvington Publishers.
● Shultz, Suzanne M., 1992 – Body Snatching. The Robbing of Graves for the Education of Physicians in Early Nineteenth Century America. Jefferson: McFarland & Company.
● Stableord, Brian, 1993 – ‘Cryonics’, in The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, ed. by John Clute & Peter Nicholls. London: Orbit, 283-284.
● Snyder, Don, 1967 – ‘Couple who Nursed Cancer Victim Doubt Return-to-Life’, Los Angeles Times, Jan 19.
● Taylor, Richrd P., 2000 – Death and the Afterlife. A Cultural Encyclopedia. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO.
● Times, 1997 – ‘Still Frozen after all these Years’, New York Times, Jan 12.
● Berger, Peter L. & R. Lieban, 1963 – ‘Kulturelle Wertstruktur und Bestattungspraktiken in den Vereinigten Staaten’, Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie 12:224-
236.
● Boussenard, Louis, 1890 – Dix mille ans dans un bloc de glace. Paris: Marpon & Flammarion. 1st ed. 1889.
● Bryant, Clifton D. & William E. Snizek, 1973 – ‘The Cryonics Movement and Frozen Immortality’, Society (11/1), Nov/Dec 1973:56-61.
● Burroughs, Edgar R., 1937 – ‘The Resurrection of Jimber Jaw’, Argosy Feb. 20. Cryonics Institute, 2003 – ‘Directors of the Cryonics Institute’, retrieved on 11/25/2005.
Retrieved from: http://www.cryonics.org/bio.html#Robert_Ettinger.
● Coffin, Margaret M., 1976 – Death in Early America. Nashville: Nelson.
● Darwin, Mike, 1981 – ‘An Interview with Saul Kent’, Cryonics, Nov 1981:13-20.
● Ibid., 1991 – ‘Evaluation of the Condition of Dr. Bedford after 24 years of Cryonic Suspension’, Cryonics, Aug 1991:22-25.
● Doyle, Richard, 2003 – Wetwares. Experiments in Postvital Living. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
● Ettinger, Robert C., 1948 – ‘The Penultimate Trump’, Startling Stories, March 1948.
● Ibid., 1964 – The Prospect of Immortality. New York: Doubleday.
● Ibid., 1967 – ‘Cryonics and the Purpose of Life’, The Christian Century 84/40:1250-1253.
● Ibid., 1989 – Man into Superman. New York: Martin’s Press. 1st ed. 1972.
● Ibid., 2002 – ‘Cryonics Institute. A brief History and Overview’, Retrieved on 11/25/2005.
Retrieved from: http://www.cryonics.org/
● Huntington, Richard & Peter Metcalf, 1991 – Celebrations of Death. The Anthropology of Mortuary Ritual. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
● Iserson, Kenneth V., 1994 – Death to Dust. What Happens to Dead Bodies? Tuscon: Galen Press.
● Jones, Neil R., 1931 – ‘The Jameson Satellite’, Amazing, July 1931.
● Jones, Tanya, 2004 – ‘CryoPreservation Case Report: The Cryopreservation of Patient A- 1099’, Cryonics 4/2004:4-11.
● Kent, Saul, 1983 – ‘The first Cryonicist’, Cryonics, March 1983:9-12.
● Kephart, William M., 1950 – ‘Status after Death’, American Sociological Review 15/5:635-643. Krüger, Oliver, 2004 – Virtualität und Unsterblichkeit. Die Visionen des Posthumanismus. Freiburg: Rombach.
● Laderman, Gary, 1996 – The Sacred Remains. American Attitudes towards Death, 1799-1883. New Haven: Yale University Press.
● Larsen, Dave, 1967 – ‘Cancer Victim’s Body Frozen for Future Revival Experiment’, In: Los Angeles Times, Jan 19.
● Lindsey, Robert, 1980 – ‘California Officials Criticize Freezing and Storing of Bodies’, New York Times, May 12.
● Mann, Laurie D., 1981 – ‘How the Cryonics Movement Thawed Out’, Cryonics, Nov 1981:9-12.
● Metcalf, Peter & Richard Huntington, 1991 – Celebrations of Death. The Anthropology of Mortuary Rituals. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
● Nelson, Harry, 1967 – ‘Rivival of Frozen Man Held Absurd’, Los Angeles Times, Jan 20.
● Nelson, Robert, 1968 – We Froze the First Man. The Startling True Story of the First Great Step toward Human Immortality. New York: Dell.
● Nowlan, Philip F., 1928 – ‘Armageddon 2419 AD’, Amazing, Aug. 1928.
● Oliver, Myrna, 1981a – ‘Distress told at Cryonics Trial’, Los Angeles Times, May 12.
● Ibid., 1981b – ‘Families Awarded Nearly $ 1 Million in Cryonics Suit’, Los Angeles Times, Jun 6.
● Perry, R. Michael, 1991 – ‘For the Record – First Suspension no ‘Slue Sky’ Event’, Cryonics, July 1991:11-12.
● Ibid., 2000 – Forever for All. Moral Philosophy, Cryonics, and the Scientific Prospects for Immortality. USA: Universal Publishers.
● Platt, Charles, 1996 – ‘The Man who Named Cryonics’, Cryocare Report 8, July 1996.
Retrieved from: http://www.cryocare.org/index.cgi?subdir=&url=ccrpt8.html Retrieved on
11/28/2005. Quaife, Art, 1981 – ‘Appeal to Members of California Cryonics Organisations’, Cryonics,
Nov 1981:29-31.
● Quigley, Christine, 1996 – The Corpse. A History. Jefferson: Mc Farland & Company.
● Ibid., 1998 – Modern Mummies. The Preservation of the Human Body in the Twentieth Century. Jefferson: McFarland & Company.
● Regis, Ed, 1990 – Great Mambo Chicken and the Transhuman Condition. Science Slightly over the Edge. Reading (Mas): Addison-Wesley.
● Rievman, Ellen B., 1976 – The Cryonics Society. A Study of Variant Behavior among the Immortalists. Diss., Florida Atlantic University.
● Russell, William C., 1974 – The Frozen Pirate. Volumes 1 and 2 (Reprint of 1887 Edition). New York: Arno Press. 1st ed. 1887.
● Sandomir, Richard, 2002 – ‘Williams Children Agree to Keep Their Father Frozen’, New York Times, Dec 21.
● Searl, Edward, 1993 – In Memoriam. A guide to Modern Funeral and Memorial Services. Boston: Skinner House Books.
● Sheskin, Arlene, 1979 – Cryonics. A Sociology of Death and Bereavement. New York: Irvington Publishers.
● Shultz, Suzanne M., 1992 – Body Snatching. The Robbing of Graves for the Education of Physicians in Early Nineteenth Century America. Jefferson: McFarland & Company.
● Stableord, Brian, 1993 – ‘Cryonics’, in The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, ed. by John Clute & Peter Nicholls. London: Orbit, 283-284.
● Snyder, Don, 1967 – ‘Couple who Nursed Cancer Victim Doubt Return-to-Life’, Los Angeles Times, Jan 19.
● Taylor, Richrd P., 2000 – Death and the Afterlife. A Cultural Encyclopedia. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO.
● Times, 1997 – ‘Still Frozen after all these Years’, New York Times, Jan 12.
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The Suspension of Death. The Cryonic Utopia in the Context of the U.S. Funeral Culture. (2015). Marburg Journal of Religion, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.17192/mjr.2010.15.3421