Experiencing and Understanding the Death of a Pet
Gaillemin, Bérénice
Experiencing and Understanding the Death of a Pet - 2009.
61
The pet cemetery of Asnières is the oldest in France. Built in the 19th century for practical reasons, it already witnessed a change of behaviour of the masters toward their pets. To some extent we can compare it to a normal cemetery. In that perspective, we will try to demonstrate how, in this original necropolis, a complete freedom of speech unfolds. Through our systematic analysis of the recent tomb decorations, and thanks to several interviews led in 2000 and 2005, we could observe, in this mausoleum garden, a great deal of decorative exuberance and a great faculty of communication that goes beyond the stereotypical anthropomorphism of many excessive pet owners. The creation of a funerary art could be the reflection of a developing freedom, careless of norms, spreading from the image of man’s alter ego, an exceptional pet, or a special being, thanks to whom a real community of believers was created in Asnières.
Experiencing and Understanding the Death of a Pet - 2009.
61
The pet cemetery of Asnières is the oldest in France. Built in the 19th century for practical reasons, it already witnessed a change of behaviour of the masters toward their pets. To some extent we can compare it to a normal cemetery. In that perspective, we will try to demonstrate how, in this original necropolis, a complete freedom of speech unfolds. Through our systematic analysis of the recent tomb decorations, and thanks to several interviews led in 2000 and 2005, we could observe, in this mausoleum garden, a great deal of decorative exuberance and a great faculty of communication that goes beyond the stereotypical anthropomorphism of many excessive pet owners. The creation of a funerary art could be the reflection of a developing freedom, careless of norms, spreading from the image of man’s alter ego, an exceptional pet, or a special being, thanks to whom a real community of believers was created in Asnières.
Réseaux sociaux