Discussion Is this a beautiful death?

[MeltingHeart]

The Heartbreaking Story Of Evelyn McHale, The Woman Whose Death Became A Famous Photo

As her last wish, Evelyn McHale didn't want anyone to see her body, but the photo of her death has lived on for decades as "the most beautiful suicide."

allthatsinteresting.com

Its certaintly a striking photo, and not what you would expect a post jump death to look like (seen a few by mistake too). I wouldnt mind leaving a photo of myself like this behind- she does look so stangely peaceful-on top of a limo too! you couldnt make it up. She stated that she didnt want anyone to see her body- so it seems silly in that case to jump off the empire state building-but anyway...Is this image beautiful? can death- even documenting it in art be considered a thing of beauty- I guess it depends on yr view of aethetics and why or how we can define something as such- does it have to be pleasing to look at or just awe inspiring or can it just have some emotional resonance with the viewer that evokes or reflects the nature of the human experience- even if that sometimes may include tragedy and sadness, as I feel is the case with this picture.

 

[Soul]

It's certainly a striking image, but I wouldn't call it a beautiful death unless it saved others from worse fates, freed some captives, rescued some shelter animals or something like that.

 

[MeltingHeart]

It's certainly a striking image, but I wouldn't call it a beautiful death unless it saved others from worse fates, freed some captives, rescued some shelter animals or something like that.

not sure how it would do that but yeah that would be good! I just feel like as a photo its techinically good - framing, depth of field etc, but also I am magnetised to it- not sure if it is just my current state of mind or just in the sense that many of us do have a morbid fascination with death that is why its so hard to not half look out the window when there has been a car crash or something...not sayin everyone does but many people do almost without thinking! Maybe I just used to read to much J.G.Ballard.

 

[WhiteDespair]

The amount of things that had to go right for that photo to even exist is astounding.

 

[MeltingHeart]

The amount of things that had to go right for that photo to even exist is astounding.

Totally! Looks like a movie still-but nope, real deal.

 

[Im2high4this]

> dying wish; dont want anybody to see dead body

> becomes most infamous picture of a suicide body

Although to be fair, she probably shouldn't of chose the Empire State Building if she didn't want anybody to see

 

[Rachel74]

Death shouldn't be beautiful but this somehow is.

 

[MeltingHeart]

> dying wish; dont want anybody to see dead body

> becomes most infamous picture of a suicide body

Although to be fair, she probably shouldn't of chose the Empire State Building if she didn't want anybody to see

I know its sad irony isnt it...but yeah not the best choice of location!

 

[a_strange_day]

This photo is just...The first time I saw it 10 years ago I honestly thought it was a fake, like magnificiently arranged. I can't help but think it's extremely beautiful, almost supernatural.