Scott did his dissertation on death and cinema. We were talking tonight, as we have over the years, about filmed representations of death and what they signify.

Are we seeking an answer that can never be provided? Are we voyeurs? Are we trying to quantify the incomprehensible? Do we just like the patent falsity of Faces of Death?

Tonight a new aspect of the argument arose: Technology as a means of making images of death accessible to just about anyone, anywhere. To wit: YouTube, Google Video, or any one of a number of sites showcasing more gruesome fodder. Adam also brought up the point that with most people owning cell phones, we have at our fingertips a video camera ready to capture anything at any time.

The question most certainly is not Are we interested in death? We all are. It may not even be Do we want to see it? In a way, I think we all do, even if we're too scared to actually look.

Scott's question: What is the exact moment of death? Can that be captured?

Define the exact moment of death. Is it when the last breath leaves the body? The soul? Is it before? We'll never know unless it's too late to describe.