2016 saw an unusually large number of 'celebrity' deaths. Does God want us to take something from this?

For some reason, 2016 was characterised by an unusually large number of deaths of well-known people, whose lives were brought close to ours through the media. This is thought-provoking for a celebrity-conscious, media-driven generation, but in what way?

Suddenly many household names who seem so familiar and even dear to us, have gone – and many at relatively young ages. This in a world where terrorism and war are also constantly focussing our attention on lives cut short through death. Do we look on life and death as we ought, or is there something unreal in our perceptions of the world?

Distant Worlds Brought Near

On 30 December 2016, a summary was published by the BBC featuring 34 pictures of some of the most widely-known celebrities who died during the year, as well as a list of two to three hundred others. The list includes figures from the worlds of music, film, TV and theatre, comedy, writing and publishing, broadcasting, politics, society, science, sport and public service - all seemingly distant worlds brought close to us through modern electronic facilities.

In some ways this instantaneous digital world can be artificial, whether we immerse ourselves in music, sport, comedy or even politics. Its artificial nature suddenly becomes more palpable when so many people, whose lives impacted a generation, have been taken away.

In our somewhat artificial, media-driven culture, do we look on life and death as we ought?

The End of an Era?

Many of these deaths seemed to herald the end of an era, often bringing shock to ordinary members of the public. The deaths of popular musicians and singers including David Bowie and Prince, also Jimmy Young, brought a sense of deep loss for some and nostalgia for others. A few years ago, sportsmen like Muhammed Ali seemed invincible as he caught the attention of a generation in the boxing ring.

Familiar faces have suddenly disappeared forever from our TV and film screens, including Ronnie Corbett, Alan Rickman and Gene Wilder, also Terry Wogan – whose warmth of character made him a national treasure. World leaders and generation changers including Fidel Castro and Shimon Peres have gone. Some religious leaders whose thinking influenced their generation (sometimes controversially), such as Rabbi Lionel Blue and Bishop David Jenkins, are no longer with us.

Some of those who have passed away did so with particular poignancy. Among these was film star Debbie Reynolds, who died on 28 December - one day after her actress daughter Carrie Fisher (known for her role in Star Wars). Carrie had told "her Mom" of her love for her shortly before she died on 27 December.¹ Debbie told her son shortly before her stroke a day later, "I miss her so much. I want to be with Carrie". So mother and daughter died on consecutive days, expressing their desire to be close in this world or a world to come. So near to the end of a difficult year with many other losses, this news story seemed to have special resonance.

Many of these deaths seemed to herald the end of an era.

It is not my purpose here to comment on the contribution to our lives made by any of these people - although it must be said there were many of true faith on the list. The title 'celebrity' does not necessarily imply a life that is of itself a bad or a good influence on the rest of us.

Why not look over the entire BBC list and see what thoughts and emotions are inspired in you? It will be different for all of us, prompting memories of times of laughter or of serious thought, or stimulating respect, maybe nostalgia, or thankfulness.

Is God Speaking?

But why so many in one year? One answer lies in the fact that the 'baby boomer' generation has put more people in the public eye – as has more prolific and immediate media technology. So in human terms, we can rationalise the fact that so many well-known people have died in one year. Even though that is so, is God also saying something to us?

One danger in our media age is an element of unreality. The various presentations of celebrity, from huge music festivals and concerts to social media gossip, to the imaginary stories of TV or film, create a different sort of reality from that experienced by previous generations.

Even though these people have passed away they will continue to 'come back to life', in a way, when we see them again on the screen. Might this lead to an unrealistic view of death – even a denial of it - in our celebrity-conscious generation (have they really died? Are they actually immortal?)? Many people could not accept the sudden death of Elvis Presley in 1977, for example, and some people continue to think he is still alive now.

Does our celebrity-conscious culture lead to an unrealistic view of death – even a denial of it?

The large number of deaths this year prompts us to consider whether or not there is a growing attitude of unreality in our culture towards issues of life and death. This might especially be the case amongst young people, who increasingly live their lives immersed in different kinds of virtual reality through their phones and tablets.

Facing Up to Mortality

God's time came for so many well-known people this year, whatever their eternal destination. They were mortal just as we are, yet our artificial culture can blur this truth.

In all this, particularly at the turn of the year in a shaking and confused world, are we being reminded that all are mortal and that there is a serious side to life (and death) that media presentations do not always convey? Is God intending us to think on this mortality and the real priorities of life and death, which can often be masked by the more artificial aspects of our lives?

What do you think?

References

1 Wheat, A. Singin' in the Rain Star Debbie Reynolds Dies One Day After Daughter Carrie Fisher. People.com, 29 December 2016.