Monday, November 12, 2012

Going Out in Style

Funerals are sad occasions, as the circle of family, friends, and acquaintances becomes broken with the loss of someone dear to them.  And there's the chill draft of mortality that we mostly successfully ignore on an everyday basis but now must be confronted!  In dealing with this final passage, different cultures have evolved different coping rituals or activities.

In New Orleans, for example, we have the Jazz Funeral, the wake or visitaton, above-ground graves, and the decoration of the cemeteries for All Souls' Day (Nov. 2).  And some families do have the Irish wake, with its sometimes comical eulogies and imbibing of alcohol. 

However, in Taiwan there is a custom of having strip teasers provide entertainment at funerals.  It is considered respectful there to have this kind of entertainment.  Some elderly persons have expressed their wish that they have strippers to provide entertainment; they take it as a sign of respect for the deceased for a large number of people to show up and apparently they try to sweeten the occasion with stripping and pole dancing.

I have no idea how this would play here: surely the ministers and priests would object to strippers comingling with a religious ceremony; and our would-be-orators might find making a eulogy after the bumps and grinds to be a tough act to follow!  On the other hand, strippers go provide a true indication that life must go on!  Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Still, it's something to think about.  I wonder if they could get some Chippendales guys to dance when I meet my demise?

http://jalopnik.com/5820328/the-funeral-strippers-of-taiwan


16 comments:

Dianne said...

nothing really shocks me
and I try to never judge
this just seems tacky
and expolits the young women
then again, I've been to many a tacky Irish wake for family

I want a party and a concert and then cremate and send me a flying

Anonymous said...

Maybe they could have twirling tassels!

Mike said...

I think I'm going to go die in Taiwan..... wait....

Elvis Wearing a Bra on His Head said...

It sounds like it would beat the type of funerals that Baptists have hands down! Not to mention those interminable Fundie ones!

I want my funeral to be held at the Boobie Bungalow in Southern Tennessee.

Kristen Drittsekkdatter said...

I think that this is truly despicable and vulgar. Why do some people make even funerals into occasions to wallow in squalor? I agree with Dianne, this exploits young women. It makes older men into beasts.

Duckbutt said...

It would definitely increase attendance at funerals. Even more than when the office-seekers go to visitations near elections.

It would also provide more employment for strippers.

Elvis Wearing a Bra on His Head said...

Stripping is one of the seven lively arts.

bakku-shan said...

It sounds kind of campy, in a way! Would she also perform lap dances?

Big Sky Heidi said...

For what it's worth, strippers can make great annual incomes in some locales. Strangely, one of those is North Dakota.

Jon Frum said...

I woun't mind seeing a traditional Taiwanese stripper funeral. It sounds like it could lift people's spirits, or something else! Like trouser tents?

eViL pOp TaRt said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
eViL pOp TaRt said...

Dianne -- Yes, it is a bit tacky. But, surprisingly, tacky is no stranger anywhere.

Anon -- And where would those tassels go?

Elvis -- That sounds like a classy place.

Mike -- Don't be too quick to go.

Kristen -- Obviously, this is not for everyone; nor is wedding bungee jumping.

Bakku-San -- I don't know. Hopefully, not for the Guest of Honor.

Heidi -- I was amazed; some strippers make more than $100,000/year.

Jon -- It can raise those too.

Juliette said...

Why is people getting drunk at a funeral more meritorious than is watching someone strip?

Jay said...

There will definitely be strippers at my memorial service. But, they'll be in the crowd mourning with the rest of the folks who attended.

Jay

Bilbo said...

If there's going to be dancing at my funeral, I'd just as soon it was me doing it.

The Mistress of the Dark said...

I would think he would have preferred the strippers when he was alive to enjoy them!