Art 101: What is a memento mori? P.S. You are going to die

Hi this is Art 101, I’m Professor Lise. I have 17 PhDs, 3 masters and 27 BAs. I’ll be bringing you stories of art that explains the boring parts, the controversial parts and just the parts you don’t understand.

Ever feel like you’re immortal, with the strength of a thousand suns — eternal and invincible? Yeah, me too. But guess what? There’s a form of art that was intended to remind you constantly of your unavoidable, inevitable, permanent death. It’s a memento mori! Which, in Latin, means “remember death” Or, if you want to take it more personally: “remember that you must die.”

If you look at European memento mori paintings from medieval times until the 19th century, you might notice things like:

- Skulls
- Rotting fruit and flowers
- The Grim Reaper
- A deck of cards
- Hourglasses
- More rotting fruit and flowers

These were elements that painters would include in a still life, a portrait or a biblical scene to make sure you could not escape the fact that you are temporary — that one day, your hourglass will run out of sand and you, too, will rot and become a skeleton.

Sweet, right?

Thanks for joining me on this morbid edition of Art 101. I’ll be back soon with way less death.

About: Welcome to CBC Arts, your home for the most surprising, relevant and provocative stories featuring artists from diverse communities across Canada. Our job is to fill your feed with the disruptors and innovators changing how we see the country through movement, images and sound — and to inspire you to join in too.

[bruyere]

this woman has more PhDs than I have dollars

[megandill]

Great "memento mori" for my art appreciation class! I can watch more by this narrator, great quick summary of what definition is, Old Master's and Contemporary uses of "memento mori"

[jamesseymour]

This was really good. I'm subscribing

[stephlrideout]

Dang, when I applied to grad school I ultimately chose the one that didn't require me to do another bachelor's degree beforehand, because I already had 2 and having 3 would just be ludicrous. Aiight

[jake]

Not that we asked about the 17 PHDs you have but thanks

[leonard]

0:03 Forget memento mori, i need to know how you did this

[nakedmoleratambrose]

Lmao everyone dies. It's inevitable

[Patron]

That many PhDs and BAs is very attractive... Respect.

[Breakthecurses]

I bet those 17 phds was life consuming

[diecast_MikeEspo]

Cool video, i felt bad for the puppy, that its also going to die, awe .Mike Espo.

[denisla]

Wtf 17 what?!?!? I never heard of such thing i dont believe it, and even that young is she then in Guinness book of world records??? D fuck

[Perkinator]

I wonder how many people cried for Rembrandt.

[aldebaran_]

If I had 17 PhDs, 3 MAs, and several BAs, I’d mention them at the start of my Youtube videos too. Who wouldn’t?

[madiz]

Interesting how I got this in my recommended just after Unus Annus died.

[adlibruj]

Yes, memento mori, but only until next time around, just around the corner after drinking of the waters of the "river of forgetfulness". Hi and smile!

[DeconvertedMan]

:O 16 phds?! WTF. 27 bas?! ... in what?!

[belyndaca]

It would be nice if you went into way more depth. Give us way more death please 💀 share mourning traditions, like the clothing, hair work, postmortem photography, household traditions for the bereaved, there is more art then the the paintings. Also all the headstone Symbolism. I’d love a MUCH longer video on this topic.

[TroutBumm]

Momento Mori is not an exclusively Christian expression. There is record of it in polytheist Rome.

[bobbyg.]

Who's here cuz of Dead By Daylight? xD

[christianfinlayson]

These personal growth opportunities in advertising don't make sense... well sorry they do make cents... but the more expensive the book is.. it probably won't make you satisfied as finding a flyer for a lost dog who u encountered the night before... making u pay for a book is like someone calling your lost dog poster and getting u excited and build false hope.. and to say that he doesn't have ur dog but I think I saw ur dog like.yesterday.. outside Macdonald.. my gf was mad and argued with me because I forgot to bring a bigger ketchup cup.. but she doesn't know that I gave a dog my fries and she didn't want them at all.. but I accidentally spilled the tiny ketchup cups on the fries and the bitch was happy