Dead bodies and re-symbolization of death in the television

Abstract

This paper presents some preliminary reflections about the configurations that some audiovisual texts show of electronic corpses – or the representation, trough sound and image, of dead bodies. In this way it claims to examine the process of symbolization of death by the media. Therefore the article intends to suggest a reflection about how the media deals with one of the deepest and most disturbing issues that human beings have to face. It is suggested that the exposition of electronic corpses, specially in certain contemporary television series like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, implies a re-symbolization of death, increasing its iconicity and reducing the frightening potential of its essence, and thus turning it into something more digestible and even trivial.

Key words: television, semiotics, death, electronic corpses.