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DEATH
To The Best of Our Knowledge
from Wisconsin Public Radio
A Swedish environmentalist believes we really should
give back to the earth, even after we've died. Her company is trying
to replace cremation with a technologically-enhanced form of organic
composting, and she's already got the support of King Carl Gustav
and the Church of Sweden. In this hour of To the Best of Our
Knowledge, we'll explore the curious lives of human cadavers
with author Mary Roach. And Lisa Lieberman on the history of suicide.
SEGMENT 1:
Mary Roach is the author of Stiff: The
Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. She reads from the book and
tells Anne Strainchamps about observing an anatomy class. Roach
also talks about a modern way to recycle the cadaver that has
the approval of the Catholic Church. Also, Dr. Bill Bass
is a forensic anthropologist and founder of The Body Farm at the
University of Tennessee. It's the one place in the world devoted
to the study of human decomposition. Bass tells Steve Paulson
why he needed the Body Farm and what he does there. Bass is the
co-author (with Jon Jefferson)of Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary
Forensic Lab, The Body Farm, Where the Dead Do Tell Tales.
SEGMENT 2:
Lisa Lieberman is the author of Leaving
You: The Cultural Meaning of Suicide. She tells Jim Fleming
about the suicide of her grandfather and the extravagant narratives
left by 19th century suicides.
SEGMENT 3:
Eric Idle is a former member of the Monty
Python comedy group and is now touring solo across America. When
his tour stopped in Madison, he talked about death and comedy
with Doug Gordon. And we hear some classic Python bits. Also,
novelist Jonathan Carroll tells Steve Paulson about his
book White Apples. It's the story of a man who finds out
he's already dead, and the afterlife is right here.
Cassette copies are available
at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 03-11-23-A.
................................................................
Books:
- Mary Roach, Stiff:
The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers (W.W. Norton)
- Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson, Death's
Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab, The Body Farm, Where
the Dead Do Tell Tales (Putnam)
- Lisa Lieberman, Leaving You: The Cultural
Meaning of Suicide (Ivan R. Dee)
- Jonathan Carroll, White Apples (Tor
Books)
Music:
- -- "O Death"/Ralph Stanley
from the CD, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack
(Mercury)
-- "Dead"/They Might Be Giants from the CD, "Flood"
(Elektra)
http://www.tmbg.com/froMain.html
- -- ""Decomposing Composers"/Monty
Python from "Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album"
from the CD, "The Instant Monty Python CD Collection: Volume
#5" (Virgin)
- -- "Job Interview"/Mark Adler from the
CD, "Focus: Original Score" (Milan)
http://www.milanrecords.com
- -- "Courtship"/Mark Adler from the CD,
"Focus: Original Score" (Milan)
http://www.milanrecords.com
- -- "Bring Out Your Dead"/Monty Python
Clip from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" soundtrack
from the CD, "The Instant Monty Python CD Collection: Volume
#4
(Virgin)
Links:
Distribution dates:
................................................................
Questions and comments can
be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org
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