Human Remains: Medicine, Death, and Desire in Nineteenth-Century Paris (Forms of Living)

Human Remains: Medicine, Death, and Desire in Nineteenth-Century Paris - Uncover the Macabre Roots of Modernity Delve into the unsettling and fascinating history of death's medicalization in 19th-century Paris with Jonathan Strauss's groundbreaking work, "Human Remains: Medicine, Death, and Desire in Nineteenth-Century Paris." This illustrated paperback edition offers a compelling exploration of how anxieties surrounding the dead profoundly shaped the physical and intellectual landscape of one of the world's most influential cities. Before the late 18th century, the living and the dead coexisted intimately within the bustling heart of Paris. Cemeteries were integrated into the urban fabric, and the deceased were generally treated with a degree of reverence within the community. However, this paradigm shifted dramatically as burgeoning ideas about public health began to take hold. Driven by a desire to sanitize and control the environment, authorities initiated a series of measures aimed at exiling the dead from the city's core. Burial grounds were relocated to the periphery, and corpses were increasingly perceived as dangerous sources of contagion, sparking new fears about the potential for disease and decay. Strauss masterfully argues that this growing preoccupation with mortality was inextricably linked to the rise of modernity itself. The burgeoning fields of biology and hygiene sparked a fundamental re-evaluation of life and death, animating anxieties that fuelled societal transformation. The Paris we know today, with its grand boulevards, meticulously planned infrastructure, and rigorous public health regulations, emerged in large part from these concerns. The question of how to manage the relationship between the animate and inanimate became a central preoccupation of architects, urban planners, doctors, and philosophers alike. "Human Remains" goes beyond a simple historical account, dissecting the complex psychological underpinnings of this transformation. Strauss contends that the dead became an object of intense fascination, simultaneously inspiring fear and a morbid curiosity. He meticulously examines how this "exuberant anxiety" fueled the medical imagination, motivating attempts to understand, categorize, and ultimately control the decaying body. The book unearths the irrational and even erotic forces that were at play as medical professionals sought to grapple with the enigma of death. Drawing on a rich tapestry of sources from diverse disciplines, including history, literature, the visual arts, philosophy, and psychoanalysis, Strauss presents a multi-faceted and thought-provoking analysis. He explores the cultural and intellectual shifts that led to the re-evaluation of death. Explore the literary works of the time, and the art, which reflected the evolving attitudes towards mortality. Strauss brings these various threads together to provide a comprehensive picture of how the dead became a central preoccupation in the Parisian imagination. "Human Remains" is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of medicine, urban studies, cultural history, or the philosophical implications of mortality. It offers a unique and compelling perspective on how our relationship with death has shaped the world we inhabit. Prepare to be captivated by Strauss's insightful analysis as he uncovers the dark and complex legacy of death in the City of Lights. This illustrated edition enhances the reading experience, bringing to life the visual culture of 19th-century Paris and its fascination with the human form and the mysteries of mortality.