Paper short abstract:

This paper will synthesise several years of research and publication on the phenomena of spontaneous shrines and the public memorialisation of death. As an emergent mourning ritual, I will suggest the properties of this phenomenon, their public and political natures, and suggest the concept of the 'ritualesque' as a means of understanding these and other emergent public display events.

Paper long abstract:

This paper will synthesize several years of research and publication on the phenomena of spontaneous shrines and the public memorialisation of death. As an emergent mourning ritual, I will suggest the properties of this phenomenon, their public and political natures, and suggest the concept of the "ritualesque" as a means of understanding these and other emergent public display events.