Memento Mori Festival
with The Philosophical Research Society

On Saturday, September 7, join us for a day-long symposium—revolving around the theme of memento mori, Latin for “remember you will die”—on PRS’s beautiful 1930s Mayan revival campus, a designated Los Angeles historical and cultural landmark. Founded in 1934 by mystic and esoteric author Manly P. Hall as a center of learning and a repository of multicultural wisdom sources, today PRS is a vibrant organization “dedicated to the ensoulment of all arts, sciences, and crafts.”

Over the course of the day, you will have the unique chance to learn from—and mingle with—some of the most exciting scholars, artists, and performers working at the intersections of art, history, philosophy, and mortality. Connect with members of the Morbid Anatomy and Philosophical Research Society communities in person, while exploring how the contemplation of death can enrich your life and inspire a deeper appreciation for the present moment.

We very much hope you can join us for this exciting, enlightening—and, perhaps paradoxically, life-affirming!—event.

Symposium Lineup (Click here for more details on talks and speakers)

12:00 · Introductory Remarks

12:30 · Memento Mori: The Art of Contemplating Death to Live A Better Life
Joanna Ebenstein, Morbid Anatomy Founder and Creative Director

1:00 · Where There is Death, There is Life
Sarah Chavez, Executive director of the Order of the Good Death

1:30 · The Watseka Wonder
Asti Hustvedt, Independent Scholar and Author of Medical Muses

2:00 · Memento Oblivisci (tr. Remember You Must Forget)
Richard Faulk, translator of Frederik Ruysch and His Thesaurus Anatomicus: A Morbid Guide

2:30 · Remember You Must Die. Might as Well Talk About It
Jillian A. Tullis PhD, Professor in the Department of Communication

3:00 · Stage 4 Cancer and My Night Sea Journey to Wellness
Independent Scholar of Religions Amy Slonaker, JD, PhD

3:30 · “A Smile that Makes Forever:” A Memento Mori of Teeth
Devon Deimler, PhD, Pacifica Graduate Institute

4:00 · Musings on Dead Birds
Liz Andres, Morbid Anatomy Mythologist in Residence

4:30 · Death in the Permafrost: Arctic Mementos Mori in the Age of Climate Change 
Colin Dickey, author of Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places and co-editor of The Morbid Anatomy Anthology.

5:00 · Persephone's Beauty Cream
Maryam Sayyad, PhD, Mythological Studies Scholar

5:30 · Book Signings

Special Tours (Limited to 30 VIP Ticket Holders)

• Getty Gallery tour, exploring highlights from the Getty’s collection through a morbid lens, led by arts educator—and Morbid Anatomy Mythologist in Residence—Liz Andres. (Sunday afternoon, September 8)

• Philosophical Research Society Historical Architecture tour, led by PRS board VP Ann Burckle, where you’ll discover the hidden mysteries and the historically significant features of this Mayan revival landmarked building (Saturday morning, September 7)

DANSE MACABRE AFTERPARTY WITH PERFORMANCES, DJS, AND DRINKS

Saturday, September 7 from 8 pm - 11 pm
Philosophical Research Society (3910 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027)

Join us in the atmospheric courtyard of the Philosophical Research Society, and connect with the Morbid Anatomy community in person, over drinks! Enjoy a phantasmagoria-inspired magic lantern show by Melissa Ferrari and Epitaphs, an audio-visual performance by author and podcaster Al Ridenour, while DJ SV68 and the Mystical Sea Hag spin dark disco and other oddities for a Danse Macabre in the courtyard. More about the performances and their makers here.

DAY 2: CURATED OFFSITE EVENTS

Sunday, September 8; click here for details.

Please note: Refunds are not available for this event.