Museum Catches Heat Over Verbiage

A museum in Seattle is catching heat over a Nirvana exhibition which states that Kurt Cobain “un-alived himself.”

According to photos posted online from the Museum of Pop Culture exhibit, a placard states that “Kurt Cobain un-alived himself at 27” before it goes on to explain that a host of other artists of the same age also died under tragic circumstances including Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.

Another placard explains the use of the term “un-alive”, stating:

“In the digital age, social media influences how online communities engage in discussions, particularly around sensitive topics like mental health. One example is the term ‘unalive’, which has emerged online to describe death by suicide or homicide. Users on social media platforms created this term to navigate around algorithms that censor content related to mental health and explicit topics. ‘Unalive’ has sparked constructive conversations, especially among young people, addressing issues such as depression, anxiety, and suicide. In this exhibition, the Guest Curator has chosen to utilize the term ‘unalive’ as a gesture of respect towards those who have tragically lost their lives due to mental health struggles. By bringing awareness to this language, we aim to foster meaningful dialogue and raise awareness about the complexities of mental health and language in our society.”

What do you think of the term “un-alived?”