The Straight Dope: What happens to fan-made tributes?

[View this message as a web page] [The Straight Dope] 7/22/2016 Dear Cecil: In the wake of Prince’s death, I’ve read a lot of magazine special editions dedicated to him, and each contains pictures of hundreds of gifts left at his home by fans as memorials. Something like this seems to happen whenever a major celebrity dies. What happens to these items? Does the family take the stuff? Do other fans eventually take it? Does the city? Or is there possibly some foundation that deals with such things? — Trina High Cecil replies: Any parent of an all-too-prolifically creative child can sympathize with the dilemma facing the custodians of a celebrity memorial site. Think of when an offspring’s lovingly finger-painted or magic-markered artworks have papered the entirety of the refrigerator and threaten to consume all available wall space in the house. Then even the most doting patron has to make a decision: store these masterpieces lovingly away, or surreptitiously trash them and hope the artist never asks where they went. For more, see: [ STRAIGHT DOPE STAFF REPORT — 06/28/2000 Dear Straight Dope: Why are pistachios colored red? — Vita M. Haake SDStaff Jillgat replies: This practice has an ancient history, rooted in Hindu mythology. The goddess Kali, wild-woman consort to Shiva, is often portrayed naked with a long tongue and bloody fangs. She's got dark skin and red eyes, wears a necklace of skulls and has a number of arms carrying unspeakable things. She laughs loudly and dances madly. Forget horses — Kali rides lions and tigers. One might think she's dangerous and out of control, but I tell you, it gives you a sense of peace and security to have her on your side. She is powerfully destructive but also awesomely creative. And it's not a party unless she's there. For more, see: [ STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC — 03/28/2003 Dear Cecil: I like to read the Straight Dope columns on religious artifacts. You have covered the Ark of the Covenant and a little bit about the Dead Sea scrolls, and I would like to know about the Holy Grail. I wasn't born into a Bible-reading family, so my knowledge of the subject is limited. I know it was used by Christ at the Last Supper and was used by Joseph of Arimathea to gather the blood of the fallen Christ. I want to know some more of the details surrounding it, and what some theories are regarding its location today. Also, are there still people searching for it? — Nelson Bartlett Cecil replies: Nelson, we need to get with the program here. The Holy Grail is an invention. It turns up in works of fiction. Some of the works in question are classics, notably Thomas Malory's Le Morte Darthur ("The Death of Arthur," c. 1470), in which the Grail — reimagined as a symbol of mystical union with God — is the object of the prototypical knightly quest. The notion of a quest for a talisman of incomparable value still fascinates romantics (and not a few screenwriters) lo these many centuries later. But the object of the quest, to some extent then and certainly now, is little more than a McGuffin, to use Hitchcock's term — a pretext that propels the story. You might as well search for Excalibur, or for Frodo's magic ring. For more, see: [ YOUR AD HERE! Your direct line to thousands of the smartest, hippest people on the planet, plus a few total dipsticks. For rates and details contact Rich at [rhummel@suntimes.com]. Copyright © 2016 Sun-Times Media, LLC. This email was sent by The Straight Dope, Sun-Times Media, LLC., 350 N. Orleans, 10th Floor, Chicago, IL 60654 [Unsubscribe/update preferences] This email was sent to {EMAIL}. To change or update your newsletter subscription preferences, or to unsubscribe from all Chicago Reader and Straight Dope newsletters and promotional communications, [click here]. Please allow 72 hours for this change to take effect.