Selfies are the modern version of self-portraits, which have been around for centuries. People take them for different reasons, and use them to express different things.
A Mexican woman, Francesca Fierros Palomino, has come under fire for posting a selfie at her grandfather’s funeral with his coffin just behind her, captioned “Rest in Peace, granddad” with emojis depicting a coffin and an old man. Followers accused her of having poor taste and a lack of respect to her grandfather, dubbing her #LadyFuneral.
Ms Palomino’s actions have highlighted an interesting debate. While it may seem inappropriate to take a selfie at a funeral, her actions may have been well-intentioned. Selfies are used by young people to express themselves and document events in their daily lives. Posting a selfie was this woman’s way of remembering the day her grandfather passed away. We all move on from this Earth and we all want to be remembered. A funeral selfie may seem inappropriate but, if heartfelt, it fulfills an important human rite.
