Debate Over ‘Un-Alived’ Term on Kurt Cobain Placard at Seattle Museum

An exhibition at Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) has ignited a fervent discussion surrounding the use of the slang term “un-alived.” The controversy stems from a placard at the exhibit that stated Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain had “un-alived himself at 27.”

Kurt Cobain tragically died by suicide at the age of 27 on April 8, 1994. The museum displayed this fact on an informational card about the “27 Club,” which is a group of artists who passed away at the young age of 27. However, instead of the phrase “died by suicide,” MoPOP chose to use the internet slang “un-alived.” The placard read, “Kurt Cobain un-alived himself at 27.”

MoPOP further justified their choice of words by placing another card explaining the social context of the term in the digital age. They mentioned that “the Guest Curator has chosen to utilize the term as a gesture of respect towards those who have tragically lost their lives due to mental health struggles.” This explanation, however, did not sit well with many visitors.

On Saturday (Aug. 10), Stereogum highlighted that many people on social media were comparing the use of “un-alived” in conversations about mental health to George Orwell’s dystopian novel “1984.” Orwell’s concept of “Newspeak” in the novel involves a government-directed language that limits critical thinking by simplifying words with the prefix “un,” rather than expanding vocabulary.

One comment on X (formerly Twitter) remarked, “This is what George Orwell was warning us about with 1984.” Another added, “That moment when it wasn’t the government but YouTube and social media which caused Newspeak from 1984 to become a real thing.” The commenter argued that private companies like social media platforms should uphold free speech since they have become the modern-day “town square.”

Not everyone shared this criticism, though. A different user on X offered another view: “It’s MoPOP who cares. Their exhibits talk in internet lingo all the time because it’s about pop culture. It’s basically a glorified collection showcase.” This perspective suggests that people overreacted because they expected a more traditional approach from a museum.

Another user humorously added, “This will help them [the museum] go viral on TikTok,” implying that the controversy might boost the museum’s online presence rather than harm it.

By Sunday evening, the discourse had taken another turn. An updated photo showed that the wording on the placard had been changed. The controversial term “un-alived” was replaced with “died by suicide.”

The museum’s attempt to navigate a sensitive topic using contemporary slang has opened up a broader conversation about language, mental health, and the balancing act between respecting individuals’ struggles and maintaining a level of respectability and accuracy in more formal settings like museums. The MoPOP incident serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in blending internet culture with real-life discussions and the various interpretations it can provoke among different audiences.

Source: Stereogum, X