Passing

Passing

Passing is a profound exploration of racial identity, societal expectations, and the intricate dynamics of friendship and betrayal. Nella Larsen delves into the complexities of race and colorism in 1920s America, portraying a society where appearances are carefully curated, and personal identity is often sacrificed for social acceptance. Through the intertwined lives of Clare Kendry and Irene Redfield, the novel examines how race can be both a barrier and a means of survival, as well as how it influences personal choices and relationships. Since its publication, Passing has been acclaimed for its nuanced portrayal of identity and the tensions surrounding race and class. The novel's exploration of these themes has inspired academic discussions and adaptations in various forms, including films and theatrical productions. Its characters, particularly Clare and Irene, have become central to debates on identity, autonomy, and the pressures of societal norms. The novel remains relevant today due to its incisive critique of social constructs and its portrayal of the personal and collective struggles tied to race. By addressing issues of belonging, self-perception, and the cost of conformity, Passing continues to resonate as a powerful commentary on the human experience in the face of societal expectations.

Materialities of Passing

‘Passing’ is a common euphemism for the death of a person, as he or she is said to ‘pass away’ or ‘pass on’. This open-ended saying has at its heart a notion of transformation from one state to another, which in turn grants the possibility of grasping or approximating the passage of time and the materiality of death and decay. This book begins with the idea that since all material things - whether animals, human beings, objects or buildings - undergo some form of passing, then the specific transformation in these passages and the materiality actively given to it can offer us a grasp of otherwise precarious temporalities. It examines how human beings strive to relate to the temporal dimension of death and decay, by giving new shape and direction to being and by examining its natural transformations. Focusing on the materiality of passing, and thereby the relationship between embodiment, temporality and death, Materialities of Passing offers rich case studies from Europe, Papua New Guinea, South Africa and the Russian Far East for exploring the material, spatial and directional aspects of the very interface between life and death. As such, it will appeal to scholars of anthropology, death studies, archaeology, philosophy and cultural studies.

The 1931 International Code of Signals