Victorian Spiritualism: Technology, Commerce, and the Profiteering of Grief and Transcendence
Original framing: “Victorian spiritualism capitalised on the desire to transcend death to create new ways of making money” — The Conversation - Global
The Victorian spiritualist movement, as described, embodies a trickster-like inversion: the ultimate mystery of death and transcendence becomes a tangible, reproducible commodity. This is akin to Hermes or Eshu, who mediate between worlds but also play with perception and commerce, turning profound human longing into a marketplace spectacle, revealing the absurd edge of commodifying the ineffable.
Victorian spiritualism, amplified by industrial technologies, exemplifies how profound human desires for transcendence and connection with the deceased were systematically commodified into profitable enterprises.
This historical precedent, akin to trickster figures mediating between worlds and markets, highlights a recurring pattern where societal anxieties and spiritual yearnings are integrated into capitalist structures. Understanding this dynamic, which often marginalizes deeper spiritual needs in favor of market logic, is crucial for navigating contemporary industries that similarly monetize existential experiences and for developing ethical frameworks that prioritize human well-being over profit.