The late Jane Birkin, a celebrity whose death rocked a generation.

Karis Tavernier-Nicholas

The death of British-French actress and singer Jane Birkin has provoked widespread mourning, both on social media and beyond. How do celebrity deaths spark such a resurgence in popularity and consumption?

Jane Birkin was renowned for the free-spirited way in which she lived her life, from her style to her music to her films. She mastered the effortless French-girl-bohemian-chic look and, since her death, it’s easy to find social media posts celebrating her style. They offer tips on how to achieve her look, such as accessorising your outfit with a straw basket similar to the one Birkin brought along with her to the 1974 Cannes Film Festival red carpet.

Since her death, there has been a reported spike in the Gallic look on resale sites, not least her eponymous Hermes handbag, with fans seeking to emulate her iconic style. But this deep dive into the archives of a celebrity’s life following their death isn’t uncommon.

Mourning and Memorialising Celebrities

The recent death of Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor sparked continuous days of tributes and remembrance. Many looked back on her most impactful moments —including her infamous 1991 Saturday Night Live performance, during which she tore a picture of the Pope in protest of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church — and celebrated the wider social and political commentaries of her music. Following this SNL performance, she was by and large shunned for her act and her career was derailed. Yet, in the wake of her death, tributes poured in from celebrities and politicians alike.

“We mourn their loss almost as much as we mourn the loss of people we know”

Our parasocial relationships with celebrities are often one-sided and impersonal. But the imprint they leave on our lives – whether that be through song, film, or artwork – is felt so deeply that we mourn their loss almost as much as we might mourn the loss of someone we know.

Cultural Impact Beyond the Grave

Perhaps the most infamous of all celebrity deaths, the death of Princess Diana in 1997 — who, by the time of her death, had become more akin to a celebrity than simply a member of a royal family — generated profound, worldwide mourning.

“Princess Diana has cemented herself as an icon among Gen Z”

The Princess’ death seemed akin to the world losing a beloved family member. So much so that even I, born almost three years after her death, feel affected simply from hearing the numerous stories told by my family, particularly the ones of when they first heard the news, and the annual showing of documentaries, such as Investigating Diana: Death in Paris on Channel 4.

Since her death, Diana’s popularity has only increased. Despite having never been alive in the era of social media, she has found an audience and fan base among Gen Z. From her fairytale-turned-nightmare marriage to the then Prince of Wales to her influential fashion to her approachability, Princess Diana has cemented herself as a timeless icon in a subversive fashion: as an internet meme.

However, the death of a beloved celebrity is marked differently from that of a relative or friend. In the aftermath of a celebrity’s death, it is common to see a rise in associated merchandise sales, including fashion similar to theirs — as we are now seeing following Birkin’s death.

In the wake of the death of Kurt Cobain in 1994, sales of Nirvana’s music skyrocketed. This was also the case in the aftermath of George Michael’s death. Following Michael’s death in 2016, documentary releases, the most recent of which is Netflix’s Wham!, have continually demonstrated an ongoing interest in the singer’s life.

Next year will mark 30 years since Cobain’s death, yet Reddit pages with fans sharing their devastation are as prevalent as ever.

Although I’ll stop short of cutting a fringe, having wised up from previous experiences, it is with this devotee sentiment that I’ll buy a wicker basket to use as a handbag, in honour of Jane.

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Featured image courtesy of deepskyobject via Flickr. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.

Karis is a writer and student based in London. Instagram: @karistaverniernicholas

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