Alissa Bennett’s Taxidermist’s Handbook offers a compelling anthology of essays and zines from her Dead Is Better series, exploring the often macabre fascination with celebrity, death, and fandom. Blending investigative reporting with lyrical prose, Bennett examines how public figures are preserved in collective memory, dissecting obsession, legacy, and the ethics of cultural immortality. The book, praised by outlets like LA Review of Books and Vogue, presents a unique take on how narratives around fame and mortality intertwine in the digital age.
About the Author and Origins
From Fashion Model to Cultural Critic
Bennett began her career as a fashion model before transitioning to writing and podcasting. She co-hosts The C Word with Lena Dunham, where she delves into cultural history and the lives of women who were misrepresented or misunderstood.
Zines and the Dead Is Better Project
Since 2016, Bennett has self-published five issues of her Dead Is Better zine, each focusing on celebrity deaths, fan communities, and taboo behaviors. These works garnered attention from major publications including The New York Times, Vogue, and SSENSE.
The Taxidermist’s Handbook Anthology
Compilation of Works
The Handbook assembles all five Dead Is Better zines alongside additional essays from Bennett’s other publications. A new introductory piece frames the collection, guiding readers through her thematic lens on fame and cultural decay.
Formatting and Distribution
The second edition spans 374 black-and-white pages under a color cover, with a limited print run of 500 copies. Initially launched at the L.A. Art Book Fair, it reflects Bennett’s status in the independent publishing scene.
Major Themes and Insights
Celebrity and Death
Bennett treats celebrity deaths as cultural artifacts, examining how society taxidermies public figures through fascination, mythmaking, and media spectacle.
Fan Cultures and Obsession
The collection dives into fan forums, tabloids, and online communities, revealing how obsessive behaviors and rumor fueled fandoms shape public memory and identity.
Justice, Power, and Narrative
She delves into how media narratives uphold, challenge, or distort historical truths and justice particularly in cases where the deceased are misrepresented.
Critical Reception
Acclaim from Critics
Ariella Garmaise at LA Review of Books praised the anthology for transforming cultural detritus into thoughtful critique, calling it a softcover anthology of all 5 books with a new introductory essay by Bennett.
Fan and Reader Responses
On Goodreads, the Handbook holds a 4.46 average rating from 13 reviews, with readers describing it as a treasure trove of knowledge on celebrity lore and gossip.
Structure and Content Breakdown
- Five Dead Is Better zines: Each issue investigates different celebrity deaths and fandom phenomena.
- Addendum essays: New writings that expand the themes beyond the original zines.
- Introductory framing: Reflections by Bennett providing context and cohesion.
Stylistic Approach
Investigative Narrative
Bennett combines journalistic methodology with archival research and internet forensics, sifting through public forums and obscure sources to uncover lesser-known truths.
Lyrical Cultural Criticism
Her writing balances analytical depth with evocative storytelling, creating an emotional resonance while exposing hidden patterns in obsession and grief.
Significance in Indie Publishing
Bringing Zines to a Wider Audience
By compiling and professionally publishing her self-released work, Bennett helps elevate zine culture long seen as fringe into recognized literary territory.
Limited-Edition Artistic Appeal
The small print run and indie design reflect care, intentionality, and a collector’s value, aligning the Handbook with handmade art publications.
Who Should Read It
- Fans of celebrity culture and true crime interested in deeper analysis
- Readers in fandom studies or internet culture
- Anyone curious about death, memory, and mythmaking in modern media
Alissa Bennett’s Taxidermist’s Handbook stands as a bold and introspective collection that challenges readers to rethink how we remember and mourn celebrities. Through cultural criticism rooted in zine aesthetics and investigative rigor, Bennett crafts a space for dialogue about obsession, storytelling, and preserving legacies in the social media era. A unique hybrid of scholarship and empathy, the Handbook invites us to question who gets remembered and how.
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