It is common to think about mourning someone's death. Grieving your loss and remembering fond memories of the deceased are just some of the conventional ways to grieve. However, in the present day, this solemn act of mourning has been grossly exploited when it comes to mourning public figures. In the essay “False Identifications” Diana Taylor delves into precisely this and what, in turn, it says about society as a whole. This essay will compare the public acts of mourning of Princess Diana and Farrah Fawcett; as well as contrasting the different roles the media played between the twelve year difference in deaths. In the year 1997, the tragic death of Princess Diana was felt by almost everyone as her revolutionary life came to an abrupt halt. Princess Diana, despite living in the public eye and being in turmoil at home, dedicated herself to humanitarian work. Furthermore, he broke traditions within the royal family and forever left his legacy to the English monarchy and the English people. Parades of the highest caliber organized by the royal family were published on TV and scattered on newsstands; Mourning was also felt at sea when New York graffiti artist Chico painted murals to pay tribute to his life. In fact, pain was shown everywhere in different ways, Taylor suggests that the media is the reason for such widespread acts. An interesting statement she made is: “Funerals have long served to channel and control grief. But this televised funeral, with its insistence on participation, seemed to provoke the very emotions it was designed to channel” (236). It's strange to consider how the pain of being televised seemed to spread even to the middle of the sheet of paper. Events bring us closer and do so even more if we are constantly reminded of our loss. This is a power that needs to be recognized and the media should learn to use it more carefully, and at least try to do so for the greater good of humanity, not just to temporarily capitalize on a death. Since the death of these important people in society has left an indelible mark, the media can also help make a difference. If the media can harness their collective power and channel it into more humanitarian efforts, then there is still hope for them. 2010. Biography.com. January 21, 2010, 9:38 am http://www.biography.com/articles/Farrah-Fawcett-9542358Barrios, Barclay. "False identifications". An emerging reader. 'Comp'. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2009. Print.McNamara, Mary. “Farrah Fawcett: A Legacy Greater Than Her Hair.” Los Angeles Times June 26, 2009, print.