TED Tech Whitney Houston Hologram: The Zombification of an Icon | There Are No Girls on the Internet
May 16, 2025
In this engaging discussion, spirituality writer Brooke Obie unpacks the complex legacy of Whitney Houston through her hologram performance in Las Vegas. She dives into the ethical implications of resurrecting deceased icons and the impact on fans and families. Obie also addresses the commercialization of grief and the exploitation of Black artists in entertainment. As technology blurs the lines between memory and reality, she raises thought-provoking questions about authenticity and consent in our digital age.
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Zombification of Whitney Houston
- Whitney Houston's hologram residency raises concerns about consent and exploitation after death.
- The term "zombification" relates to forcing the deceased to perform as a form of free labor for profit.
Erasure of Whitney's Identity
- Whitney was stripped of her Black identity and queerness to gain white mainstream appeal.
- Now as a hologram, she is a sanitized, marketable version generating profit without her full essence.
Perpetual Profit from Black Artists
- Black artists are often expected to be perpetual sources of profit, even after death.
- Technology could further facilitate this exploitation without their consent.