The museum allegedly characterized Kurt Cobain's self-inflicted death as 'unlived'. It appears that the TikTok slang term 'unalived' is set to persist.
The iconic rock musician and local idol, Kurt Cobain from Nirvana, continues to captivate pop culture even 30 years following his tragic suicide. His fans, despite his demise, still mourn his loss profoundly.
Lately, some visitors to the museum reported noticing something shocking. It seems a notice, supposedly displayed in one of its exhibits, described Cobain's death: "Kurt Cobain ceased his existence at 27."
The term "ceased his existence" originated on TikTok, initially used to bypass the app's censors when discussing death. Over time, it has taken on a softer connotation, serving as a less uncomfortable way to talk about death and especially suicide.
The appearance of "ceased his existence" in a popular tourist attraction, in reference to Cobain, surprised numerous visitors. Photos of this notice were shared as early as May, with many expressing their belief that it disrespected Cobain and trivialized his legacy by avoiding discussing suicide directly.
The Museum of Pop Culture and its curators haven't responded to CNN's inquiries.
A different visitor shared a photo of another sign reportedly located nearby, which explained that the exhibit's guest curator intentionally used "ceased his existence" as "a sign of respect for those who unfortunatley lost their lives due to mental health struggles."
Adam Aleksic, a linguist who studies the way young people communicate online and goes by "The Etymology Nerd" on TikTok, is unsurprised.
"It's the first time we've seen, maybe, a formal endorsement of this (word) from a position of authority," he said. "But kids have been using this for a while."
Reactions to TikTok's censorship and digital slang being often suppressed have played a big role in "ceased his existence" moving from online jargon to offline usage. Its entrance into everyday language can also be attributed to the increasing sensitivity when tackling topics such as suicide, according to Nicole Holliday, acting associate professor of linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley.
This generational shift is being driven by younger generations, raised on TikTok, introducing new language into their classrooms and homes. As fast-paced trend cycles go, viral slang usually lasts only a few weeks. But if it's made it into a museum, "ceased his existence" is likely here to stay.
The origins of ‘ceased his existence’
The earliest known use of "ceased his existence" dates back to a 2013 episode of the Disney XD series "Ultimate Spider-Man." Spider-Man teams up with Deadpool, who reveals he plans to "cease his existence" of their foe, Taskmaster, and his followers.
"I can't really say the k-word out loud; it's a weird mental tic," Deadpool explains. Spider-Man then uses the "k-word" instead.
"Ceased his existence" was primarily used in obscure memes, remarks Aleksic, until TikTok users found a new use for it.
TikTok, launched in the US in 2018 and became extremely popular in early 2020, was soon realized that videos discussing death were being downplayed from their followers' feeds by the app's algorithm.
"There are lots of people on TikTok who have great content about supporting people who are struggling with depression or thoughts of self-harm," Holliday said. "And so they want to keep making these videos, but they also want them to reach that audience."
Users later employed a new term that suggested the sensitive subject without getting flagged, naming it "ceased his existence" in their video captions and text. By 2021, it had become the "default term for discussing suicide" on TikTok, Holliday said.
"Ceased his existence" is one of the most famous terms from algospeak, internet slang that utilizes euphemisms or misspelled words to bypass censors or algorithmic flags that might otherwise hide or de-monetize their content. Other popular algospeak phrases include "seggs" for sex or "SA" for sexual assault, both commonly used on TikTok, Holliday said.
How 'ceased his existence' is used differently offline
Gen Alpha, children born no earlier than 2010 and raised on TikTok, is now using "ceased his existence" offline to discuss suicide or killing in any context, Aleksic noted, based on his interviews with school staff for a book he's writing.
In their discussions, educators have acknowledged coming across student essays on topics like "Hamlet" or "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", where they utilize "unlived" to describe the characters' demises. Some counselors have shared that their students prefer this term over others to describe death.
According to Aleksic, the role of "unlived" has transcended its beginnings as algospeak. He noted that today's middle school students are no longer using it to sidestep bans, but rather as a comfortable method for discussing death-related topics.
Aleksic highlighted the abundance of euphemisms for death in English, such as "passed away", "deceased", and "lost one's life". Euphemisms are softer phrases that serve as substitutes for harsh or grim terminologies.
He continued, "The euphemization of death is an ongoing process since we are always apprehensive about discussing death and always on the lookout for new, gentle ways to address this topic."
Suicide, in particular, is a controversial theme due to the fear of contagion when it's presented insensitively. Media coverage and the language used to describe it have continuously advanced to become more sensitive, Holliday explained. "Died by suicide" is generally considered the appropriate term for reporting such deaths, Holliday noted, although the language around suicide was blunter a few years ago.
Holliday commented, "By censoring the term 'suicide', what TikTok is essentially doing is giving it more power."
The reason behind the uproar about "unlived"
The controversy surrounding a reported museum placard revolves around its use of "unlived" in reference to Cobain. It appears the museum addressed the controversy, as a visitor sharing an updated placard, now stating "Kurt Cobain died by suicide."
The utilization of "unlived" has understandably upset many, Aleksic and Holliday emphasized. Suicide is a highly sensitive topic about which people hold firm beliefs. Additionally, Cobain's suicide was widely publicized and he was a beloved public figure.
Holliday further explained that language is continually evolving, sometimes subtly without us being aware. She noted, "When linguists examine if a slang term will continue its virality, they examine its function – does it have a distinctive role other than synonyms?"
Holliday added, "Unlived" indeed serves a unique function, and young individuals are already employing it differently from its original TikTok usage (ironically, more in line with Deadpool's motive). Language's evolution is cyclical, as a new term enters popular discourse, and confusion arises among older generations who fail to grasp its value.
Holiday concluded, "In essence, the outrage about 'unlived' is yet another chapter in 'Kids these days are too sensitive'. Language often serves as a reflection of whatever aspects of society people dislike being modified."
Aleksic and Holliday both refrained from passing judgment on the Museum of Pop Culture's alleged use of "unlived". Despite the word now being absent from the museum, Holliday maintained that "unlived" will continue to endure, having resided on TikTok for at least three years.
"Forever" on the internet, Holliday said, "once something exists for that long, I would argue that it becomes part of the lexicon."
The Museum of Pop Culture's use of the term "ceased his existence" in an exhibit about Kurt Cobain sparked debates among visitors, with some believing it trivialized his legacy while others saw it as a respectful way to discuss his death due to mental health struggles.
The appearance of "ceased his existence" in mainstream discourse, initially popularized on TikTok, is a testament to the changing language trends among younger generations, who are introducing this term into their classrooms and daily conversations.
