Memento Mori: What are they, and can creepy as f* art make your more productive?

Today we’re talking memento mori, those creepy paintings and objects featuring skulls and death that are supposed to remind you of your own mortality. Why have such a thing? Why have so many artists produced them? What are some famous examples of memento mori? Can reflecting on your own inevitable death boost your creativity and productivity, or are memento mori just creepy, depressing, and dangerous? What are the alternatives? I’ll be interviewing fine artist Linda Cosgrove, who collects and frequently paints memento mori, and I’ll be drinking a cocktail called Satan’s whiskers. I'll also talk Damien Hirst, Cezanne, Picasso, and more.