The Person Holding the Phone

In this paper, I present a personal case study centered on my experience of attending my grandfather's funeral virtually in 2023. This event serves as a lens to explore broader themes of mediated grief work and the integration of digital media into experiences of death and mourning. Drawing on Bruno Latour's actor-network theory, I analyze the formation of temporary digital mourning assemblages, examining the ties that connect participants both on the ground and online. A key focus is the role and impact of the human actor within technological and media interfaces. The person operating the phone, capturing images, and managing the technical aspects of a Zoom call is often overshadowed by discussions that prioritize the technology itself.