Anthropology

Death, Dying and the Corpse

Module code: L6307A
Level 6
30 credits in autumn semester
Teaching method: Workshop
Assessment modes: Project

This module will introduce you to various perspectives on death, dying, and deceased bodies. You will explore different crosscultural understandings and real-world approaches to provoke critical inquiries. These questions include topics such as:

• the definition of death
• the nature of a corpse
• cultural practices related to the dead
• the impact of technology, art, and media on our perceptions of, and relationships with, the dead.

It also considers the role of violence in our understanding of death and the concept of a 'good death'.

The main goal of this module is to expand your awareness and comprehension of diverse approaches to death and dying. It encourages you to examine how different cultures and contexts shape people's attitudes towards death and the dead, prompting reflection on issues such as mass killings, inequality in treatment, and the political and social implications of how we treat the dead for the living. This will help you gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be human in contemporary society.

Module learning outcomes

• Demonstrate understanding of death studies in international perspective
• Compare different understandings of death and dying using appropriate theoretical and conceptual tools
• Apply cross cultural understanding on death and the dead to communicate a comprehensive understanding of the variety of death practices, and their wider relation to social worlds
• Understand and communicate in-depth case studies on death, dying, and/or dead bodies