Throughout history, societal views on death have varied greatly. After all, death is an integral part of our existence. Everyone will have to confront death in their lives, whether it is grieving about the loss of a loved one or understanding and processing our own death.
In many ancient societies, death was seen as a natural part of the life cycle and was often surrounded by ritual and ceremony. Death could be seen as a transition to the next life or a reunion with deceased ancestors. Particularly notable in this period, is how these ancient burial ceremonies often served as a way for communities to come together and mourn the loss of a loved one. Furthermore, these ceremonies often had a religious or spiritual significance, which brought people together in a shared belief or tradition.
Nowadays, death is often viewed as a taboo subject, as something to be avoided or denied at all costs. In the Western world, death is now often seen as a failure of medicine and science. This has led to a focus on extending life at all costs, even when a person is terminally ill or experiencing significant suffering. Moreover, the funeral industry has fallen into the capitalist system, now the focus is on profit and competition, rather than on community and collective support. This can also lead to a lack of cultural sensitivity and a disregard for traditional funeral customs, instead promoting a culture of death denial and avoidance, rather than helping people process death and grief in a healthy and meaningful way.
These two different perspectives on death, it being a natural part of life and it being a failure, has had a big influence on how differently society has viewed and interacted with death. Because of the current climate surrounding death, a growing movement that is gaining more popularity nowadays, is following a more holistic approach towards death and dying. That recognizes the importance of not only the physical aspects of end-of-life care, but also the emotional, social, and spiritual needs. People are finding new ways to involve their community into creating a meaningful and personal experience surrounding the loss of a loved one, often reviving old practices or by trying to personalize the funeral to reflect the individuality of the person who died.
In his book The Modern Art of Dying, Lavi (2007) writes about the development of euthanasia in the United States from the early 19th century to the present day and analyses the cultural and social factors that have influenced the debate. When explaining the etymology of euthanasia, a good death, and the perceived notions of what should contribute to that, which were held in the past, Lavi looks at the definition of art by the German philosopher Martin Heidegger (1960), that art should symbolize its totality, for it is more that object and context, and proposes that we should think of death as art too, as it symbolizes the totality of life. We can find this idea back in a lot of ancient burial customs, where the rituals performed not only focused on death but also the life lived and the life after death.
One example of this is the site of the Stonehenge. Stonehenge was not only used as a religious or spiritual site, but also as a place of burial. Archaeological excavations have revealed that Stonehenge was a cemetery during its early history, with cremated human remains buried within the monument. The burials, which date to around 3000 BCE, suggest that Stonehenge had a special significance to the people who constructed it. The combination of its use as both a religious site and a cemetery has led some experts to suggest that Stonehenge was a place where the living and the dead were brought together in a shared cultural and spiritual landscape.
Another way to illustrate how death can be seen as a performance, is to look at what was considered a good death in Middle Ages. During this time in Europe, Christianity became the dominant religion, and the Catholic Church gained a lot of power. The Church did not only have influence over society, politics, culture and the economy, it also held influence over the way people saw death. In the Middle Ages, a good death was considered one that was peaceful, painless, and above all, pious. The concept of a good death was heavily influenced by the Christian beliefs of the time and the idea of an afterlife. During the Middle Ages, death was a common, as the average life expectancy was low, and death could come suddenly and unexpectedly, as seen in the prevalence of ‘memento mori’ as symbolic trope. Therefore, there was a great emphasis on preparing for death and ensuring that it was a good one.
A pious death was one that followed the teachings of the Church and demonstrated a strong faith in God. The dying person was expected to have a strong devotion to God and to have lived a virtuous life. Pain was seen as a punishment for sin and the dying person was expected to endure it stoically. A pious death was seen as evidence of salvation and a guarantee of a place in heaven. To help with the preparation for death and pass away in a peaceful and spiritual way, two Latins texts, the Ars moriendi, were written in the early 15th century, intended for not only clergy but also laypeople. The texts became incredibly popular and were widely distributed throughout Europe. The texts explain how to make a good confession, how to prepare one’s soul for death and how to make peace with one’s enemies. The texts include illustrations depicting the good death, in which the dying person is surrounded by family and friends, with a priest who administered the last rites.
With the developments during the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment, religion’s role in society began to shift. The authority of the church and traditional religious teachings were called into question, as Enlightenment thinkers such as Voltaire and Rousseau advocated for a more secular and rational approach to understanding the world. During this time, the role of doctors underwent significant changes. They began to rely more heavily on observation, experimentation, scientific methods to treat illness, and began to use new technologies such as the microscope and the thermometer. Doctors became more focused on the empirical study of the human body and the treatment of disease. They began to focus more on the patient as a whole, rather than just the disease. The idea of preventative medicine began to take form, and the importance of understanding the patient’s environment and lifestyle was emphasized.
Doctors now were not only treating illness, but also caring for the dying. While they were unable to prevent death, they shifted their focus to addressing the emotional and psychological aspects of dying, such as hopelessness and pain. Doctors began to use a more empathetic approach, instead of relying on religion to provide hope for an afterlife, they sought to provide hope for a cured illness. This shift in perspective led to the development of what was called ‘heroic medicine,’ where aggressive and invasive treatments were applied to the critically ill trying to restore their health. This approach to medicine fell out of favor as more gentler and less harmful methods were developed.
Today, heroic medicine is generally considered outdated and is not used in modern medical practice, however this altitude of extending life at all costs is still very much present in the medical field. The French sociologist and philosopher Jean Baudrillard (1994) describes this mentality in his book “The Illusion of the End”. Building on the ideas of the medieval French philosopher Michel de Montaigne, Baudrillard feels that death in our contemporary society has become a form of entertainment, rather than something to be feared or mourned. Baudrillard suggests that death has become a technique, becoming something that society can manage and control. Advances in medicine and technology have made it possible to prolong life and delay death, giving the impression that death can be defeated. This has led to a culture of death denial and avoidance, rather than accepting death as a natural part of life.
An example of this can be found in the work of professor Andrea Maier, an aging researcher and professor of gerontology. According to Maier (Engels, 2022) aging can be seen the process of damaged cells due to use of the body, therefore aging can be seen as a disease which can be cured, making sure that the patient can live longer.
A more extreme form of death denial can be seen in the rise in interest of cryonics. Cryonics is the practice of preserving a human body or a portion of the body, with the hope that advanced medical technology will be developed in the future which could revive the person and cure any diseases or injuries that led to their death. This is typically achieved by freezing the body or body parts in a cryogenic state, using liquid nitrogen or similar cooling methods. The idea behind cryonics is that if the person can be revived and restored to health, they will have the opportunity to live a much longer life. However, this idea remains controversial and unproven, as there is currently no scientific evidence to support the notion that it will be possible to revive a cryogenically frozen person in the future.
The change in the role of the doctor not only affected the way society’s view on death, but it also had impact on the way funerals were viewed, now seen as a necessary but unpleasant aspect of death. This has resulted in a decline in the sense of community presence and participation in funerals.
As people have become more aware of the limitations of traditional medical practices and have sought a more personalized and compassionate approach to death and dying, the holistic approach to death has gained popularity in recent years. This approach views death not just as a biological event, but also as a social, psychological, spiritual, and cultural experience. This approach recognizes that death is a complex and multi-faceted experience that affects all aspects of a person’s life. It seeks to address the physical, emotional, spiritual, and cultural needs of the dying person and their loved ones, and to provide support and care throughout the dying process. With the understanding that a good death is one that is peaceful, dignified, and in line with the wishes and values of the dying person. This approach is now widely recognized and supported by healthcare providers, hospices, and palliative care organizations.
As a result, there has been a shift towards more personalized and meaningful funeral celebrations. The increase of new funeral trends, such as “green” or eco-friendly funerals, celebration-of-life events, and memorial services that focus on the life and legacy of the deceased, reflect a desire for funerals to be more meaningful and memorable experiences, rather than simply a necessary formality.
This coincides with a growing trend in recent years towards multiculturalism. This trend is due to factors such as globalization, migration, political changes, economic factors, and a recognition of human rights. Its rise in prominence reflects a growing recognition of the value of diversity and a desire to build inclusive societies that respect and celebrate cultural differences. This is also reflected in the increase of new funeral trends, by recreating ancient customs or observing other cultures where funeral practices are not commercialized, people are discovering new ways to include their community in creating a meaningful and personal experience surrounding the loss of a loved one.
An example of a new and innovative burial method that offers a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to death and burial is the Capsula Mundi. Designed by Anna Citelli and Raoul Bretze (2016), the Capsula Mundi is an egg-shaped biodegradable pod that is designed to hold the ashes or remains of a deceased person. The pod is made of organic material, such as starch, and is designed to decompose over time, returning the remains of the deceased to the earth. Capsula Mundi is an alternative to traditional burial methods, such as cremation or embalming, which are often energy-intensive and contribute to environmental pollution. The capsule is designed to be buried in the ground, with a tree planted above it. As the tree grows, it provides a living memorial to the deceased, and helps to promote biodiversity and improve the environment.
Another example of how the community is involved with a funeral in a more contemporary and unusual way, is the story of Goonew. The death of 24-year-old rapper Markelle Morrow, known by his stage name Goonew, reached headlines after Morrow’s family propped up his embalmed body on a nightclub stage for his memorial service, instead of a traditional funeral in a church. This unique approach to honoring the deceased sparked mixed reactions on social media, with many speculating about the details and whether the family had approved. However, Goonew’s family and friends were satisfied with the celebration of his life in a place that reflected his interests and passions. The memorial served not only as a way for the community to grieve, but also as a new way to personalize funerals to reflect the individuality of the person who has passed away.
Society’s views on death have been influenced due to many factors. Death was seen as natural in ancient societies and was marked by rituals and ceremonies with religious or spiritual significance, bringing communities together in mourning. After increasing and revolutionizing our scientific knowledge death was seen as taboo and a failure of medicine, leading to a focus on prolonging life at all costs, at the expense of cultural sensitivity and healthy grieving. Now a holistic approach, including physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs, is popular and involves personalized experiences and community involvement in funeral practices.
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Engels, J. (2022, July 30). Of course, aging is reversible, says professor Andrea Maier. Time News. Retrieved from https://time.news/of-course-aging-is-reversible-says-professor-andrea-maier/
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O’Connor, R. (2022, April 7). Rapper’s family defend decision to Prop ‘Dead Body’ on Club Stage. The Independent. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/goonew-bliss-memorial-corpse-real-b2052746.html
The biodegradable urn to become a tree after death. Capsula Mundi. (2022, August 2). Retrieved from https://www.capsulamundi.it/en/