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Summary Articles Anthropology of Death
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A complete summary of all Anthropology of the Dead 2024 articles (the only article missing is Automated Graves from week 1)
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InhoudWeek 1...................................................................................................................................................1
American Afterlives: Ghosts in the Commodity.................................................................................2
A Contribution to the Study of the Collective Representation of Death............................................4
Week 2...................................................................................................................................................8
Ritual Comes Home: Difference and Familiarity in Postcolonial Netherlands....................................8
Spectacular Death..............................................................................................................................9
Long Live Chill: exploring grief, mourning, and ritual withing African American R.I.P. T-shirt culture
.........................................................................................................................................................12
Week 3.................................................................................................................................................16
Minimalist Mortality: Decluttering as a Practice of Death Acceptance............................................16
Advertising the Ancestors: Ghanaian Funeral Banners as Image Objects........................................20
Materiality in the Graveyard............................................................................................................23
Week 4.................................................................................................................................................27
Making kangaroos grievable; making grievability non-human.........................................................27
Multispecies mourning: grieving as resistance on the West Papuan plantation frontier.................30
The wanderers: a foray into worlds written in slime........................................................................36
Week 5.................................................................................................................................................37
Governing the dead?.......................................................................................................................37
Another Necropolitics......................................................................................................................42
The afterlife of gender: sovereignty, intimacy, and Muslim funerals of transgender people in turkey
.........................................................................................................................................................44
Week 6.................................................................................................................................................48
Cryonic Suspension as Eschatological Technology in the Secular Age..............................................48
Death, Disrupted..............................................................................................................................52
Form versus Matter: Miraculous Relics and Lenin’s Scientific Body.................................................53
Week 1
,American Afterlives: Ghosts in the Commodity
Shannon Lee Dawdy
Dean's Vision at LifeGem:
- Dean's venture, LifeGem, epitomizes a fusion of technology and emotion, as it harnesses
cutting-edge processes to transform human cremation remains into synthetic diamonds.
- LifeGem's diamonds transcend their material composition, serving as potent vessels for
memories and emotions. They symbolize a tangible connection to the departed, offering
solace and continuity in the face of loss.
- Through Dean's narrative, we witness a profound exploration of mortality and legacy, as he
grapples with the existential yearning for permanence in the face of impermanence.
- They emphasize on the uniqueness of each diamond, tracked from arrival of remains to
delivery with a certificate of authenticity.
- It contrasts natural diamond formation with intentional design and emotional significance of
LifeGem diamonds.
- Reception includes some criticism but mostly positive feedback, especially from clients
valuing close relationships with the deceased.
- Testimonials highlight emotional reactions and personal significance of LifeGem diamonds as
more than mere memorials.
- Customers perceive these diamonds as a continuation of their loved one's essence, providing
comfort and a tangible connection.
- Life Gems are viewed as quasi-subjects with lasting influence on the living, embodying a
form of continued life beyond death.
Four Qualities of Commodity Relics: Ethnographic Descriptions
1. Commodities / Not Commodities:
- Production and marketing resemble commodities, but each object is authenticated as
unique.
- Referred to with names and pronouns of the deceased, blurring the line between commodity
and individual.
2. Quasi-subjects:
- Human remains make each object unique, with capacities for feelings and intentions.
- Characteristics align with the once-living subject, suggesting quasi-subject status.
3. Designed to be Social Agents:
- Objects designed for the market but intended to have active roles in recipients' lives.
- Long-lived relationality emphasized in their design and purpose.
4. More than Memories:
- Objects exceed mere memorialization, possessing a presence that extends into the future.
- Capable of triggering memories but also embodying potential for new experiences and
connections.
Redefining Death and Afterlife
,Central argument:
- Commodity relics support a materialized afterlife akin to a ghostly presence.
- Reflection on the transformative potential of these objects in reshaping understandings of
death and remembrance.
Nick and Craig's Journey with Memory Glass:
- Memory Glass emerges as a testament to the transformative power of art and craftsmanship
in the realm of mourning. Nick and Craig's journey reflects a deeply personal quest to imbue
tangible artifacts with intangible connections.
- The glass orbs crafted by Memory Glass serve as conduits for remembrance, embodying the
essence of the deceased and facilitating ongoing dialogues between the living and the
departed.
- Their narrative underscores the interplay between tradition and innovation, as they navigate
the delicate balance between commercial viability and spiritual resonance.
Dusty's Artistry at Cremation Portraits:
- Dusty's venture into cremation portraits transcends conventional notions of art, as he
embarks on a journey to capture the essence of the departed through a unique fusion of
paint and cremated remains.
- Each portrait becomes a testament to the individuality and complexity of human existence,
serving as a tangible manifestation of memory and legacy.
- Dusty's narrative is emblematic of the transformative power of creativity in the face of grief,
as he channels personal loss into a profound exploration of life, death, and the enduring
power of art.
Commodities and Quasi-Subjects:
- Marx's commodity fetishism concept suggests that commodities mask social relationships
and are imbued with value beyond their physical attributes.
- These entities created by death entrepreneurs can be seen as commodity fetishes, as they
are bought and sold but also believed to contain inherent value and being.
- Patrick Geary's work on medieval relics highlights how objects gain value through shared
beliefs and authentication processes, transitioning from persons to commodities and
sometimes back again.
- Authentication documentation emphasizes the unique individuality of each object, which
may have spiritual significance to clients.
Art and Agency:
- Alfred Gell's theory of art and agency explores the complex web of relationships between
objects and human agents.
- Gell's theory suggests that objects can have agency, influencing human behavior and
perception.
- Cremation portraits and similar objects challenge traditional notions of agency, blurring the
boundaries between the living and the dead.
Nexus Between Life and Death:
, - These entities serve as a nexus between the living subject prior to death, the deceased, their
remains, the entrepreneurs, and living loved ones.
- They represent a form of afterlife manifested through continued interaction and agency,
transcending traditional conceptions of memorialization.
Quasi-Subjects and Materialized Ghosts:
- These objects can be considered quasi-subjects, embodying the agency and vitality of the
deceased.
- Despite being deliberately designed by entrepreneurs, they possess the capacity to
transcend intentions and surprise observers.
- They represent a concrete form of afterlife, materialized ghosts with the power to influence
and act on the world.
Conclusion:
- Death entrepreneurs create commodities that serve as more than mere objects, embodying
the agency and presence of the deceased.
- These entities challenge traditional boundaries between life and death, offering new forms
of commemoration and afterlife.
- Understanding them as quasi-subjects highlights their dynamic role in mediating between
the living and the dead, blurring distinctions between materiality and spirituality.
A Contribution to the Study of the Collective
Representation of Death
Robert Hertz
Mourning Rituals
Intermediary Period:
- The period between death and final burial involves practices related to the body, soul, and
survivors.
Body: Provisional Burial:
- Among certain peoples in the Malay archipelago, including the Dayak, it's customary to
temporarily store the body before final burial.
- The body of chiefs and wealthy individuals may be kept in their own houses until the final
burial.
- Temporary burial involves placing the body in a coffin and sealing it with resin, but Dutch
colonial influence limited this practice.
- During this period, the corpse is considered vulnerable to evil spirits, necessitating protective
measures and rituals by the living.
, Soul: Temporary Stay on Earth:
- Similarly, the soul does not immediately depart for its final destination after death but lingers
on earth.
- The soul undergoes a probationary period near the body, wandering in familiar places,
before entering the land of the dead during the final funeral.
- The soul’s presence is viewed as illegitimate and potentially dangerous, leading to anxieties
and rituals by the living to mitigate its influence.
Living: Mourning:
- Survivors are subjected to mourning rituals and taboos.
- The death of an individual brings about a change in their status, making their body and
belongings taboo and impure.
- Close relatives may be confined to their homes and subjected to specific mourning practices,
with the duration varying based on kinship ties.
- Mourning may last until the final burial, with ceremonial events marking the end of
mourning and purification.
Cultural Variations in Death Practices:
- The concept of temporary burial is widespread across cultures, with various forms observed
globally.
- Practices such as embalming and cremation serve similar purposes of preserving the body or
expediting its decomposition.
- Endocannibalism, the ritual consumption of the deceased's flesh, is practiced in certain
societies to incorporate the deceased's vitality while expediting the process of decay.
Symbolism and Beliefs:
- Death is seen as a transitional phase rather than an instantaneous event, involving a gradual
process of decay and transformation.
- Beliefs about the fate of the soul, the condition of the body, and mourning practices are
interconnected, reflecting a constant theme of transition and rebirth.
- The end of mourning and the completion of the intermediary period are marked by specific
rituals or conventions, often influenced by cultural beliefs about time and numbers.
Social Implications:
- Death and mourning rituals have profound social implications, affecting kinship ties,
inheritance, and leadership succession.
- The secrecy surrounding a chief's death and the delay in proclaiming a successor illustrate
the societal disruptions caused by death and the need for transitional rituals to maintain
order.
Conclusion:
- Death is not a singular event but a complex process involving cultural practices and beliefs
that shape how individuals and societies perceive and navigate the transition from life to
death.
Custom of the Final Ceremony in Indonesian Societies
Feast Significance:
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