How The Living See The Dead: Comparative Thanatology With Dânia Rodrigues

In this four-part lecture series, we’ll delve into the history, present, and future of how humans think of and deal with death. 

Course Description

Thanatology is an interdisciplinary field which proposes a scientific study of death, ranging from forensics to wider psychological, anthropological and social aspects. As humans, we’re aware of our mortality and faced with the reminder that all humans shall die throughout our lives. But the way humans have dealt with that perception across space and time is incredibly diverse. In this four-part lecture series, we’ll take a closer look at the major shifts that have occurred concerning the perception and treatment of death across history, from Greco-Roman ages to our time, in order to understand how our present relationship with death was formed. We’ll then learn about different practices in rituals surrounding dying, death, and mourning across different societies. From those who preferred to disintegrate the body to help the transition of the soul to a higher realm to those who believe the body’s integrity was a requisite for the afterlife. The course is for everyone with a curiosity about death and how the living experience and explore the end of our mortal existence. 

Syllabus At A Glance

This course includes four total sessions, each lasting 1.5 hours on four consecutive Thursdays beginning October 3.

Session 1 (Thursday, 10/3, 5-6:30 PM ET)| Death as Inevitable: A spin through the History of Death in the Western world, from the Greco-Roman ages until the French Revolution

Session 2 (Thursday, 10/10, 5-6:30 PM ET)| Death as Taboo: A look at the major shifts concerning the perception of Death in the Contemporary age and the Future of Death

Session 3 (Thursday, 10/17, 5-6:30 PM ET)| Death as Passage: A cross-cultural perspective about different communities who preserved their dead as a means of passage to the afterlife

Session 4 (Thursday, 10/24, 5-6:30 PM ET)| Death as Liberation: A glance at distinct societies who disintegrated their dead in order to help them achieve final liberation 

Between Sessions

Outside of class, students will be given optional reading materials and tasks, and will be encouraged to journal all their reflections concerning death and dying throughout the course. 

Pricing Options

This course is available at three ticket prices. This tiered pricing model is designed to increase access for a wider range of students as well as to support our instructors. In addition to tiered tickets, we offer a limited number of no-pay spots for students who would not otherwise be able to take this course. No-pay spots are selected via a randomized drawing two weeks before each section begins. For more information and to apply for a no-pay spot, please click here. To learn more about our pricing model and randomized selection process for no-pay spots, please visit our FAQ page.

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