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Death Andying

Death

Death has been sterilized, institutionalized and dehumanized in attempt to increase individualism due to our idea that hospitals provide a good death (Somerville). Death has disappeared from community life and relocated as an individual experience occurring within the power of medical experts. Death has also changed from an everyday occurrence to a feared, mysterious and meaningless experience (Clarke & Seymour). This decrease in social death has caused the dying and their loved ones to feel alone and construct own values, a situation which Clarke and Seymour feel is prone to inducing anxieties.
Funerals
Postmodernism celebrates death as the patient doing it their own way (Walter). Death is done however the dying want it to be done as Walter states "my own way." This is done through private and individual death. The concerns are no longer that of the community but of medical professionals (Walter). Now it is almost as if one must keep very close social networks to have a meaningful funeral. The elderly have been ignored do to their decreased social networks. Because of this, their funerals seem to be routine. However, young or unexpected funerals appear to be more heartfelt. This emphasizes the individual role of death because it is up to the ill to keep social connections to make their death or funeral meaningful (Walter). Death is handled publicly through funeral directors, insurance agencies and hospitals, but privately in that feelings and grieving aren't shared (Walter). The journey towards death is hoped to be as painless as possible. There are no rituals, death is natural and probable. The journey is now becoming a journey of self, facilitated by professionals (Walter). The goal of death is usually done with rituals or with purpose to say final farewells anyone as once was (Walter). The funeral is usually planned by the family, rarely the does the church do the planning (Walter).
Social events
The...

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