The Dead and Rituals of Death

Know Macabre

Exploring how communities handle death, grief, and the afterlife.

Dealing with death, both in terms of the bodies of the dead and the grief of those left behind, are issues that all societies have to address.  In addition to dealing with the physical and emotional aspects of death, communities also grapple with the philosophical and spiritual questions about what happens after death. This talk will explore some of the diverse ways in which communities deal with bodies and make sense of death and think about what lies beyond.

Presenter Bio:

Amy Harper received her PhD in Anthropology from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in 2002. She is currently a Professor of Anthropology at Central Oregon Community College where she teaches a variety of courses including a course on the anthropology of religion titled, "Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion." In this class students explore some of the diverse cultural responses to questions of death, funerals, bodies, and ideas of what exists beyond death. 

Questions? Contact beccar@dpls.lib.or.us