Death in Black and White: Death, Ritual and Family Ecology (Hampton Press Communication Series. Critical Bodies) - Softcover
Death in Black and White takes a behind-the-scenes look at contemporary funeral practices to discover what similarities and differences exist between African American and European American cultures’ experience of dealing with death.
The author charts the divergent origins of such rituals of mourning from pre-colonial Africa and Europe to the time in which these cultural traditions came into contact during the period of American slavery, and the degree of fusion and variation that persists up to the present day.
Based on a foundation of cultural theory and scholarship, the author explores a variety of issues related to race, culture and death ritual practices by immersing himself in the rich narratives and sources of information gleaned from his in-depth interviews with funeral directors, corporate funeral home representatives, clergy and individuals who have recently lost a loved one. Additionally, he has observed numerous funeral and burial services and cemetery landscapes, and has examined federal and state public policies surrounding burial and disposal, as well as other forms of death-related discourse.
Ultimately, the book describes how death rituals both manifest and reinforce different cultural identities, and suggests that perhaps, it is through the experience of death that we might find the most enduring possibilities for promoting greater cultural understanding by maintaining rather than eliminating such differences.
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About the Author:
Dr. Charlton McIlwain is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Culture & Communication at New York University. He continues to research the relationship between death, culture and public discourse.
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- PublisherHampton Pr
- Publication date2003
- ISBN 10 1572735252
- ISBN 13 9781572735255
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages190
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Death in Black and White: Death, Ritual and Family Ecology (Hampton Press Communication Series. Critical Bodies)
Published by
Hampton Pr
(2003)
ISBN 10: 1572735252
ISBN 13: 9781572735255
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Softcover
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Book Description Condition: Good. Buy with confidence! Book is in good condition with minor wear to the pages, binding, and minor marks within 0.7. Seller Inventory # bk1572735252xvz189zvxgdd
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