Overview
An introduction to the anthropological analysis of responses to death and dying, drawing on cross-cultural case studies and relevant anthropological theories of grief, mourning and funerary practice.
This paper contextualises a variety of historical and contemporary responses to death and critically examines the development of ‘modern’ death practices.
Paper is offered in yearly rotation with ANTH 228 Anthropology of Religion.
About this paper
| Paper title | Rites of Passage: Death, Grief and Ritual |
|---|---|
| Subject | Anthropology |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Not offered in 2024 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $981.75 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- ANTH 103 or ANTH 105 or 54 points
- Restriction
- ANTH 325
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music
- Eligibility
- This paper is designed for students with and without strong backgrounds in Anthropology.
- Contact
- More information link
Please visit the Programme of Social Anthropology
- Teaching staff
- Teaching Arrangements
One 2-hour lecture per week plus one tutorial per week.
Mixture of both internal assessment and exam.
- Textbooks
All readings on eReserve.
- Course outline
Will be available on Blackboard at the beginning of the course.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Research.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this paper will:
- Understand some of the seminal anthropological approaches/theories around the study of death and dying
- Link specific death-related practices to broader social and cultural contexts
- Identify the role of cultural values in debates around ethics and care in relation to death, dying, and the dead
- Critically and reflexively consider the scope and limits of academic knowledge about grief and mourning
Timetable
Overview
An introduction to the anthropological analysis of responses to death and dying, drawing on cross-cultural case studies and relevant anthropological theories of grief, mourning and funerary practice.
This paper contextualises a variety of historical and contemporary responses to death and critically examines the development of ‘modern’ death practices.
Paper is offered in yearly rotation with ANTH 228 Anthropology of Religion.
About this paper
| Paper title | Rites of Passage: Death, Grief and Ritual |
|---|---|
| Subject | Anthropology |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Not offered in 2025 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for 2025 have not yet been set |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- ANTH 103 or ANTH 105 or 54 points
- Restriction
- ANTH 325
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music
- Eligibility
- This paper is designed for students with and without strong backgrounds in Anthropology.
- Contact
- More information link
Please visit the Programme of Social Anthropology
- Teaching staff
- Teaching Arrangements
One 2-hour lecture per week plus one tutorial per week.
- Textbooks
All readings on eReserve.
- Course outline
Will be available on Blackboard at the beginning of the course.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Research.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this paper will:
- Understand some of the seminal anthropological approaches/theories around the study of death and dying
- Link specific death-related practices to broader social and cultural contexts
- Identify the role of cultural values in debates around ethics and care in relation to death, dying, and the dead
- Critically and reflexively consider the scope and limits of academic knowledge about grief and mourning
- Assessment details
Mixture of both internal assessment and exam.