This module explores the social context of death and the dead from a sociological perspective of death studies. As part of your exploration of death, you will become a ‘dark tourist’ by completing the Death and Culture Walk in York and understand the role of history and storytelling in understanding human mortality.
Occurrence | Teaching period |
---|---|
A | Semester 2 2023-24 |
Are we living in a death denial society? What do zombies, vampires and the news media teach us about mortality? How does is grief expressed and how does it vary depending on what is being grieved for? This module introduces you to the sociological study of death and the relationship mortality shares with spaces and places as well as media and social stratification. It offers a comprehensive engagement with key themes, concepts and theories about mortality and will deepen your knowledge of how death, dying and the dead have been researched. You will evaluate a range of debates and ideas as well as develop a podcast for the York Death and Culture Walk and develop reflective practices to foster self awareness of your strengths and motivations.
Students are encouraged to go on various field trips to support their learning including but not limited to St Georges Churchyard, Fulford Cemetery and York Cemetery, Cliffords Tower and York Dungeon.
It is essential to complete the self-guided York Death and Culture Walk.
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Essay/coursework | 50 |
Essay/coursework | 50 |
None
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Essay/coursework | 100 |
For formative work - Short Written Assessment (podcast review)- students will receive written or verbal feedback on how to improve their skills in areas that will contribute towards their summative assessment. The formative assessments provide practice for the summative tasks which are in line with LO, particularly 1&5.
For summative work - portfolio - students will receive an overall mark and grading according to clearly defined criteria for assessing their knowledge, skills and abilities in line with LOs 1-5. They will also receive written feedback showing areas in which they have done well and those areas in which they need to improve that will contribute to their progress.
Butler (2009) Frames of War: When is Life Grieveable? UK: Verso Books.
Penfold-Mounce (2018) Death, The Dead and Popular Culture, UK: Emerald Publishing
Kohn, T., Gibbs, M., Nansen, B. and van Ryn, L. eds., 2019. Residues of death: disposal refigured. Routledge.