Module #1 Introduction to Death and Social Structure Overview of the course, exploring the significance of death in human societies and its impact on social structure
Module #2 The Anthropology of Death Understanding death as a cultural construct, exploring cross-cultural variations in death attitudes and practices
Module #3 Death and the Life Cycle Examining the role of death in the human life cycle, including birth, coming of age, and old age
Module #4 Rituals of Mourning and Burial Analyzing the significance of funerary rites, mourning practices, and burial customs across cultures
Module #5 Death and Social Hierarchy Investigating how death is used to reinforce and challenge social hierarchies, including class, gender, and ethnicity
Module #6 The Politics of Death Exploring the role of death in political struggles, including warfare, genocide, and human rights violations
Module #7 Death and the Economy Examining the economic implications of death, including inheritance, wills, and the funeral industry
Module #8 Death and Identity Investigating how death shapes individual and collective identity, including personhood, selfhood, and national identity
Module #9 Death and Religion Analyzing the role of death in religious beliefs and practices, including the afterlife, salvation, and spiritual rebirth
Module #10 Death and Emotions Exploring the emotional dimensions of death, including grief, mourning, and bereavement
Module #11 Death and the Self Examining the psychological impact of death on the self, including fear, anxiety, and existential crisis
Module #12 Death and Social Change Investigating how death drives social change, including revolutions, reformations, and cultural revitalization
Module #13 Death and Technology Exploring the impact of technology on death, including cryonics, virtual mourning, and digital afterlives
Module #14 Death and Globalization Analyzing the global dimensions of death, including transnational mourning, diasporic funerals, and international human rights
Module #15 Death and Inequality Examining how death intersects with social inequality, including race, class, gender, and disability
Module #16 Death and the Environment Investigating the environmental implications of death, including green burials, eco-friendly funerals, and environmental mourning
Module #17 Death and the Body Examining the cultural significance of the corpse, including body disposal, decomposition, and post-mortem care
Module #18 Death and the Afterlife Exploring the cultural and religious significance of the afterlife, including heaven, hell, and the in-between
Module #19 Death and Cultural Heritage Analyzing the role of death in cultural heritage, including ancestor worship, memorialization, and cultural revitalization
Module #20 Death and Human Rights Examining the human right to die with dignity, including euthanasia, assisted suicide, and end-of-life care
Module #21 Death and Medical Anthropology Investigating the cultural dimensions of death and dying in medical settings, including hospice care and palliative medicine
Module #22 Death and the Digital Exploring the impact of digital media on death, including online mourning, social media memorialization, and digital legacy
Module #23 Death and Material Culture Analyzing the material dimensions of death, including grave goods, funerary artifacts, and material mourning practices
Module #24 Death and Performance Examining the performative dimensions of death, including funeral rituals, mourning performances, and death-related spectacle
Module #25 Death and Visual Culture Investigating the visual representation of death, including art, film, photography, and other visual media
Module #26 Death and Literature Analyzing the representation of death in literature, including poetry, fiction, and non-fiction
Module #27 Death and Music Examining the role of music in death rituals, mourning practices, and cultural expression
Module #28 Death and the Anthropocene Investigating the relationship between human extinction, climate change, and the Anthropocene
Module #29 Death and the Future Speculating on the future of death, including possible scenarios, emerging trends, and new directions
Module #30 Course Wrap-Up & Conclusion Planning next steps in Death and Social Structure in Anthropology career
