Anthropology and death

Anthropology and death

Exploring Religions and Cultures Dr ngels Trias i Valls & Roula P 2009
Van Gennep and rites of passage
Van Gennep and rites of passage
Arnold Van Gennep was born in Germany on 23
Arnold Van Gennep was born in Germany on 23
April 1873 and died in 1957 in France. He was
April 1873 and died in 1957 in France. He was
an ethnographer and a folklorist and he is most
an ethnographer and a folklorist and he is most
known for his work regarding the rites of
known for his work regarding the rites of
passage. He influenced significantly modern
passage. He influenced significantly modern
French folklore and he was the first to establish
French folklore and he was the first to establish
the academic studies of folklore in France.
the academic studies of folklore in France.
Throughout his book
Throughout his book

Rites of Passage
Rites of Passage

1960
1960
(first published in 1909), he argued that rites of
(first published in 1909), he argued that rites of
passage are transition rituals which indicate the
passage are transition rituals which indicate the
change of personal or collective status.
change of personal or collective status.
Van Gennep distinguished two types of
Van Gennep distinguished two types of
rite.
rite.
Rites that are related to the change of the
Rites that are related to the change of the
status of the individual (birth, the
status of the individual (birth, the
attainment of adult status, marriage, death
attainment of adult status, marriage, death
and so on).
and so on).
Rites that mark standardized points in the
Rites that mark standardized points in the
passage of time (new year, new moon,
passage of time (new year, new moon,
summer solstice and so on).
summer solstice and so on).
The threefold structure of rites.
The threefold structure of rites.
Rites of separation (initial state)
Rites of separation (initial state)
Rites of transition (liminal period)
Rites of transition (liminal period)
Rites of incorporation (final state)
Rites of incorporation (final state)
This is clearly a structuralist approach which can
This is clearly a structuralist approach which can
be often applied in several situations and
be often applied in several situations and
ethnographic contexts. BUT
ethnographic contexts. BUT

.
.
It is not ethnographically productive just to apply
It is not ethnographically productive just to apply
Van Gennep
Van Gennep

s scheme unproblematically.
s scheme unproblematically.
This model is based on the binary opposition
This model is based on the binary opposition
between the rites of separation (the initial state)
between the rites of separation (the initial state)
and the rites of incorporation (the final state). In
and the rites of incorporation (the final state). In
between, there is the liminal period.
between, there is the liminal period.
The
The
liminal
liminal
period.
period.
We have encountered
We have encountered
liminality
liminality
in our
in our
discussion about pilgrimage.
discussion about pilgrimage.
Victor Turner built on Van Gennep
Victor Turner built on Van Gennep

s insights. He
s insights. He
was the first to write a psychological account of
was the first to write a psychological account of
rites of passage.
rites of passage.
He was a classical structural
He was a classical structural
-
-
functionalist but his
functionalist but his
analysis revolved around symbolism and
analysis revolved around symbolism and
psychological anthropology.
psychological anthropology.
Rites of passage according to Turner are
Rites of passage according to Turner are
a movement for structure to anti
a movement for structure to anti
-
-
structure
structure
and back to structure.
and back to structure.
We have seen while examining pilgrimage
We have seen while examining pilgrimage
that the journey to the sacred place moves
that the journey to the sacred place moves
pilgrims from their social reality, their
pilgrims from their social reality, their
structure, to a temporal position which is
structure, to a temporal position which is
characterized as anti
characterized as anti
-
-
structure.
structure.
Turner emphasized on ritual and symbols.
Turner emphasized on ritual and symbols.
Contrary to Levi
Contrary to Levi
-
-
Straus who was trying to
Straus who was trying to
discover universal systems of thought partly
discover universal systems of thought partly
through symbolism, Turner argued that symbols
through symbolism, Turner argued that symbols
hold a multipurpose and ambiguous position.
hold a multipurpose and ambiguous position.
Symbols, Turner tells us, are the key factors to
Symbols, Turner tells us, are the key factors to
understand a culture. Change on symbols,
understand a culture. Change on symbols,
signal change on culture.
signal change on culture.
How do all these relate to death?
How do all these relate to death?
Van Gennep refers to the assumption that death
Van Gennep refers to the assumption that death
is a journey and a gradual social process which
is a journey and a gradual social process which
extends over a long period of time. Similarly to
extends over a long period of time. Similarly to
other rites of passage
other rites of passage

birth, initiation, marriage
birth, initiation, marriage

death involves rites of separation, transition
death involves rites of separation, transition
and incorporation
and incorporation
Rites of separation mark the movement of the
Rites of separation mark the movement of the
person from a previously occupied state to
person from a previously occupied state to
another (from the world of living to the world of
another (from the world of living to the world of
the dead).
the dead).
Rites of transition or liminality hold an ambivalent
Rites of transition or liminality hold an ambivalent
status since the participants are neither in on the
status since the participants are neither in on the
world of the living nor in the world of the dead
world of the living nor in the world of the dead
they are
they are

Betwixt and Between

Betwixt and Between

(Turner 1964).
(Turner 1964).
Mourners are separated by the rest of the
Mourners are separated by the rest of the
society. Their fate is paralleled with that of the
society. Their fate is paralleled with that of the
deceased. This period is unclear, polluting and
deceased. This period is unclear, polluting and
dangerous. Mourners need to pass this period
dangerous. Mourners need to pass this period
before they reenter into the society and assume
before they reenter into the society and assume
their normal positions in it.
their normal positions in it.
In many societies (in North and South America,
In many societies (in North and South America,
Australia, Africa, Central Asia and Indonesia) the
Australia, Africa, Central Asia and Indonesia) the
funeral and the burial mark the beginning of the
funeral and the burial mark the beginning of the
long liminal period. The end of this period is
long liminal period. The end of this period is
signaled by the decomposition of the corpse, the
signaled by the decomposition of the corpse, the
exhumation of the remains, their ritualistic
exhumation of the remains, their ritualistic
treatment and their transportation to another
treatment and their transportation to another
location.
location.
The purpose of the rites of passage is to secure
The purpose of the rites of passage is to secure
a smooth passage for the corpse, the soul and
a smooth passage for the corpse, the soul and
the mourners.
the mourners.
All these rites of passage may vary in
All these rites of passage may vary in
context and intensity according to the
context and intensity according to the
culture
culture
.
.
Bloch and Parry and
Bloch and Parry and

Death and
Death and
the regeneration of life
the regeneration of life

They deal with

They deal with
symbols of rebirth and fertility
symbols of rebirth and fertility
which are frequently found in funerary rituals
which are frequently found in funerary rituals
throughout the world. Similarly to Turner they
throughout the world. Similarly to Turner they
study death through symbolism.
study death through symbolism.
In their view there is a current symbolism of
In their view there is a current symbolism of
rebirth in death rites. Social existence thus has
rebirth in death rites. Social existence thus has
greater importance than the biological one.
greater importance than the biological one.
Society acquires power over the gaining and
Society acquires power over the gaining and
control over life.
control over life.
Death in Greece
Death in Greece
According to Seremetakis, death is not a
According to Seremetakis, death is not a
bounded event. It is rather a context for social
bounded event. It is rather a context for social
contestation, realization and manifestation of the
contestation, realization and manifestation of the
Greek society.
Greek society.
Indeed, in the Greek culture death is not viewed
Indeed, in the Greek culture death is not viewed
as purely a biological phenomenon or a rite of
as purely a biological phenomenon or a rite of
passage. Apart from that, death is a highly
passage. Apart from that, death is a highly
multifaceted cultural phenomenon where dipper
multifaceted cultural phenomenon where dipper
collective and individual relations are exposed
collective and individual relations are exposed
and negotiated.
and negotiated.
Some examples
Some examples
Death and kinship
Death and kinship
Funerals are family events entailing a gathering of
Funerals are family events entailing a gathering of
the consanguineous and affinal relatives.
the consanguineous and affinal relatives.

In the Greek context,

In the Greek context,
it is conventional and
it is conventional and
obligatory in family events to invite the
obligatory in family events to invite the
relatives
relatives
-
-
consanguineous and affinal
consanguineous and affinal
-
-
, to
, to
participate.
participate.

Gatherings such as funerals, weddings,

Gatherings such as funerals, weddings,
engagements and baptismal parties are
engagements and baptismal parties are
very important and they often entail
very important and they often entail
commensality. On festive occasions, dance
commensality. On festive occasions, dance
is also an inextricable element of the event.
is also an inextricable element of the event.
Gatherings emphasize family as a principle for
Gatherings emphasize family as a principle for
constructing a collective reality where feelings of
constructing a collective reality where feelings of
bitterness, anger and pain can be expressed
bitterness, anger and pain can be expressed
and released within the collectivity of the
and released within the collectivity of the
kindred.
kindred.
Kinship identity imposes on the individual a
Kinship identity imposes on the individual a
moral identity and a specific behavior
moral identity and a specific behavior

the
the
obligation to participate in happy and unhappy
obligation to participate in happy and unhappy
events.
events.
Death and gossip
Death and gossip
The idea of the kindred as
The idea of the kindred as

all one family

all one family

, where
, where
relationships are built on mutual interest and care
relationships are built on mutual interest and care
renders a person
renders a person

s sorrow to be collective sorrow.

s sorrow to be collective sorrow.
This close relationship however, entails excessive
This close relationship however, entails excessive
gossiping. Especially in funerals of very old people
gossiping. Especially in funerals of very old people
gossip is thriving.
gossip is thriving.
Distance relatives, relatives that provoke the kindred
Distance relatives, relatives that provoke the kindred
with their behavior usually become the
with their behavior usually become the

suspicious
suspicious

objects for the rests of the kindred. They are the
objects for the rests of the kindred. They are the

strangers
strangers

, they are the

, they are the

others
others

.
.
Gossiping assumes the form of a cultural
Gossiping assumes the form of a cultural
determined process, a network of informal
determined process, a network of informal
communication that evaluates and constitutes
communication that evaluates and constitutes
every day life.
every day life.
Gossip is the attempt to create a story about a
Gossip is the attempt to create a story about a
person. It is an attempt to void gaps and provide
person. It is an attempt to void gaps and provide
possible interpretations and misjudgments about
possible interpretations and misjudgments about
people in a fairly unproblematic manner.
people in a fairly unproblematic manner.
Gossiping is an informal and subversive channel
Gossiping is an informal and subversive channel
of power in the creation of individual and
of power in the creation of individual and
collective history.
collective history.
Living in exile is a metaphor of death.
Living in exile is a metaphor of death.
The people who have left the family for long
The people who have left the family for long
periods and live abroad, are considered
periods and live abroad, are considered

metaphorically
metaphorically

dead. This is due to the pain of
dead. This is due to the pain of
the separation of the beloved ones.
the separation of the beloved ones.
The pain living in exile is similar to the pain
The pain living in exile is similar to the pain
provoked by the separation of death.
provoked by the separation of death.
The ritual of visiting the grave, cleaning it, taking
The ritual of visiting the grave, cleaning it, taking
care of it.
care of it.
Cemeteries, in the Greek context, are extensions of
Cemeteries, in the Greek context, are extensions of
the living society. People religiously visit their dead,
the living society. People religiously visit their dead,
attend the graves and spent a considerable amount
attend the graves and spent a considerable amount
of time just being there.
of time just being there.
The cemeteries look like small villages where the
The cemeteries look like small villages where the
dead
dead
live.
live.
Good death
Good death

Bad death.
Bad death.
Good death is the socially documented death.
Good death is the socially documented death.
The dead person has the relatives to mourn;
The dead person has the relatives to mourn;
he/she has lived a long and fulfilling life and has
he/she has lived a long and fulfilling life and has
seen children and grandchildren.
seen children and grandchildren.
Good death is also the challenging of death
Good death is also the challenging of death
especially in a society organized around ethics
especially in a society organized around ethics
and revenge.
and revenge.
Bad death is the
Bad death is the

silent
silent

and
and

naked
naked

death. The
death. The
deceased is alone and the death is
deceased is alone and the death is
undocumented. The
undocumented. The

silent and naked

silent and naked

death is
death is
also an expression of the non
also an expression of the non
-
-
sociable nature of
sociable nature of
the deceased. This in the Greek context equals
the deceased. This in the Greek context equals
to poverty.
to poverty.
Poverty relates not only to materiality but also to
Poverty relates not only to materiality but also to
abandonment and social isolation.
abandonment and social isolation.
Bad death is the death of a young person.
Bad death is the death of a young person.