Anthropology 457 - Anthropology of Death and Dying Syllabus - Syllabus Winter 2006

Aug 25, 2026

Uploaded by Mason

Anthropology 457 examines death and dying as cultural constructs through interdisciplinary, interactive study with a special focus on Whatcom County. Students broaden understanding of human cultural experience by analyzing how different people and groups obfuscate and explicate death. Course goals emphasize writing development through repeated drafting and structured feedback, supported by field trips and guest lectures. Assessment combines a research paper, weekly assignments, and participation in collaborative discussion and critique.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Course Outline

Week 1: Introduction / The Thanatological Wind

Week 2: The Mortal Coil

Week 3: Bones and Bardos

Week 4: Corpus

Week 5: Cry Me a River

Week 6: I Cried a River

Week 7: Over You

Week 8: Heaven's Gate

Week 9: Night

Week 10: The Other Side

Dead Week: Final Resting Place

Anthropology 457: Anthropology of Death and Dying Syllabus See also: Weekly Reflection Papers | War Journal | Research Paper Syllabus-Winter 2006 Dr. Kathleen Z. Young Texts 1. The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, Sogyal Rinpoche . 1994 2. Annual Editions: Dying, Death and Bereavement 05/06 . George E. Dickinson, et al. 3. The Bone Woman: A Forensic Anthropologist's Search for Truth in the Mass Graves of Rwanda, Bosnia, Croatia, and Kosovo . C lea Koff. 2004. The Course Death and dying are considered anthropologically , as cultural constructs . We will explore a wide range of cultures with special focus on death and dying in Whatcom County . Death and dying will be examined from a variety of interdisciplinary and interactive perspectives in order to further our understanding of what it means to be human . We study death and dying in order to broaden our understanding of the human cultural experience . We will consider the obfuscation and the explication of death and dying and the ways in which different people and different groups consider death and dying. Goals Besides enlarging our own experience of death and dying through field trips and guest lectures, we will write and read and rewrite and read again in order to explore the cultural construction of death and dying. The goals of the class are two-fold: to further understanding of human life through the study of death and dying in culture and to help us learn to write more effectively . We will write to learn about ourselves and each other . Writers receive feedback on their writing from editors and reviewers . Students will receive similar feedback as we learn to perceive writing (and death and dying!) as a process . Grades and the Written Component Students will demonstrate lucid expression of death and dying in culture through a research paper (for 50 points), weekly writing assignments (for 70 points total), participation in class fieldtrips, and collaborative discussion and critique (30 points) for a possible total of 150 points . Grades and Participation Students are expected to accompany the class on field trips to the morgue , a mortuary and crematorium, local cemeteries, and possibly a funeral or memorial service . The times and dates are to be arranged and will be discussed in advance in class . Participation in the field trips and class discussions are an integral part of the course . Readings COURSE OUTLINE Week 1. INTRODUCTION / THE THANATOLOGICAL WIND 1. Rinpoche : foreword, preface , and chapter 1 ( pgs 3-14) First Reflection Paper: a two page death/dying autobiography Week 2. THE MORTAL COIL 1. Rinpoche : chapters 2 through 6 in, Part 1 ( pgs 15-101) 2. AE Section 1. C off: Before , Part 1 through pg 41 Week 3. BONES AND BARDOS 1. Rinpoche : chapters 7 through 9 ( pgs 102-149) 2. AE Section 2. Coff, pages 42-79 Week 4. CORPUS-- 10/18-20 1. Rinpoche : chapters 10 through 12 ( pgs 150-208) 2. AE Section 3. Coff, pages 80-112 Week 5. CRY ME A RIVER 1. Rinpoche : chapters 13 through 15 ( pgs 209-258) 2. AE Section 4. Coff, pages 113-150 Week 6. I CRIED A RIVER 1. Rinpoche : chapters 16-18 ( pgs 259-298) 2. AE Section 5. Coff, pages 150-181 Week 7. OVER YOU 1. Rinpoche : chapters 19 and 20 ( pgs 299-336) 2. AE Section 6. Coff, pages 182-211 Week 8. HEAVEN'S GATE 1. Rinpoche : chapters 21 and 22 ( pgs 339-336) 2. AE Section 7. Coff, pages 212-242 Week 9. NIGHT 1. Rinpoche : Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 ( pgs 367-378) 2. AE Section 8. Coff, pages 243-256 Week 10. THE OTHER SIDE 1. Rinpoche : Appendix 3, Appendix 4, Notes (again!?) and Ack. ( pgs 378-413) 2. AE Section 10. Coff, pages 259-272 DEAD WEEK: FINAL RESTING PLACE

FAQs

How does the course define death and dying?

Death and dying are treated anthropologically as cultural constructs, explored through multiple interdisciplinary perspectives.

What writing activities are required?

Students write and revise weekly assignments and complete a two-page death/dying autobiography early in the term, receiving feedback from editors, reviewers, and peers.

How are students graded?

Grades include a research paper (50 points), weekly writing assignments (70 points total), and participation through field trips and collaborative discussion/critique (30 points), for up to 150 points.

What learning activities outside the classroom are included?

Field trips accompany the class to a morgue, mortuary and crematorium, local cemeteries, and possibly a funeral or memorial service.

Aug 25, 2026

Uploaded by Mason