Do you ever wonder what happens to someone’s body after they die? Maybe you have been to a funeral or seen a cemetery. As societies, across different places and times, people continuously confront the question of ‘where to put the dead’, and have sought to answer this in a multitude of ways.
Drawing on examples from different cultures and historical traditions, this animation offers you an invitation to think about the different practices and how each has value and meaning for people.
Transcript
(108.9 KB)
.
This animation won a Learning on Screen Award in 2024 in the category of Online Educational Resource Award.
Acknowledgement
This animation was originally published on OU Connect.
Visit our Thanatology Hub
-
Centre for Open Thanatology Hub
Learn more to access more details of Centre for Open Thanatology HubThe Open University’s interdisciplinary research centre dedicated to the study and education of death, dying, loss, and grief across the life course and in diverse contexts.
Collection
Discover more content like this
-
Walk the walk: encountering death and dying spaces in hospital
Take part now to access more details of Walk the walk: encountering death and dying spaces in hospitalFor some staff in hospitals, dealing with serious injury and death may be a common occurrence. But it is often unchartered territory for family and friends when called in to visit someone they know. It can be a time of heightened emotions and confusion.
-
Could you work in end of life care?
Take part now to access more details of Could you work in end of life care?Have you ever wondered what it's like to work in end of life care as a health care professional supporting dying patients and their families? Working with people who are dying can be both rewarding and emotionally draining.
-
Life or Death Decisions
Take part now to access more details of Life or Death DecisionsEver heard of advance care planning? Setting out what you’d want to happen to you if you became too unwell to make your own decisions doesn’t have to be morbid but can be incredibly helpful and give you peace of mind. Find out more in this interactive video simulation…
Study a free course
-
Death and medicine: postponement and promise
Learn more to access more details of Death and medicine: postponement and promiseThis free course, Death and medicine: postponement and promise, helps you to explore the extent to which death and dying in western societies are medical events and what aspects of death and dying might be neglected as a consequence. The course covers the way that such things as medicine provide the context of the experiences associated with the...
-
An introduction to death, dying and grief
Learn more to access more details of An introduction to death, dying and griefExplore interesting and challenging ideas around death, dying and grief. This free course, An introduction to death, dying and grief, invites you to think more deeply about death and dying and encourages you to think about it in different ways. This course will introduce you to different perspectives on death; ethical issues related to dying and...
-
Caring for adults
Learn more to access more details of Caring for adultsCaring for adults is an introductory course for anyone in a caring role, either paid or unpaid. It builds on what you already know to give you a better understanding of your role as a carer. It also supports your own well-being by giving you some ideas and information about looking after yourself and dealing with stress.
Rate and Review
Rate this article
Review this article
Log into OpenLearn to leave reviews and join in the conversation.
Article reviews