We must all face the loss of the loved ones in our lives. How death occurs, and responses to that loss, are always contingent on social, cultural and religious dynamics. Throughout the semester, we will explore a broad range of topics within the field of death and dying using an interdisciplinary approach.

In SCAR 2N03 Death and Dying: Western Perspectives, we will explore the historical formations of cemeteries, the rise of the funeral profession, and cross-cultural responses to death within North America. We will also reflect on Indigenous, Black North American, and migrant experiences, and consider how systematic inequalities affect our rich mosaic of death, dying and bereavement. We will consider important ethical questions such as the right to die, brain death, and the ethics of displaying the dead in museum collections