HW#53 - Independent Research A

Dance, Laugh, Drink. Save the Date: It’s a Ghanaian Funeral. By:Sam Dolnick

Death is being symbolized as a happy moment in life. In the Ghanaian culture they have a big party or celebration for the death of their loved ones. Instead of crying why don't we rejoice this moment in life? They raise money to help out with funeral expenses and overall have a good time.

In the Ghanaian culture they don't see death as a bad thing. They want to spend the time laughing enjoying life like we should. The funerals are portrayed as parties for their culture unlike the social dominant practices we usually are known for. We have sad and people crying at funerals while the Ghanaian are celebrating this death. It said "The parties are a direct import from Ghana, where funerals are world-renowned for their size and extravagance. Coffins there sometimes resemble Mardi Gras floats; an athlete’s might be shaped like a soccer ball, a fisherman’s, like a canoe". This isn't your typical funeral. Different countries take death in many different ways.

The Empty Chair in the Dining Room by Patrick Egan

They talk about death more in the senior housing facilities so they become more comfortable with dying because of their age. They have become less terrified and more accepting to dying.

I find it interesting by the fact they have “Dearly Departed” table where there is a person picture there of who died. The people at the senior homes are being able to cope with their turn of death knowing that it will be coming soon. I believe that since the reason the older people are placed there that is why they bring up death so much. “It helps move away from the notion that these places are just warehouses for the elderly,” said Dr. Schumacher. “It’s a community, and the residents contribute in a lot of ways.” Referring the book that i read "The Curtains" it said that society believes in life after death which kind of reminds me of this article because the people at the homes put so much emphasis on comforting the elderly so they can die happy or not terffied.

As Facebook Users Die, Ghosts Reach Out by Jenna Wortman

Not only does death take place right in front of us but also facebook. People are being allowed to have tribute pages to others who have passed away and to take that person alive even though they are dead. It is kind of like an "afterlife" in the virtual world.

Looking at all three texts, they have all provide a way to grief with death. Facebook has provide a way to keep people alive by having deceased person be recongized for their acknowlegement even though they have passed. It allows other people who have know them to cope with their feelings and see their face everyday with the memories that they have cherished. "But death, of course, is unavoidable, and so Facebook must find a way to integrate it into the social experience online." We as a society i feel make things bigger than what they are already are to have this importance in life if its either death, birth, or afterlife.