Anthropology 236 - Approaching Death: Culture, Health, and Science

This class challenges assumptions about death and dying as we examine its meanings and related practices in various cultural contexts. We will ask, what is universal about death and dying, and what is socially constructed? What can the social sciences, biomedicine, film, literature, the arts, and our own qualitative research tell us about the processes of dying, of grieving, and of providing care? In essence, what does it take to approach death?

Limited to 18 students.  Spring semester.  Associate Five College Professor Aulino.

How to handle overenrollment: Priority given to Anthropology majors and students for whom this will be their only opportunity to take the course.

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: Students should expect to: 1) get out of their “comfort zones”; 2) work collaboratively with peers to develop the means to “approach death” both scholastically and personally; 3) write more effectively; 4) conduct independent research; 5) develop greater media literacy and greater sensitivity to the social training of awareness; 6) become more curious about everyday habits and overarching social worlds; and 7) experiment with the boundaries of academic disciplines in order to engage meaningfully with the world.