Anthropology of Dying (eBook)

Mira Menzfeld worked as a cultural anthropologist, journalist, and advertising editor. She is currently researching Salafits in Europe and voluntarily attending dying persons.

Foreword 5
Acknowledgements 7
Funding 9
Contents 10
1 Introducing dying 19
1.1Introduction 19
1.2Literature on dying 23
1.3Theoretical framework 38
1.4Coming to terms: Definitions 43
1.5Main arguments and structure of the chapters 49
2 Fieldwork with dying persons 52
2.1Research context 52
2.2Research participants 56
2.3Methodology 62
2.4Research ethics and personal reflections 71
2.5Fieldwork in the native culture and contrast research 80
2.6Summary: Reflections on fieldwork with dying persons 85
3 Becoming dying 87
3.1The beginning of the end 87
3.2How dying starts 94
3.3Dying as a vital conjuncture 106
3.4Summary: Becoming pre-exitally dying in Germany 112
4 First experiences as a dying person 114
4.1Decision-making processes: Where and how to die 114
4.2Dying at home: An ambivalent ideal 118
4.3Decisions, requested and revised 122
4.4Institutions – gaining attractiveness 126
4.5Stressful movements 131
4.6Summary: Shaping the first time of dying 136
5 Cultural models of dying 137
5.1Introducing cultural models 137
5.2Dying ‘well’: Approaching an ideal 140
5.3The umbrella model: Dying in dignity 146
5.4Cultural models of dying: Autonomy and serenity 147
5.5Summary: Cultural models of dying in Germany 166
6 How it feels to be a dying person 167
6.1Feeling to be different from non-dying ones 168
6.2Feeling right: Display and concealment of emotions 174
6.3Fun and humor 176
6.4Envy and jealousy 181
6.5Simultaneity of emotions 185
6.6Summary: What dying feels like 192
7 Changing perceptions in dying 194
7.1Changing sensory perceptions 195
7.2“…these drugs do me so much good”: Medication and technical devices 202
7.3Changing perceptions of relevance 206
7.4Regrets, achievements, and the triumph of having no family 210
7.5Summary: Physical, evaluative and relevance-related perceptions 213
8 Emic perspectives on the course of dying 215
8.1Figuring out reasons for dying 215
8.2Temporalities of dying 220
8.3Ending dying 225
8.4Cornelia’s last hours 231
8.5Summary: Reflections on the course of dying 233
9 Dying as liminality in the making 234
9.1Dying – a liminal situation? 235
9.2Lack and production of liminal guidance 239
9.3Emerging options for communitas 246
9.4Historical conditions of emerging liminality in dying 252
9.5Summary: Dying as liminality in the making 254
10 Insights from and for dying 255
10.1Main findings 255
10.2Theoretical contributions 260
10.3Practical inspirations 263
11 Epilogue 267
Reference list 268