Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

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SOAN0357A-S10

Death and the Body

Death and the Body
This course will provide an overview of how archaeologists and anthropologists encounter and interpret death in societies worldwide. We will look at death and the body from the perspective of burials and tombs, discussing ancient and modern conceptions of souls, afterlives, and identities. Drawing upon my own research in the tropical lowlands of Guatemala and Honduras, we will compare Maya attitudes towards death with those of other world societies, from the mummies of ancient Egypt to modern jazz funerals in New Orleans. We will explore different ideas about death, social boundaries, and even what it is to be human. 3 hrs. lect./disc.
Course Reference Number (CRN):
22495
Subject Code:
SOAN
Course Number:
0357
Section Identifier:
A

Course

SOAN 0357

All Sections in Spring 2010

Spring 2010

SOAN0357A-S10 Lecture (Fitzsimmons)