Death is one of the realities of life, but how we view death and partake in funerals has changed over time. Prof. Gary Laderman, chair of the Department of Religion at Emory University, takes us on a two-century tour of how Americans have dealt with death, including the interesting rise of the â??death industry.â?
As we typically do, the interview starts with a bit of background to Prof. Laderman. He indicates some of his favorite horror films and then discusses how he came to study the topic of funerals in American history, first examining death in the 19th century in his first book The Sacred Remains and then the sequel to this work, Rest in Peace. The discussion of how death and funerals have been conceived of in American history begins with an examination of George Washingtonâ??s passing. Prof. Laderman contrasts the pageantry and reverence given to our first president with what became of a man who committed suicide around the same time. The latterâ??s body was used for dissection, which at the time was not something that was widely discussed. We also cover the typical process of funerals in America at this time, which often occurred at home, particularly in rural areas.
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