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ERIC Number: EJ692103
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005-Jun
Pages: 30
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0748-1187
EISSN: N/A
Mediator Deathwork
Walter, Tony
Death Studies, v29 n5 p383-412 Jun 2005
The most discussed and analyzed form of deathwork is the dyadic "therapist" [double arrow] "client" relationship, but this far from exhausts the various types of professional work involving the dead. Mediator deathwork is where the professional gleans or constructs information about the dead, edits and polishes it, and publicly presents the edited version in a public rite; this entails a triadic flow of information: "the dead"[right arrow]"the mediator[right arrow]"public rite." Examples include pathologists, coroners, American funeral directors, funeral celebrants, obituary writers, spiritualist mediums, and museum curators. Other types include barrier deathwork (in which the professional insulates the living from the dead--"the dead" | "the living"--as in British funeral directing), and intercessory deathwork in which priests send prayers the other way, from the living to, or on behalf of, the dead: "mourner"[right arrow]"priest"[right arrow]"the dead." The article focuses on mediator deathwork because, though it is the most widespread form of deathwork, it is the least discussed and analyzed.
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom; United States
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A