Memento Mori, Remember Death will come.
For this topic, let’s imagine how we’d like to “leave this mortal coil,†to “make our exit,†or to “start pushing up the daisies.†The chapter reading for this week gives us ample examples and suggestions, a kind of blueprint, for how we could image this. These range from the personally eccentric examples laid out in the “Going out BIG†section, to the monumental markers on an architectural scale laid out in the section on “Ego,†or would you prefer to be physically preserved forever for all to see?
These are just some starting points to get you inspired- you don’t have to answer these questions, they are meant to fire up some ideas within your brainstorming.
These examples are all rooted in ancient traditions, the art of which is covered in this chapter, that predate our contemporary traditions. Keep in mind that these scenarios are imaginary, so be as creative as possible.
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Provide the following for your summary:
Your overall description
1. Your ideas
a. The example from the textbook that relates to this idea, describe how it relates.
b. Image
2. Your ideas
a. The example from the textbook that relates to this idea, describe how it relates.
b. Image
3. Your ideas
a. The example from the textbook that relates to this idea, describe how it relates.
b. Image
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Here is an example from a recently deceased pet in my family. Milli, our basset hound was 15 years old when she died a few months ago. For your summary, make sure to provide images.
1. She is buried in the back yard, where family can visit anytime. It’s a quiet space, with other pets that have passed, which is a “community†gathering place, like a traditional cemetery.
a. Traditional cemetery
2. We buried her wrapped in a favorite dog blanket, with a bacon chew toy, and sage. These are things she may need in the afterlife and objects that she enjoyed in life.
a. Ancient Egyptians/ Qin Shi Huang’s tomb (terra cotta warriors)
3. There is a memorial on my bookshelf, with ofrendas: a toy, a flower, some treats
a. Day of the Dead remembrances
4. We have an annual memorial planned for the future.
a. Dogon dama funeral; anniversary rituals
5. We saved some dog hair and placed it in a special container to hold onto a physical part of Milli to maintain a sense continued connection.
a. Reliquary that houses a physical part of the deceased
WRITTEN SUMMARY REQUIREMENTS: