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From Undertaker to Funeral Director: A Social Change in Cyprus

Roumpeka, Anastasia LU (2022) SIMZ11 20221
Graduate School
Abstract
How often do we think of our own death? And how often do we stop and think of the changes
surrounding death that affect our lives? Thanatology, the study of death and dying, examines
death from different perspectives. Following a thanatological path, this research aimed to
explore the relationship between death and technology in terms of social change, specifically
in the Republic of Cyprus. Funeral parlours were at the center of this research with three funeral
directors being interviewed along with one recently retired priest in the city of Nicosia. Using
in-depth interviewing, the research explored the experiences, processes, and changes that
Cypriot funerals underwent. Three major turning points in Cypriot history... (More)
How often do we think of our own death? And how often do we stop and think of the changes
surrounding death that affect our lives? Thanatology, the study of death and dying, examines
death from different perspectives. Following a thanatological path, this research aimed to
explore the relationship between death and technology in terms of social change, specifically
in the Republic of Cyprus. Funeral parlours were at the center of this research with three funeral
directors being interviewed along with one recently retired priest in the city of Nicosia. Using
in-depth interviewing, the research explored the experiences, processes, and changes that
Cypriot funerals underwent. Three major turning points in Cypriot history influenced social
change in the funeral sector, namely, the 1974 Turkish invasion, the accession of the island to
the European Union, and the recent Covid-19 pandemic. Findings revealed several changes
and interestingly enough, the funeral parlours today are involved even when the funeral is over
with the help of the Internet. Along with other causes such as ideology, competition, conflict
and political and economic factors, the funeral industry not only evolved and broadened its role
but also managed to get de-stigmatised. The undertaker transformed into a funeral director and
now acts as a coordination center for various other businesses, with the client ending up with
fewer responsibilities. Lastly, while funeral parlours are certified and examined for their
profession, institutions such as the state, the police, and the church still regulate and limit their
role. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Roumpeka, Anastasia LU
supervisor
organization
course
SIMZ11 20221
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Death, Social Change, Technology, Funeral Director, Cyprus
language
English
id
9089721
date added to LUP
2022-06-23 10:54:52
date last changed
2022-06-23 10:54:52
@misc{9089721,
  abstract     = {{How often do we think of our own death? And how often do we stop and think of the changes 
surrounding death that affect our lives? Thanatology, the study of death and dying, examines 
death from different perspectives. Following a thanatological path, this research aimed to 
explore the relationship between death and technology in terms of social change, specifically 
in the Republic of Cyprus. Funeral parlours were at the center of this research with three funeral 
directors being interviewed along with one recently retired priest in the city of Nicosia. Using 
in-depth interviewing, the research explored the experiences, processes, and changes that 
Cypriot funerals underwent. Three major turning points in Cypriot history influenced social 
change in the funeral sector, namely, the 1974 Turkish invasion, the accession of the island to 
the European Union, and the recent Covid-19 pandemic. Findings revealed several changes 
and interestingly enough, the funeral parlours today are involved even when the funeral is over 
with the help of the Internet. Along with other causes such as ideology, competition, conflict 
and political and economic factors, the funeral industry not only evolved and broadened its role 
but also managed to get de-stigmatised. The undertaker transformed into a funeral director and 
now acts as a coordination center for various other businesses, with the client ending up with 
fewer responsibilities. Lastly, while funeral parlours are certified and examined for their 
profession, institutions such as the state, the police, and the church still regulate and limit their 
role.}},
  author       = {{Roumpeka, Anastasia}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{From Undertaker to Funeral Director: A Social Change in Cyprus}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}