An Informative Exploration of Grief in Art History
**Exploring Burial Practices and Their Socio-political Impacts: Insights from ‘Graveyards’ by Roger Luckhurst**
Roger Luckhurst, a professor at the University of London, Birkbeck, takes readers through an illuminating exploration of burial practices across the globe in his book, “Graveyards: A History of Living with the Dead.” Luckhurst delves into the history and evolution of how societies honor and memorialize the deceased, revealing a tapestry of diverse customs alongside their impact on the living.
Historically, burial practices have varied from inserting coins into the mouths of the deceased in Ancient Rome and Greece for passage through mythical waters, to modern instances where some attempt to recreate the presence of lost loved ones through artificial intelligence. In his comprehensive survey, Luckhurst discusses these fascinating customs and more, illustrating the varied ways humans have dealt with death throughout the ages.
“Graveyards” also examines current cultural interactions with these ritualistic practices. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Luckhurst recounts how his frequent visits to a London park serendipitously introduced him to a 19th-century graveyard, sparking his interest in how modern cities might be unknowingly built upon historical burial sites. This intermingling of past and present serves as a poignant reminder of how the dead silently coexist with the living in present day urban landscapes.
The book further addresses themes of what Luckhurst refers to as “dark tourism,” where cultural death rituals, such as Tibet’s sky burials or Indonesia’s coffin vaults, become attractions for tourists. Here, Luckhurst encourages a reflection on the implications of commodifying these deeply personal ceremonies and the potential intrusiveness of such tourism on the local cultural practices.
Moreover, “Graveyards” navigates the contentious realm of how the dead are often engaged for political purposes. From Vladimir Lenin’s body being displayed in Red Square to further political agendas, to Zimbabwe’s revolutionary heroes being honored in an AK-47 shaped cemetery; Luckhurst reveals the manipulation of memorials to serve nationalist narratives. These instances highlight how the remains of the departed are often co-opted into living political theater, shaping and reinforcing national identities.
In his thoughtful prose, Luckhurst underscores the pervasive connection between the living and the dead which societal rituals strive to sustain or disguise. “Graveyards” not only elucidates the historical reverence for burial practices but also scrutinizes their enduring socio-political impacts, offering a nuanced understanding of how the past perpetually influences our contemporary world.
Through a blend of historical narrative and insightful analysis, “Graveyards: A History of Living with the Dead” provides a thought-provoking vantage point on humanity’s ongoing dialogue with mortality, memorialization, and the powerful undercurrents that continue to bind the living to the dead.