GV3DDT-Deathscapes and Dark Tourism

Module Provider: Geography and Environmental Science
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Prof Avril Maddrell
Email: avril.maddrell@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module explores the geographies of deathscapes and dark tourism, bringing together geographical perspectives on landscapes and other sites associated with death, disaster, remembrance and tourism. Topics range from cemeteries as sites social diversity and biodiversity; sites of genocide and disaster; everyday spaces of pet cemeteries and roadside memorials, as well and the emotional and therapeutic geographies of comfort and consolation. It links social issues to environmental issues through questions about grievability and ‘killability’ of animals, species extinction and climate change; and social and cultural issues through studying changing practices of remembrance in contemporary multicultural societies and related Planning issues. It includes spaces, practices and experiences associated with sites of ‘Dark Tourism’ and explores whether death is still a social taboo in the light of Day of the Dead festivals and Death Cafés. Examples are drawn from the UK and international contexts (e.g. USA, Europe, Senegal, Australia). The module builds on the topics of identity, social diversity, sustainability, pilgrimage and memorialisation addressed in core modules and departmental field trips, and typically includes one or two local field trips, as well as a Day of the Dead workshop.

Key topics

• Day of the Dead – is death taboo?


• Deathscapes – reading the landscape


• Burial or Cremation – which and why? Local, religious, cultural and environmental factors.


• Personal, community and place identity in cemeteries


• Future proofing cemeteries and crematoria - planning and managing cemeteries and crematoria for inclusive multicultural and sustainable societies


• International case studies of funerary practices


• Behind the scenes at the cemetery – fieldtrip/s


• The role of grief and hope in addressing extinction and environmental loss


• Mapping grief and consolation – for humans and animals


• Pilgrimage, war graves and sites of genocide and disaster as Dark Tourism sites.


• Evaluating the ethics and authenticity of varied international Dark Tourism sites.


• Management of Dark Tourism sites for local and visitor needs.

Aims:

This module aims to use geographical concepts, theories and methods to i) explore and understand the geographies associated with death, loss and remembrance; ii) understand the impact of death and remembrance practices on the landscape and environment, including how these change over time, may be contested and require management and planning in the light of multicultural and sustainability agenda;  iii) to examine the value of emotional geographies of death and loss, including environmental loss and species extinction; iv) to reflect on human death as a social taboo; and v) to evaluate the ethics and authenticity of Dark Tourism as a form of heritage consumption, which ranges from pilgrimage, to sites of holocaust to entertainment destinations.

Assessable learning outcomes:

• Knowledge of concepts such as deathscapes, extinction, taboo, genocide, Dark Tourism and emotional-affective geographies.


• An ability to apply these concepts to UK and international historical and contemporary case studies.


• An understanding of changing social attitudes to death, environmental loss, and the spaces and practices of remembrance.


• An understanding of the varied roles of place, community and individual identity in burial,cremation and memorial practices; how these impact on funerary consumption, and  how these can be contested and negotiated in inclusive multicultural societies, including through planning.


• An understanding of the types of Dark Tourism, the ethical issues associated with particular Dark Tourism sites and the range of strategies that are deployed to address these issues.

Additional outcomes:

Connections between the module content and local government services including Planning, plus tourism highlight links to employability.

Outline content:

The module will be explored through five main themes:

a) geographical perspectives on death, loss and remembrance, including deathscapes, extinction, mapping grief and consolation,  with UK and international case studies.

b) the spatial practices and experiences associated with loss and consolation relating to both human and animal species, and how these relate to emotional-affective geographies.

c) exploration and analysis of varied historic and contemporary sites and expressions of death, loss and remembrance in particular places and landscapes, with implications for environmental conservation and Planning in a multicultural society.

d) International examples of Dark Tourism sites which illustrate varied approaches to storying, presentation, management and visitor experience at sites of death, disaster and genocide.

Global context:

The module will focus on the UK and Western Europe with additional case studies drawn from across the world e.g. varied Dark Tourism sites.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Lectures, reading-based seminars, discussions, visiting speakers, field trip, workshop activities.

 

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		10
Seminars		10
Practicals classes and workshops		4
Fieldwork		6
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)		30
Wider reading (directed)		20
Advance preparation for classes		10
Preparation for presentations		2
Preparation for seminars		10
Completion of formative assessment tasks		4
Group study tasks		4
Essay preparation		70
Reflection		20
Total hours by term	0	200	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	50
Report	50

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

1. (50%) 3000-word essay form a choice of 3-4 subjects, including the option for students to suggest their own title in relation to the relevant section of the module.


2. A 3000 word report, the topic chosen from 3-4 subjects, including the option for students to suggest their own title in relation to the relevant section of the module. Guidance on report content, layout and formatting will be provided.

Formative assessment methods:

Students will be given opportunities to complete small practical tasks in lectures and seminars. They can check their understanding of key concepts though these tasks. Formative feedback will be given on preparation for assessed coursework e.g. essay plan.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A mark of 40% overall

Reassessment arrangements:

Resubmission of coursework.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 4 September 2023