Book

Funeral rites in contemporary Korea : the business of death

Han, Gil Soo, author

Overview

This book explores 21st century Korean society on the basis of its dramatically transforming and rapidly expanding commercial funeral industry. With insights into contemporary Confucianism, shamanism and filial piety, as well as modernisation, urbanisation, the division of labour and the digitalisation of consumption, it is the first study of its kind to offer a sophisticated, integrated sociological analysis of how the commodification of death intersects with capitalism, popular culture and everyday life in contemporary Korea. Through innovative analyses of funeral advertising and journalism, screen and literary representations of funerals, online media, consumer accounts of using funeral services and other sources, it offers a complex picture of the widespread effects of economic development, urbanisation and modernisation in South Korean society over the past quarter century. In the aftermath of the Korean \"economic miracle\" novel ways of paying respect to deceased kin have emerged; using Max Weber's concept of \"pariah capitalism\", Gil-Soo Han shows how the heightened obsession with and boom in the commodification of death in Korea reflects radical transformations in both capital and culture.

• Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore
• Subject: Undertakers and undertaking Economic aspects Korea 21st century. / Funeral rites and ceremonies Economic aspects Korea History 21st century.
• ISBN: 9811378517, 9789811378515

Item info:

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Holdings :

Call Number	Copies	Material	Location
HD9999.U53 K653 2019	1	BOOK	AUTOSTORE