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 imagine 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.
Are there special items that you’d like to accompany your corpse? Maybe it’s that favorite light saber,
lucky hat, wedding ring, your baseball card collection, an important religious object, or that 1967 Chevy
Camero with white leather interior?
Do you want to share your (cremated) remains among your loved ones? What should they do with them—
put them in amulets on chains, in an urn on the mantle, or resting in more traditional place like a
cemetery?
Or would you select a burial, in your favorite car perhaps, in a custom Kane Kwei-style coffin shaped like
a chicken, or in a giant crypt with your favorite 60” television, with a full bar and a butler, or with any of
the other things you need in the afterlife?
Do you want a ritualized celebration honor with fireworks, dancing, or the Pope, or any other religious
figure’s, blessing?
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.
Provide the following for your summary:
Describe your idea of how you would like to orchestrate your end of life ceremony.
List a minimum of 3 specific ideas that are personal and individually tailored to the person you are.
Provide specific examples of how your ideas are related to the art of this specific section of the textbook.
All of your ideas must be related to an example from the week’s chapter reading. Describe how something
you learned this week relates to the three personalized ideas listed above remember to be specific.
Provide the image embedded within your discussion.
Sample Solution
