Spontaneous Shrines and the Public Memorialization of Death

Spontaneous shrines have emerged around the world, as a way to mourn those who have died a sudden or shocking death, and to acknowledge the circumstances of the deaths. Spontaneous Shrines and Public Memorializations of Death is an edited volume of approximately 17 essays that deals with various types of spontaneous shrines and other, related public memorializations of death. The articles address events such as New York after 9/11; roadside crosses, the use of 'Day of the Dead' altars to bring attention to deceased undocumented immigrants, and so on. Together, they will deal with issues around the origins, types, uses, dynamics, and meanings of these shrines. The scope of the book will include the United States, Newfoundland, Norway, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Guatamala, Rwanda, and the former Yugoslavia. The book is the first comprehensive work to examine and theorize the phenomenon as a whole.