Defining death is something that seems to be a subjective experience for everyone. Cultures as wholes have their general belief in what death is- when it occurs, why it occurs, and what is going to happen next. According to these, every culture has their general way of dealing with it- mourning, burial practices, and the emotions that go along with it. In your own culture, it seems as though dying is an entirely objective thing; however when you look at the variations it is clear the concept of death is almost undefinable. No one is here to tell their personal experience with it (with the exception of near-death experiences), and that’s why it’s the greatest mystery of all. The examination of life, with which death is included, has had millions of years to develop and form. The subject of it has influenced humankind through countless forms- religion, political affairs, media, ethics, and every other aspect of culture. This is the reason why death has become completely politicized. Politics are a human-made thing, whereas death and dying are a part of nature,which, like all other forms of nature, are something humans seek to understand, and control. The enormous role that culture plays in the way an individual thinks and interprets the physical aspects of humankind is the key factor in politics, and the maintenance of political tensions.
