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Romancing with Death in Hollywood. Paul T. P. Wong, PhD, Professor Department of Psychology, Tyndale University College Date: August 7, 2009. Abstract.
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Romancing with Death in Hollywood Paul T. P. Wong, PhD, Professor Department of Psychology, Tyndale University College Date: August 7, 2009
Abstract The presentation discusses the portrait of death and dying in Hollywood films. A meaning-management theory was proposed to account for death acceptance. The paper identifies 7 pathways of death acceptance in films. It concludes that meaning offers the best protection against death fear and the best promise of hope beyond death.
An overview • Death and dying as an important topic • Death denial vs. death acceptance • Cinema as an educational tool • Seven pathways of death acceptance
The importance of death & dying • Death is universal • We are scared to death about death • The end impacts us more than the beginning & everything in between • Dying well is the last frontier of positive psychology
Different death attitudes • Fear of death • Avoidance of death • Neutral death acceptance • Approach death acceptance • Escape death acceptance
The Psychology of Death • Terror management theory: Focusing on death denial & avoidance • Meaning management theory: Focusing on death acceptance & approach • Defensive vs. purposeful orientation (Existential & Spiritual Issues in Death Attitudes (2008) edited by Tomer, Eliason, & Wong. Published by Francis & Taylors)
Dual-system model • The approach system – life expansion and processes of personal growth • The avoidance system – life protection and defensive mechanisms • The duality hypothesis of coping with death and dying
Cinema as an educational tool • It reflects life & popular culture • Its aesthetic power of beauty • Its evocative power of imagination • Its narrative power of story telling • Its instructive power of inspiring virtue • Its mystical power of transcendence
A two-factor theory of cinema • Dream-making: Entertainment thru aesthetic & emotional appeal (escape from reality) • Myth-making: Enlightenment thru moral & spiritual appeal (confront and transcend reality)
Romanticism in death & dying films • Individual’s heroic response to tragedy • Sentimentality: tension & relief, feel-good & break your heart • Virtues of courage, passion for living and self-sacrifice • Transcendental and spiritual aspects of human existence
Criteria for selection of films • Focusing on death acceptance • Exploring the deep dark realities of death and dying • Showing the triumphant human spirit in the face of danger, suffering & death • Showing sparks of love & goodness in the midst of atrocity & terror
Criteria for exclusion • Horror/slasher films • Gangster/crime films • The Casper genre • Trivialize & dehumanize death
Seven pathways of death acceptance • Die loving • Die doing what one loves • Die pursuing a dream • Die saving others • Die redeeming one’s wrongs • Die becoming a better person • Die believing in hope
Die loving • Love is the key to make life & death meaningful • To die happy is to die with love in one’s heart • To love is to mourn its loss • Love is made poignant by death • Undying love is seen only after losing the loved one
Die doing what one loves • To die happy is to do what one loves most and does best • Hedonic happiness – The Bucket List • Eudaimonic happiness – Dance in the Dark, The Wrestler • To enjoy each day as if it were your last • Finding salvation in your passion
Die pursuing a dream • To live is to pursue a dream worth dying for (Milk, Iron Jawed Angels) • Die for an ideal (Defiance, The Last Samurai) • The meaning of your life is defined by your ultimate sacrifice • Self-transcendence is the key to resilience and meaning in life
Die saving others • A heroic and altruistic act • Another example of self-transcendence • A living sacrifice for another person (Life is Wonderful, Saving Private Ryan) • A living sacrifice for humanity (Deep Impact)
Die redeeming one’s wrongs • Die happy without regrets (GranTorino) • Die happy after reconciliation • Need for confession, forgiveness & redemption
Die becoming a better person • The idea of death can save many lives • Encounter with death is an life-altering experience (It’s a Wonderful life, A Christmas Carol, Life as a House) • Death acceptance leads to authentic living
Die believing • Die happy believing in hope • The invisible becomes more real than the visible when life ebbs away • A spiritual vision gives hope in the face of death (The Messenger, Miracle at St. Anna) • The power of the mystic meta-narrative
Conclusion • Meaning offers the best protection against death fear and the best hope for a happy life • The 7 pathways to death acceptance are also the keys to happiness and meaning in life • Dying well is related to living well
Thank You Dr. Paul T. P. Wong, Professor Department of Psychology, Tyndale University College www.meaning.ca; www.existentialpsychology.org dr.paul.wong@gmail.com; ptpwong@rogers.com 416-546-5588, 416-587-4990