Corpses, conflict and insignificance? A critical analysis of post-mortem practices

Abstract The personalisation of post-mortem practices has been presented as one of the significant mortuary shifts associated with secularisation in contemporary, western society. While some authors have lamented a loss of meaningful, communal ritual (Crouch, 2004; Hunter, 2007; Wouters, 2002), others have evaluated this shift as a positive development reflecting the realities of changing demographic profiles and consumer demands. This paper critically examines personalisation by exploring three groups integrally linked to post-mortem practices: funeral directors, secular celebrants and bereaved people. Drawing on ethnographic research data, this discussion reveals that personalisation is a complex term that frequently obscures the processes, meanings and difficulties encountered in organising post-mortem practices in contemporary New Zealand society.