Didi (Death of the Endless) (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
living_endless) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2015-10-02 12:01 pm
living_endless) wrote in fandomhigh2015-10-02 12:01 pm
Entry tags:
Philosophy of Loss, Friday, 2nd Period
The students who made it to class today would have a novel experience indeed. Death -- and today she was Death, no Didi about it -- had lost her usual air of calm good cheer, and instead looked perturbed and vaguely sullen.
Her father had told her to expect a visit. Her father never visited.
"Hi," she said, slouching into a bean bag chair. "I know you're probably eager to either see or avoid your guests, so I'm hoping class won't be too stressful. We're talking about Ghanaian fantasy coffins. Carpenters in and around Accra make specialized coffins carved to look like cars, fish, lions -- anything you can imagine. Usually the specific shape of a coffin reflects the deceased's job or social position. The reason they go to the trouble comes from the Ga tribe's religious beliefs. They believe death is not the end. And because ancestors can influence our lives from their afterlife, you buy them a nice coffin so they'll be in a good mood and help you out."
She spread out her hands, palms up. "That's the religious explanation, anyhow. Some people are more pragmatic and will tell you it's more about honoring the departed and showing respect for their memory. Whatever the reasoning is, you can't deny they make some gorgeous coffins."
Something caught her eye there, a flash of red hair and flowing beard in the back of the classroom; she blinked it away.
"Anyhow, what I'd like for you to do today is design a coffin. It can be for whoever you want -- yourself, someone you lost, a historic figure, a fictional character. You have half an hour to sketch, and then I'd like to talk about your designs. Let me or Kathyassuming she's here know if you have questions."
Her father had told her to expect a visit. Her father never visited.
"Hi," she said, slouching into a bean bag chair. "I know you're probably eager to either see or avoid your guests, so I'm hoping class won't be too stressful. We're talking about Ghanaian fantasy coffins. Carpenters in and around Accra make specialized coffins carved to look like cars, fish, lions -- anything you can imagine. Usually the specific shape of a coffin reflects the deceased's job or social position. The reason they go to the trouble comes from the Ga tribe's religious beliefs. They believe death is not the end. And because ancestors can influence our lives from their afterlife, you buy them a nice coffin so they'll be in a good mood and help you out."
She spread out her hands, palms up. "That's the religious explanation, anyhow. Some people are more pragmatic and will tell you it's more about honoring the departed and showing respect for their memory. Whatever the reasoning is, you can't deny they make some gorgeous coffins."
Something caught her eye there, a flash of red hair and flowing beard in the back of the classroom; she blinked it away.
"Anyhow, what I'd like for you to do today is design a coffin. It can be for whoever you want -- yourself, someone you lost, a historic figure, a fictional character. You have half an hour to sketch, and then I'd like to talk about your designs. Let me or Kathy
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