Understanding the reasons behind the increasing popularity of organized events related to themes of death, tragedy, and suffering—like the famous Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Jack the Ripper Walking Tours, and Remembrance Sunday—can provide valuable insights into society, according to researchers from the University of Surrey.
Grasping the reasons for the growing interest in organized events centered around death, disasters, and suffering, such as the well-known Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Jack the Ripper Walking Tours, and Remembrance Sunday, may unlock a deeper understanding of societal dynamics, state researchers from the University of Surrey.
In a recent study published in Annals of Tourism Research, researchers present a thorough framework to evaluate these events, utilizing knowledge from various fields like thanatology (the study of death and related practices), dark tourism, and collective memory research.
Dark events encompass a wide range of activities, including historical commemorations, sports events, cultural festivals, and horror-themed experiences.
Dr. James Kennell, a co-author of the study and Associate Professor of Events and Hospitality at the University of Surrey, explains:
There are multiple reasons why people are intrigued by dark events, rooted in psychological and cultural facets of human behavior. Humans possess a natural curiosity for the darker side of life, involving death, tragedy, and the macabre. These events often create a safe space for individuals to delve into these themes. Dr. James Kennell, Associate Professor in Events & Hospitality
This research framework enhances the understanding of the shifting landscape of dark events by outlining six essential concepts for studying them:
- Commercialization — the ways dark events are promoted, experienced, and monetized.
- Interdisciplinary perspectives — insights from fields like thanatology, dark tourism, and collective memory research.
- Public engagement — examining how dark events connect with broader societal discussions, including media portrayal, politics, public reactions, and their influence on social norms and values.
- Deviant behavior — looking into what drives individuals to participate, such as seeking thrills or exploring taboo subjects like violence and harm.
- Experiential elements — reviewing how these events trigger emotions such as fear, fascination, or contemplation among participants or audiences.
- The element of death — focusing on the symbolic and actual presence of death in dark events, encompassing non-human deaths, death symbolism, and real-life mortality.
Metod Å uligoj, another co-author and Associate Professor of Tourism Studies at the University of Primorska, stated:
“The allure of dark events emerges from a complicated blend of curiosity, thrill-seeking, cultural heritage, psychological exploration, and a longing for shared experiences. These occasions enable people to confront themes of death, disaster, and suffering in ways that are insightful, educational, and at times transformative.”
