Dark rituals: Understanding society's fascination with death and disaster
Understanding why the popularity of organised events steeped in themes of death, disaster and suffering, such as the well-known Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Jack the Ripper Walking Tours and Remembrance Sunday, could be key to a deeper understanding of society, say researchers from the University of Surrey.
In a study published by Annals of Tourism Research, researchers introduce a comprehensive framework to analyse these events, drawing from fields as diverse as thanatology (the scientific study of death and the practices associated with it), dark tourism, and collective memory studies.
Dark events include a broad spectrum, from historical commemorations and sports competitions to cultural festivals and horror experiences.
Dr James Kennell, co-author of the study and Associate Professor of Events and Hospitality at the University of Surrey, said:
The framework developed in this study advances understanding of the evolving landscape of dark events by identifying six key concepts crucial for researching dark events:
- Commercialisation – how dark events are marketed, consumed, and monetised.
- Perspectives from disciplines such as thanatology, dark tourism, and collective memory studies.
- Public sphere engagement - how dark events interact with the public sphere and how they fit in broader societal discourse – including media coverage, politics, public reactions, and the impact on social norms and values.
- Deviant behaviour - examines participant motivations, such as thrill-seeking or taboo exploration of violence, criminality or general harm.
- Experiential aspects - analysing how dark events evoke emotions such as fear, fascination, or reflection within the participants or audience.
- The presence of death – centres on the symbolic and literal presence of death within dark events, including: non-human death, death symbolism and actual death.
Metod Šuligoj, co-author and Associate Professor of Tourism Studies at the University of Primorska, said:
“The fascination with dark events stems from a complex interplay of curiosity, thrill-seeking behaviour, cultural traditions, psychological exploration, and the desire for communal and shared experiences. These events allow individuals to engage with themes of death, disaster, and suffering in ways that are meaningful, educational, and sometimes transformative.”
The full study has been published in the Annals of Tourism Research.
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