I love eating. I love smelling a meal with all its flavors and ambling toward the aroma. I enjoy sitting with others or alone and placing a forkful of delectable delight on my tongue, and observing the different tastes and textures. Spending time with people close to my heart often accompanies and enriches this experience. The practice of sitting at a table with others and experiencing nutrition tangibly exemplifies how spiritual, emotional, physical and mental health are inescapably intertwined. Eating is more than just a fun activity; it can be a political act, and and issue of both mortality and morality.
Sometimes it is hard to find a balance between enjoyment and giving my body the required nutriments. I hate to think that eating could be only "fun". Once it is solely fun to me, I will eat the wrong things and too often. Eliminating hunger will not longer be a primary goal. One the other hand, eating should be a richer experience than popping supplemental pills without chewing it, tasting and appreciating the feelings it produces.
I seek balance. Which is why I am starting Kathy Freston's Quantum Wellness Cleanse today. In this book, she maps out a strategy toward achieving better habits and a wiser perspective on food: no animal-products, no alcohol, no gluten, no caffeine, no processed sugar. As someone who is used to making a conscious effort to be sober and vegan, the real challenges for me shall be the last four items listed.
Today, forgoing my usual morning coffee was difficult. It was not difficult to decide not to drink the coffee, but it was difficult to work through the confusing lethargy, dizziness, headache and cognitive slowness that I am not used to. For example, I looked out the window this morning and saw that it was blue sunny and warm. I left for school, looked out the door seperating my lobby from outdoors, and saw a large puddle on the ground with drops of water continually flowing into it. I thought "It's raining - I must go upstairs to get an umbrella." I went back to my apartment and looked out the window again in confusion. How could it be raining in that one spot? I realized then that the puddle I saw had been from the sprinkler next to the walkway. Needless to say, it took me a while to realize this. I must infer htat the coffee slowed this realization, because I am not usually this slow (or I would like to think that I am not normally that slow). Today's menu is as follows:
Breakfast:
-1 Cup of vanilla unsweetened almond milk
-Bunch of grapes
-Cherry Coconut Breakfast Bar
Recipe for Cherry Coconut Breakfast Bars:
1/2 cup vegan butter
1/2 cup agave nectar
2 1/4 cups uncooked oats
1 cup shredded coconut
1 tsp. baking powder
3 Tbsp. sesame seeds
1/2 cup pitted prunes
1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped
1/2 cup dried cherries
1 banana, smashed well against the side of a bowl
Egg replacer equivalent to 2 eggs (Ener-G brand recommended)
Preheat oven to 360 degrees Farenheit. Put the vegan butter and agave in a small pan over medium heat and stir until melted. In a large bowl, combine the oats, coconut, baking powder and sesame seeds. Add the prunes, apricots and cherries and mix well. Fold in the prepared egg replacer. Add the agave mixture and banana and mix. Pour into a square baking pan. Bake for 25 minutes or until cooked through. Let cool. Remove from pan and cut into rectangular bars.
I had no shredded coconut, prunes, sesame seeds or cherries. I used chopped almonds, dried cranberries, raisins and fresh blueberries instead. I had no egg replacer, so I added 2 Tbsp. of water and one half of a banana instead. I do tend to like banana flavor more than others, but I thought it turned out to be very tasty.
Lunch:
-Sandwich of banana and toasted, unsalted almond butter on gluten-free bread.
-Coconut water
Snack:
-Banana and blueberry smoothie with base of vanilla, unsweetened almond milk. Added ice and little squirt of agave nectar.
-Apple with almond butter
Dinner:
-Creamy Italian White Bean Soup
-Green tea
Recipe for Creamy Italian White Bean Soup:
1 lb. dried cannellini beans
6-8 cups cold water
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tsp. fresh thyme
1 tsp. fresh oregano
2 bay leaves
8 cups vegetable stock
1 cup diced tomato
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
Place the beans in a large pot and cover with water. Let soak overnight and then drain and set aside. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Add the beans, thyme, oregano, and bay leaves. Stir in the stock and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover the pot, and allow to gently simmer for 2 hours or until beans are tender. Allow to cool slightly and then remove the bay leaves. Puree half the soup in a food processor or blender, then return to the pot. Add the diced tomato, basil and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
Instead of cannellini beans, I used a can of garbanzo beans (also known as chickpeas) and approximately 1/2 lb. of lentils. I also used parsley along with the other herbs. I had only 4 cups of veggie stock, so I added a bit more water and hoped for the best. I also added a can of diced tomatoes instead of 1 cup, because I love tomatoes. I found the soup to be very tasty and filling.
Overall, I feel okay right now, albeit a bit of a brain-freeze-like headache. I recommend drinking lots of water and embracing whatever pain you feel during this day as a sign that you are taking the necessary steps toward ending an addiction.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
HW #59 - SOF Prom 2011 and DSPS
I did not attend prom because I am a junior and because I did not have a date. I considered going to the after-prom party, but did not feel that it held enough enjoyment to make the experience of going to school the next day (having partied in the seven hours prior) worth it. Tentatively, I plan to attend future prom(s). I do not think that it is necessary to be a magnificently conspicuous consumer and spend copious amounts of money and time on a dress, salon care, transportation, pre-prom body-preparation, etc.
Several students went to prom and after prom without skipping school before or after. I talked to J, who seemed utterly miserable the day after the prom. He said the prom was very fun, and "everyone was dancing there." He was not fond of his after-prom experience because there were very few people at the party. Although he enjoyed himself, he certainly payed a price the next day. His zombie-walk and furrowed brow indicated that he wanted nothing but some sleep and pain-killers. He shamelessly begged a room full of teachers and students for Tylenol. If I went to prom, I would forgo drunkenness and the insuing hangover, but would not mind the price of sleepiness.
E, who went to the after-prom, was much livelier the next day. Perhaps she slept before the party and was more rested than J, or perhaps she was more accustomed to sleep deprivation. She had mixed feelings about after-prom; it was awkward and boring initially because no one danced. As the night (or technically, the morning) wore on, it became more fun.
The prom does have a lot of hype surrounding it, and if expectations were lower perhaps J and E would not have been as dismayed by the awkward nature of the experience. It is labeled as "prom" and all the partiers are well-dressed, but it is just another party in many ways - one that can be awkward and full of disappointment, and/or full of memories and fun. It is important to find a balance of expectations; put enough effort into the experience that it will not be embarrasing or miserable, but don't expect it to be the "perfect night".
Several students went to prom and after prom without skipping school before or after. I talked to J, who seemed utterly miserable the day after the prom. He said the prom was very fun, and "everyone was dancing there." He was not fond of his after-prom experience because there were very few people at the party. Although he enjoyed himself, he certainly payed a price the next day. His zombie-walk and furrowed brow indicated that he wanted nothing but some sleep and pain-killers. He shamelessly begged a room full of teachers and students for Tylenol. If I went to prom, I would forgo drunkenness and the insuing hangover, but would not mind the price of sleepiness.
E, who went to the after-prom, was much livelier the next day. Perhaps she slept before the party and was more rested than J, or perhaps she was more accustomed to sleep deprivation. She had mixed feelings about after-prom; it was awkward and boring initially because no one danced. As the night (or technically, the morning) wore on, it became more fun.
The prom does have a lot of hype surrounding it, and if expectations were lower perhaps J and E would not have been as dismayed by the awkward nature of the experience. It is labeled as "prom" and all the partiers are well-dressed, but it is just another party in many ways - one that can be awkward and full of disappointment, and/or full of memories and fun. It is important to find a balance of expectations; put enough effort into the experience that it will not be embarrasing or miserable, but don't expect it to be the "perfect night".
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
HW #58 - Prom Interviews
I asked John about his views on prom, and he responded with strong and thought-out opinions. He does not wish to attend this event because it seems like a waste of money and time, which could be used for many other things. He scoffed at $150 simply for admission. He plans to do something that still includes time with his friends, but that would be more fun and leave better memories. He would not want to see people from high school because he loathes the fancy clothes, money and formality that is so “anti-body”. “I’d never want to be around people I don’t want to be around, especially if they are dressed and have a very high opinion of themselves and are very happy about being there when I’m not happy that they’re there.” If he did go to prom, he would fulfill his role as a male by asking and bringing a date and spend more money than her. He would consider the party as a final goodbye to his high school friends. To John, the idea of looking back on prom as a reflection of his entire high school experience is pathetic and inaccurate.
To John, prom is like unnecessarily putting on an unrealistic image, and a thing for teenaged high schoolers who look older than they act. Thus, it is below his maturity level. “This is a very arbitrary turning point that is not reflective of reality.” John thinks that high school romance and looking handsome/beautiful is heavily discussed, but drinking and sex are taboo. He cannot think of a movie that discusses alcohol or sex, and thinks this indicates that we should be ashamed of sex and drinking.
I also interviewed Martyna, who has never been to an American prom. She wishes to attend one because she wants to experience as much of the culture while she is here. Prom in Poland differs from prom in the US; it is 100 days before the SAT, and “I think we are more mature about it than people here. We have monthly preparations for a special dance, and it is more about being elegant and less about showing off.” Martyna envisions prom here to include many dress colors, simple dancing and eating, and a Prom King and Queen contest. Everything she knows about prom is from movies and books, as she has never been around to experience one herself. Media generally includes the Cool Couple, the Nerd who goes alone, and various other stereotypes.
Her ideal prom would be to be asked to it as a date so that she did not have to hang out alone. “You never know, being the wallflower that I am.” She feels that her role as a female prom-goer is to look good so that she does not embarrass her date. She understands that there is a huge business around prom, some of which are not tasteful or practical. Corsages are only sold for proms, and a type of stereotypical prom dress has developed, and is “not very pretty but really expensive”.
Felix, who is older than me but who I still consider a buddy, did not go to prom in high school because he had no significant other and only wanted to go with someone who was romantically connected to him. It was hard for him to find a date because he was at a school for boys. He does not regret that decision, as he has been to 8 SOF proms as a chaperone. The traditional role for a male at a prom is to generally be a gentleman (buy corsage, pick up date, agree to matching outfits, etc). He admits that there is an argument for media hindering and helping prom-goers. Prom is supposed to dress up, put on more make-up and act more gentleman-like. “Maybe people should be like themselves and shouldn’t have a thing called prom. But you could say this about any structured social event.”
One SOF prom that stands out to him is last years. He could not recognize a girl there, and neither could many of the students. He looked at her and thought “Wow this person looks amazing.” After realizing who she was, he saw that she had totally transformed. “I couldn’t tell who she was, and I had actually known her for 4 years! The pictures don’t do it justice!” He noticed over the years that the people at proms danced and dressed differently. “Kids grind a lot more, because the music tells you to do so. It became more creative and kids try to look a little different or be more funky…it’s not so traditional.”
Lastly, I interviewed my dad about his prom experiences. He went to two, neither of which were at his own school. (He changed schools right before senior year and did not know his classmates well). “I tend to regard it as the worst date I ever went on. I liked the person but she sort of became a different person that night. Alcohol played a role in it.” This date was a mistake because is date was moving away after graduation and felt the need to spend the entire date with her friends. My dad felt like a prop rather than a respected date. Prom was not a matter of huge importance to him because he switched schools so much that the idea that it is a final communal goodbye was moot to him.
My dad thinks that prom can be problematic when people see it as an opportunity to go farther physically than they normally would, and when people have very high expectations beforehand. “I think it is special to people because it’s a celebration of ‘we’ve gotten through high school and are on top of the world’, and it’s not just partying…which is okay.”
I think that teenagers have stronger opinions about prom than adults, even those who have experienced it in some way. Both John and Martyna had opposite opinions, but wished very strongly to avoid or attend prom. Felix and my father did not feel regretful about proms in their youth, and both had opportunities to go to proms even if they did not attend their own. Perhaps they cared less because they were males, or because they are the type of people who prefer to serve and make others happy rather than satisfy their own egos or party. Both adults found that prom is quite sexualized, and this fact was only mentioned when John said it was taboo. Perhaps it is just taboo among younger people? Perhaps teenagers do not realize how sexualized prom is until they go, and pay the concept little mind. I noticed also that who one’s date is the way they see prom, whether looking forward or back.
Monday, May 23, 2011
HW #57 - Initial Thoughts On Prom
My first memories of prom include standing at my kitchen counter and enthusiastically asking my mom if she had been to one, what she had worn, what color her dress was, who her date was, what it was like, and so on. For some reason, the idea of prom seemed absolutely sublime. In light of today's discussion, perhaps I felt that it was the only realistic way to live a fairytale, if only for an evening. I played many princess games when young, but was also generally regarded as a tom-boy by my fellow play mates. Sometimes I would walk up to a few girls to find out what they were playing and pronounce, "Ohhh Barbies. I'm going to go play tag with the boys!" Perhaps I would have found prom silly just as I found Barbies silly if romantic fairytales such as Cinderella had not been heavily indoctrinated into my mind as the ideal during my youth. Instead, I fantasized over prom; I did not fully understand what people did at their proms, but I figured every moment would be just as fun as the part where the handsomely dressed, tall and faceless male picks up my dressy self, whisks me away, and walks with me into a large, fancy room full of friends.
I think I and many others are influenced by the excited, wistful tone with which people reference prom. "I just bought my prom dress! ____ is taking me. What should I do with my hair?" It never struck me as odd that so much expense, time and thought go toward an experience meant to be carefree. It seemed perfectly natural that someone would care about such an important event. Why was it important? I don't know. Perhaps I was so keen to attend a prom because I was homeschooled and knew my future probably would not include one. I found out later that there is a prom for homeschooler's, and one of my friends modeled her prom outfit for me and let me try it on. I did not realize it at the time, but we were playing grown-up dress-up. I think advertisers know that there is a reason why youth find dress-up attractive, and suspect that the cause does not end when people mature.
Perhaps it is a sort of manufactured modern fairy tale; a playful way of living Cinderella's evening. Maybe my current circumstances were like Cinderella's: coated with soot and full of unjust labor. Hence, prom is a way of reaching toward a blissful, responsibility-free lifestyle. Incidentally, many teenagers like the concept of this kind of lifestyle and yet still strive to obtain the accompaniments of responsibility (such as making important financial decisions over matters of fashion, transportation, and entry to parties). The culture of adolescence is, I think, essentially defined by an age of people who want (and sometimes recieve) the responsibilities of adulthood and yet use childish reasoning and fairytale ideals. It comes as no surprise as me that producers of prom products do not mind that they are encouraging an immature practice; it would not be the first time.
Questions:
-Do people who profess to hate prom secretly or subconsciously wish to attend?
-How can different the theories of different psychologists such as Freud, Laing, Jung, Skinner, Maslow, Piaget, Frankl and Kohlberg be applied to the dominant or uncommon discourses of prom?
-Would people who attended prom at the time of its origin be ashamed, angry, delighted or baffled by modern proms?
-How do proms differ between rural, suburban and urban regions?
Questions:
-Do people who profess to hate prom secretly or subconsciously wish to attend?
-How can different the theories of different psychologists such as Freud, Laing, Jung, Skinner, Maslow, Piaget, Frankl and Kohlberg be applied to the dominant or uncommon discourses of prom?
-Would people who attended prom at the time of its origin be ashamed, angry, delighted or baffled by modern proms?
-How do proms differ between rural, suburban and urban regions?
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
COTD4
- Larsen, Russel J. . "His Favorite Things." The Epitaph Browswer. Banner Power Rotation System, 03 Jan 1803. Web. 9 May 2011. http://www.alsirat.com/epitaphs/.
- Dickinson, Emily. "I Died For Beauty." ShortPoems.ort. Short Poems, 1860. Web. 9 May 2011. http://www.shortpoems.org/emily_dickinson/i_died_for_beauty.html.
- Dickinson, Emily. "I Had No Time To Hate." ShortPoems.org. Short Poems, 1860. Web. 9 May 2011. http://www.shortpoems.org/emily_dickinson/no_time_to_hate.html.
- Cairns, Scott. "Embalming." poetryfoundation.org. Poetry Foundation, 1954. Web. 9 May 2011. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/177141.
- Wesley, Samuel. "Epitaphs." Wikiquote.org. Mediawik, 1680. Web. 9 May 2011. http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Epitaphs.
- Shakespeare, William. "Come Away, Come Away Death." poetryfoundation.org. Poetry Foundation, 1564-1616. Web. 17 May 2011. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/181011.
- Slaughter, Mark R. "It's Death Again." poemhunter.com. Mark R Slaughter, 1957. Web. 17 May 2011. http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/it-s-death-again/.
- Slaughter, Mark R. . "A Fresh Endeavor." Poemhunter.com. Mark R Slaughter, 1957. Web. 17 May 2011. http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-fresh-endeavour/.
- Sandburg, Carl. "Death Snips Proud Men." famouspoetsandpoems.org. Famous Poets and Poems, 1878-1967. Web. 17 May 2011. http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/carl_sandburg/poems/936.html.
- Chesterton, G.K. "A Ballade of Suicide." poetry-online.org. Poetry Online, 1901. Web. 18 May 2011. <http://www.poetry-online.org/chesterton_ballade_of_suicide.htm>.
Chesterton wonders if he should hang himself in his garden, and at intervals (at the end of each stanza) decides that he has more to do in life and shan't hang himself yet. He wishes to see the Prince of his land die, to try cooking mushrooms in a new way, to read the works of Juvenal, to discover new aspects of nature, see Rationalists turn rational, and to learn about people. His daily little interests and realizations that he has more to do keep him from ending his life. People can learn from his example, not because they should kill themselves out of boredom, but because they should try to discover new experiences and enjoy the world before they die, whether they die in a moment or tomorrow or in 60 years.
- Yeats, William. "Death ." poetry-online.org. Poetry Online, 1865. Web. 18 May 2011. <http://www.poetry-online.org/yeats_death.htm>.
- Aldrich, James . "A Death-Bed." poetryarchive.com. Poetry Archive, 1810-1856. Web. 18 May 2011. http://www.poetry-archive.com/a/a_death_bed.html.
- Chadwick, John. "The Hardest Lot." poetry-archive.com. Poetry Archive, 1889. Web. 18 May 2011. http://www.poetry-archive.com/c/the_hardest_lot.html.
- Dickinson, Emily. "All But Death Can Be Adjusted." famouspoetsandpoems.com. Famous Poets and Poems, 1830-1886. Web. 18 May 2011. http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/emily_dickinson/poems/6326.html.
- Blok, Aleksandr. "Don't Fear Death." famouspoetsandpoems.com. Famous Poets and Poems, 188-1921. Web. 18 May 2011. http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/aleksandr_blok/poems/6733.html.
2-3 paragraph analysis of how your favorite of these poems consolidate, challenge, and/or conceptualize dominant social practices around the care of the dead.
Analysis:
My favorite of these poems is "I Had No Time To Hate" by Emily Dickinson, and "Come Away, Come Away, Death" by William Shakespeare. They both have important messages which many people should internalize, but communicate their messages gently because it is from the piont of view of the author, discussing his/her own preferences. The position of the funeral director in the funeral business has grown more emotional and psychological and less solely centered around paperwork and organization. I think death is upsetting to many people because it is associated with regrets; Some are guilty, bitter, or sad because the deceased did not take advantage of oppurtunities to love and experience the people, or because the survivors wish they could have optimally loved the now-dead friend or family member. The growth of emotional help in the job description of funeral directors is an indication that society is full of guilt and regret when it deals with death. If more people followed Dickinson's example of choosing love, instead of unfulling hate, then perhaps death would not be such a guilt-ridden process.
William Shakespeare specifically requested a simple burial with minimal typical extremities such as flowers, a bedazzled coffin, and much weeping. The dominant practices of this society entail going to a funeral director whose goal is consoling the grieved whilst gaining a profit, and having not choice but to trust his advice in matters of caskets, memorial plaques, crypts, vaults, graves, memorial services, flowers, etc. Because people are manipulated to spend much money on funerals out of "respect" (according to the sentimental funeral directors), expensive and elaborate funerals are common.
Because Shakespeare specifically requests simplicity in his funeral, we can infer that elaborateness was traditional in his time and place of living. He approached death with a uniquely accepting and no-nonsence attitude. A sense of closure or various stages of grief seem to have strayed from his mind as he planned his demise, which is unlike that of funeral directors and many grieving individuals. Simplicity is advisable because, contrary to popular belief, it does not lower the degree of respect given the deceased. However, people should still be aware of their emotions after experiencing loss instead of pretending the emotions do not exist.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
HW #55 - Culminating Project - Care of The Dead
I chose to learn about and experience the process of burial more thoroughly. I researched the history of caskets and coffins over the past 250 years, and attempted to build an eco-friendly, traditional coffin. (A coffin is a tapered hexagonal or octagonal box and a casket is rectangular. Over time, the casket has become more popular but both are used.) Below is a timeline documenting how coffins/caskets have been a part of the process of dying primarily in the US but also in Europe.
Timeline:
- 1750s: British coffin nails used to hold velvet padding inside and sometimes spell out the name and date of the deceased on the coffin lid.
- 1760s: British coffin locks came into use to keep thieves from stealing the goods inside and to keep medical students from performing autopsies.
- 1770s: British coffin furniture was made from tin, iron or brass.
- 1780s: Coffin furniture like coffin hinges became available to order in magazines
- 1790s: In Europe, A way of safeguarding against the dreaded premature burial was gaining popularity: the security coffin, designed to allow anyone who woke to find they had been prematurely interred to attract attention or escape. The coffin was fitted with a tube that a passerby could sniff to see if putrefaction had advanced.
- 1800s: Casket industry in US originated. As steel caskets became common throughout the 1800's, hardwood, cloth-covered wood, metal (some with inner liners and glass sealing mechanisms) were common.
- 1830s: Morticians began digging graves instead of families of the deceased, and laws regarding the depth of graves began surfacing.
- 1840s: “Fisk” among the first airtight caskets introduced.
- 1850s: Iron coffins gained popularity
- 1860s: Coffins often made of English Oak and Elm
- 1870s: Unique model with full length glass top invented
- 1880s: General Ulesses S. Grant was buried in a metal casket with a full plate glass top.
- 1890s: Hardwood and varnish.
- 1900s: Hardwood, sometimes with fabric on insides.
- 1910s: Mahogany Casket.
- 1920s: Intricate hinges and lids were patented.
- 1930s: unique wooden “casket for three” made for a couple whose babe had died in preparation for their suicides.
- 1940s: Metal caskets with rubber gaskets were introduced. These gaskets create a tight seal when the lid is lowered to the base and locked, which was thought to prevent the body from decaying for longer.
- 1950s: more than 700 casket manufacturers in the
US - 1960s: Metal caskets metal caskets were slightly less than half of the industry’s.
- 1970s: Nearly two-thirds of the caskets produced were metal. Also, oversized caskets.
- 1980s: Sales estimated at 1.8 million caskets per year.
- 1990s: Employment between 7800 to 9000. There are 211 Casket producers, and less than 300 funeral directors in the country.
- 2000s: Eco-friendly burials emerged and Michael Jackson’s casket most expensive ever.
- Modern:
Non-gasketed Steel Caskets are normally made of 20-gauge steel (same thickness used in automobile body panels) or 22-gauge steel. Twenty-gauge steel is usually the least expensive metal caskets available and are usually square-cornered designs. Copper or Bronze may be found in square-cornered, round-cornered or urn shaped designs. Rather than gauge, copper and bronze caskets are measured by weight. A 32-oz. copper or bronze casket means that the copper or bronze used weighed 32-oz. per square foot. There are also 48-oz. copper or bronze caskets.
Gasketed Steel Caskets are made from 20-, 18- and 16-gauge steel. They are continuous-welded at the seams and corners and may have seam-welded bottoms or use epoxies (plastic or paint or other synthetic adhesive) to ensure integrity and reduce the likelihood of entrance of outside elements into the casket.
Most Hardwood Caskets are made of solid wood, finished in a satin or gloss coat, and sometimes hand polished. Their design may be square-cornered, round-cornered or round-cornered urn shapes. Least expensive woods are poplar and willow, and pine, oak, birch, maple, cherry, black walnut and mahogany are more expensive. Other species of wood used for caskets are ash, elm, redwood, cedar, etc. While normally in the third cost quartile, hardwood caskets are sometimes the most expensive caskets manufactured. Solid hardwood caskets are manufactured like fine furniture. They are assembled by craftsmen; sanded for painting or staining. Some have hand-rubbed finishes.
Veneer-finished caskets are generally less expensive than solid wood caskets.
Stainless Steel Caskets are most often square-cornered or square-cornered urn designs. New products are being developed in round-cornered and round-cornered urn designs.
Stainless Steel Caskets are most often square-cornered or square-cornered urn designs. New products are being developed in round-cornered and round-cornered urn designs.
Current percentages of different kinds of caskets manufactured for sale:
-12.5% Cloth covered caskets (including products used in cremation);
-14-15% Hardwood caskets (including products used in cremation);
-16-17% Non-gasketed steel caskets;
-45-46% Gasketed steel caskets;
-3% Copper or bronze caskets;
-3% Stainless steel caskets;
-3% Infant and children's caskets of various designs and materials;
-.5% Composite or fiberglass products.
-14-15% Hardwood caskets (including products used in cremation);
-16-17% Non-gasketed steel caskets;
-45-46% Gasketed steel caskets;
-3% Copper or bronze caskets;
-3% Stainless steel caskets;
-3% Infant and children's caskets of various designs and materials;
-.5% Composite or fiberglass products.
As you can see, the blueprint lists the measurements of every piece of the coffin. I divided every measurement by 4, so the final product would be roughly 1/4 the size of an actual coffin. The instructions called for about 12 boards of 8-12 foot long 1X10 inch lumber and basic hand-tools such as a saw (preferably a table saw), hammer, nails (or wood-glue if more eco-friendly), a work table, and a tape measure. Not knowing what "1X10 inch lumber" meant, I went to home depot and realized that this measurement referred to the volume. In other words, the thickness of the wood is 1", the width is 10", and the length is 8-12'. I planned to use a couple planks I bought there (each measuring about 8 feet long, 12 inches wide, and 1 inch thick) in addition to the pieces of pine I already had at home.
Not having a table fit for wood-working, I set up my saw, hammer, nails, glue, pencil, planks, blueprint, ruler and scaled measurements in my small bathroom. 45 minutes later, I saw on the edge of my bathtub with sweat on my brow, a rather sprained pinky finger, a bathtub full of sawdust, and perhaps 1/10 of the necessary sawing finished. I forced myself to acknowledge the mistakes I'd made.
Firstly, it is wishful thinking to consider a porcelain, slippery and narrow edge of a bathtub the equivalent of a work-table. Both I and the wood were sliding around while I sawed, with nothing to keep the wood or I still. Secondly, the saw was not a table saw. The instructions call for cutting the wood at particular angles to fit the pieces together, and this was not something I could do with a handsaw. If forced myself to admit that if I attempted this, I would end up with a bathtub full of sawdust AND blood. The handsaw was also old and had an awkward piece of metal opposite the sharp side of the blade. This piece kept the saw from going all the way through a given piece of wood. My other mistake was in my purchase; I had scaled every measurement down to 1/4 the original except the thickness of the wood. Thus, making the coffin to scale would require cutting the planks down to 1/2 or 1/4 the thickness (an impossibility with my saw, sprained finger and "worktable").
Plan B: I found some Balsa wood leftover from an interest in wood-carving. I knew Balsa was very soft and pliable and that I had enough of it if I used it wisely. I scaled the measurements to be even smaller than before, and started cutting. (I could not saw because the wood was too delicate, so I used little hand held wood-carving knives and even occasionally a cleaver from the kitchen). Because the wood was so delicate, I had to cut double the number of pieces and glue each of them together so that the final product would not break. I glued them together and ended up with the product posted below:
To attach the lid, I considered metal hinges but realized this would make the coffin quite eco-unfriendly and not as fit for cremation. I decided upon a leather hinge and a leather tie to keep it closed. Both the leather and the Balsa were unconventional materials for a coffin, but so are many materials used in modern eco-friendly caskets. Some are made of cardboard, banana leaves, bamboo or willow. In future coffin-constructing projects, I plan to make sure all my measurements are correct, have all the right materials, tools and workspace, and try to make the coffin lovelier as this one had a messy look to it.
I learned via this project that each measurement is extremely important. It also left me with a deep appreciation for the skills and dedication of people who make caskets by hand - like the Amish or some farmers, to name a few. This society seems to measure the amount of love and respect a family has for the deceased in terms of the beauty and expense of the casket. I used to think this is ridiculous, but now I feel that the exception is when people build caskets for dead family or friends. I think that this is truly a labor of love; it makes sense that someone would put a lot of creative effort into making the casket aesthetically pleasing as well as strong if that casket would hold the body of a loved one forevermore. Making a casket may be financially cheaper, but it is strenuously expensive. Perhaps I will use this casket to hold jewelry, or to bury the family fish in when he dies. Here is the finished product:
Sources:
- "The History of The Modern Casket." casketinfo.com. All County Funeral Home, 2007. Web. 15 May 2011. http://www.casketinfo.com/casketinfo/History.htm.
- "Owosso Casket Company." shiawasseehistory.com. Owosso Michigan, 1990. Web. 15 May 2011. <-http://www.shiawasseehistory.com/casket.html>.
- Wikipedia, . "Coffin." Wikipedia.org. Wikimedia Foundation, 15 May 20100. Web. 15 May 2011. <-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffin>.
- "The History of Caskets." memorials.com. Memorials, 2010. Web. 15 May 2011. http://www.memorials.com/Caskets-History-of-Caskets-information.php.
- Smith, Ken. "National Museum of Funeral History." roadsideamerica.com. Roadside America, 2011. Web. 15 May 2011. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2226.
- Balfour, Edward. "The Golden Casket." thegoldencasket.com. The Golden Casket, 2010. Web. 15 May 2011. http://www.thegoldencasket.com/history.php.
- "Build Your Own Coffin." diycoffin.com. DIY Coffin, 2011. Web. 15 May 2011. http://diycoffin.com/.
- Evans, Diana. "Caskets Vs. Coffins." fcpr.fsu.edu. Florida Department of Natural Services, 2011. Web. 15 May 2011. <http://fcpr.fsu.edu/funeral/modules/management/productInfo/casketsVScoffins.htm
- "Business And Finance: Casket Circumstance." Time.com. Time Inc., 15 Sep 1930. Web. 15 May 2011. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,788494,00.html.
- "National Museum of Funeral History." nmfh.org. NMFH, 2008. Web. 15 May 2011. http://www.nmfh.org/exhibits/casket/center.html.
- Sandy, . "R.I.P. Fact of The Day." mentalfloss.com. Mental_Floss, 2008. Web. 15 May 2011. http://www.mentalfloss.com/trivia/facts/archives/1871.
- Davison, Anita. "Funeral Procession of Charles." hoydensandfirebrands.blogspot.com. Blogger, April 17, 2010. Web. 15 May 2011. http://hoydensandfirebrands.blogspot.com/2009/07/17th-century-funeral-practices.html.
- Cox, Nancy. "Coffin." british-history.ac.uk. University of London and History of Parliamant Trust, 2011. Web. 15 May 2011. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=58726#s3.
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I liked your idea of going to a funeral and observing the process of mourning and consoling. I would have liked to read more than just an analysis of how people usually console those who are grieving. If you were unable to stay for more time than it took to see someone say “I’m sorry for your loss”, then what was the cause? Were you kicked out? Did someone give you a look that made you nervous? Was there food? Did you get bored? I think you could analyze these unsaid experiences as well. You said in your speech that people asked you weird questions, but it looks like no one spoke to you at all.
http://weirdisweirdtoo.wordpress.com/
Bianca,
I thought this project visually touched upon a very important idea: the funeral industry sells objects that are rather falsely advertised as givers of closure and a memory picture. I thought your art was beautiful albeit appropriately morbid, and I liked that the man standing in the picture was headless. I felt that this was an indication of the lack of original, genuine humanity and emotion in the funeral industry. I also enjoyed that you used rope to enclose the various ideas attached to the products, because it made me think of funeral businesses attempting to lasso the circumstances and emotional state of their customers to gain a profit.
http://eccentricbianca.blogspot.com/
Chris,
I'm sorry that your project did not go very well. It was good of you to admit that it could have been more successful, and I enjoyed your detailed narrative of the various interactions at the funeral home. However, you could have analyzed the experiences you did have a bit more. For example, what do the magazine options in the home reveal about their expecations of who they will be serving? How did the behavior of the employees there compare to your expectations and what did the dialoge reveal about their goals in their daily work? The fact that the funeral director would not let you in to view the wake because it was an invasion of privacy was interesting to me; it was a unique idea that I had not before considered, yet it reveals that he was most concerned with the grieving family under his care.
http://normalisweirdchrisr.blogspot.com/
Eloise,
I think this is a great idea! How brave of you to look at something that is a source of fear and has a negative connotation for most people and to literally and figuratively look it straight in the face. I appreciate your tenacity in the pursuit of this endeavor, and I wish there was some way for me to help you. It seems odd that a dead body could be so taboo and difficult to see in our society...especially for educational purposes. C'est la vie!
http://ellof.blogspot.com/
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From Bianca:
Casey,
I really appreciate the amount of effort you put into your project. I admire your ability to think of excellent goals and execute them well. I think that it is incredibly daring of you to have made a mini casket. If I were you, I probably would've been terrified in fear that I'd have to do the same for my family members one day. Your research exhibits your extreme dedication to making care of the dead as much of a personal experience as possible. I realize that you may be correct when you say that using a homemade coffin is much more rewarding because the hard work pays off. And certainly, the effort put into making the casket was mixed with feelings of love and loss. This experience of making a casket should be a part of grieving now that I've read your process.
Your writing, although a narrative, seemed very formal. When i say formal, I mean to say that I just found you describing what you did - the steps. I know your very capable of writing beautifully and I wish you had prioritized that more in this piece of writing. Also, you could have talked about what your family members thought about your making of the casket. I wanted to know more - ie why do you think your sister wouldn't take you seriously if you told her you were making a casket for her fish?
Your work was engaging. I've even asked my parents what they think of maybe making their cofifins and caskets one day. Your work is always a pleasure to read.
From Protege:
Casey,
I rather liked this post. I imagine beyond the morbidity of the project, there was quite an educational factor involved in the fabrication of your little balsa wood casket. (I will forever find it amusing that rather than using a sort of x-acto nice, you preferred to make use of a meat cleaver. What I would give to see precision wood cutting...with a meat cleaver.) You have clearly put a lot of effort into this particular unit, and it shows through in this assignment; it really does. There's alot of eloquently noted information here, which is commendable; often it's difficult to synthesize such vast quantities of data into comprehensible english
From Mentor:
Casey,
I love all the information here! I didn't even know the difference between a coffin and a casket. Fantastic.
One nit-picky point on the citation. Your methodology may prescribe a different method, but I would have really liked a small note of citation next to each piece of information. So, basically, a parenthetical, "(History of Caskets, page 54)". That way, readers would understand that this is cited material, and they can go to your Sources section at the end to look further into the publication or site you drew from.
As it stands, I wondered if there would be any sources mentioned until I skipped all the way to the end and saw your sources.
Of course, I'm saying this for an academic paper, but I think a lot of web sites that are trying to have journalistic rigor will also site immediately in the body of the article (and sometimes make it a hyperlink to the source itself, which I love).
From Martyna:
Casey,
You definitely spent a lot of time on research and included a lot of interesting information in your work. You wrote about the history of coffins/caskets and explained how they changed over time.
I love your idea of making your own little model of a casket. You managed to build it despite many problems you encountered.
It would be great if all caskets were biodegradable like yours - they would be much better for our environment.
From Jasper:
I liked this post because you had very good research and you gave a detailed timeline of how the coffin/casket has changed over time and why it did. Then I also like how you talked about why making your own coffin/casket is good. By talking about your experience making your own (even though yours was a mini one) it showed kind of like what the experience of making your own casket would be like. Creative idea!
From John:
Casey,
You clearly and concisely presented a timeline that was easy to read and follow. It quickly answered specific questions about coffins I wanted answered that would have taken me tedious research to find. I liked how you mentioned that piece about “General Ulesses S. Grant was buried in a metal casket with a full plate glass top”, with it I was able to come to my own assumptions of the significance, mainly connecting to Lincoln’s embalming which popularized the practice in America. I think you did a superb job, and rather say what needs work, I recommend furthering your project (if you are interested) by analyzing why each event happened and its impact (assuming you didn’t already see this in your research). Great job, I enjoyed reading the post,
john