These days, death is marked by a paradoxical condition of absence and presence – it is often hidden away from our daily lives, but widely present in media and popular culture. When death and mourning become the topic of media and popular culture, different modes of production, representation, and reception are applied. Still, media representations of death, though they can offer alternative perspectives, they often also reflect prevailing conceptions of death, and actively shape how it is understood. The articles in this issue present case studies focusing on aspects of death and religion in drama, horror, and Disney films in addition to video games, Instagram posts and a TV-series. Though the case studies bring up many unique insights and findings, they also highlight recurring themes and perspectives, such as the specific contributions to discussions of death made by the focus on media; the gendering of death (in real life and media representations) and associated emotions; and the way media narratives about death connect to, provoke, and encourage emotional responses.
Edited by: Marie-Therese Mäder and Sofia Sjö