Digital mourning: The transformative role of photography in contemporary grief practices.

This study explores how digital photography, particularly in social media contexts, transforms contemporary mourning practices. Using phenomenological and existential frameworks, it examines the shift from analog to digital formats and its impact on the emotional, sensory, and philosophical dimensio...

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Publicado en:Death Studies Vol. 50; no. 7; pp. 1110 - 1122
Autor principal: Al Sheikh, Hanan Muneer
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd 2026
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: 2026
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      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
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        194898208
        10.1080/07481187.2025.2476972
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        atl: Digital mourning: The transformative role of photography in contemporary grief practices.
      aug:
        au: Al Sheikh, Hanan Muneer
        affil: Multimedia and Graphic Design Department, Al- Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan
      su:
        Death & psychology
        Social media
        Qualitative research
        Interviewing
        Content analysis
        Bereavement
        Phenomenology
        Self-perception
        Emotion regulation
        Digital diagnostic imaging
        Judgment sampling
        Thematic analysis
        Research methodology
      sug:
        subj:
          Death & psychology
          Social media
          Qualitative research
          Interviewing
          Content analysis
          Bereavement
          Phenomenology
          Self-perception
          Emotion regulation
          Digital diagnostic imaging
          Judgment sampling
          Thematic analysis
          Research methodology
      ab: This study explores how digital photography, particularly in social media contexts, transforms contemporary mourning practices. Using phenomenological and existential frameworks, it examines the shift from analog to digital formats and its impact on the emotional, sensory, and philosophical dimensions of engaging with death imagery. The research employs semi-structured interviews and social media content analysis, offering a multi-faceted exploration of how digital platforms mediate grief. The combination of participant narratives and phenomenological analysis reveals a nuanced understanding of these transformations. Participants' reflections reveal a dual dynamic: digital platforms enable innovative memorialization and sustained connections with the deceased, yet often diminish the authenticity and depth of mourning through transient and performative imagery. Drawing on Heidegger's and Sartre's theories, the research highlights how rapid digital consumption can disrupt reflective mourning processes, distancing users from an authentic confrontation with mortality. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the existential challenges posed by performativity on social media, examining how societal expectations shape expressions of grief and engagement with death imagery. Nonetheless, the study identifies the potential of technologies like virtual memorials and augmented reality to foster meaningful mourning experiences. The findings suggest a need for deeper cultural and ethical awareness to navigate the commodification of grief and support authentic engagement with loss. The findings call for ethical guidelines, media literacy, and intentional platform design to preserve the sacredness of mourning and deepen the understanding of loss in the digital age.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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