Literanista
October 17, 2024
In a world where technology seems to dominate every facet of our lives, there’s something profoundly humbling about turning back to ancient cultures to better understand our modern challenges—especially around the themes of death and societal transformation. The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) traditions and the beliefs of the Taino people remind us that death, while often feared, is not an end but a passage, a cycle intimately tied to the rhythms of life itself. This notion is especially relevant today as we rethink our understanding of mortality, particularly in light of recent global events.
Lessons from Ancient Cultures: The Taino and Day of the Dead
In Taino culture, death was not the termination of existence but a continuation, with ancestors being kept close—sometimes physically under the home or spiritually through rituals. It is always with us. This speaks to the way they integrated death as a part of daily life, much like the Day of the Dead traditions in Mexico. On this day, families honor their deceased loved ones with altars, food, music, and dance, symbolizing the belief that the dead are still with us, guiding and protecting us.
Both cultures offer an alternative to the Western tendency to hide from death and avoid conversations around it. Their approach can teach us how to embrace the inevitability of mortality with grace, understanding, and a celebration of life. They also remind us that death is not an isolated event but a communal experience that affects entire communities and should be addressed as such.
The Intersection of Technology and Mortality
In modern times, technology has allowed us to extend life, document our histories, and even prepare for death in new ways. The integration of technology into end-of-life care, as outlined in the activist campaign “The Art of Dying,” that I created as part of my Media, Ethics and Social Change studies advocates for autonomy and meaningful discourse surrounding death. This campaign mirrors the same rituals of preparation and respect seen in ancient cultures but leverages the tools of our digital age—web platforms, social media campaigns, and relational databases—to create a global dialogue around death and grief.
I reflected heavily on the loss of my mother, who transitioned in 2019. In fact, in the short span of time between immediately before and immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic, I suffered the loss of my mother, my father, 2 uncles, and 3 aunts, amounting to 7 family members. To say I wracked with grief is a huge understatement but I soldiered on as many of us are bound to do.
In a world dominated by digital transformation, we are beginning to see the rise of virtual memorials, AI-driven end-of-life planning tools, and even discussions around digital afterlives. We can—and should—look to ancient cultures for guidance, anchoring these technological advances in deeply human rituals and practices, ensuring that the essence of death remains a sacred and community-centered event.
Social Change: Honoring the Marginalized
Just as the Taino and the Day of the Dead traditions reflect the dignity of life and death in marginalized communities, today’s technology has the potential to amplify the voices of those who have historically been silenced. From campaigns that expose the inequalities in healthcare access to initiatives that give marginalized voices a platform to share their end-of-life experiences, we are witnessing the convergence of technology and social justice.
As I advocate in my work, the true power of digital innovation lies in its ability to connect people, share stories, and drive change. Ancient cultures understood the power of storytelling and ritual. Today, we have new tools at our disposal, but the mission remains the same: to elevate the human experience and foster compassion across divides.
Read more: “Antillean Islander Space: On the Religious Beliefs and Representations of the Taíno People” February 2016, Journal of Religious History.
