Death and the Soaps

Abstract

In the face of criticism that TV soap operas may not be the best place to debate the way the media covers issues relating to death and dying, Elizabeth Henderson identifies key areas of soaps’ make-up that gives them a surprisingly pertinent take on the subject. She goes on to look at how particular soaps handle the question of death and funerals and at what this says about modern views of the issues involved. She also raises the question of whether soaps play a role in encouraging the view that churches are becoming increasingly irrelevant with regard to funeral practice.