THANATOLOGICAL MOTIFS IN CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY

Abstract

This article analyzes thanatological motifs related to death, the pre-death state, and the afterlife in the genres of contemporary American science fiction and fantasy. The article covers a wide range, from the historical roots of thanatology to the artistic and philosophical interpretations of death in classical and modern works. Using examples such as Philip K. Dick’s “Ubik,” Neil Gaiman’s “American Gods,” and Emily St. John Mandel’s “Station Eleven,” the symbolic, psychological, and social functions of death in the human experience are examined. Additionally, the expression of thanatological motifs in the film, television, and gaming industries is included within the scope of this analysis.