1. Romancing with Death in Hollywood
Paul T. P. Wong, PhD, Professor
Department of Psychology, Tyndale University College
Date: August 7, 2009

2. Abstract
The presentation discusses the portrait of death and dying in Hollywood films. A meaning-management theory was proposed to account for death acceptance. The paper identifies 7 pathways of death acceptance in films. It concludes that meaning offers the best protection against death fear and the best promise of hope beyond death.

3. An overview Death and dying as an important topic
Death denial vs. death acceptance
Cinema as an educational tool
Seven pathways of death acceptance

4. The importance of death & dying
Death is universal
We are scared to death about death
The end impacts us more than the beginning & everything in between
Dying well is the last frontier of positive psychology

5. Different death attitudes
Fear of death
Avoidance of death
Neutral death acceptance
Approach death acceptance
Escape death acceptance

6. The Psychology of Death
Terror management theory: Focusing on death denial & avoidance
Meaning management theory: Focusing on death acceptance & approach
Defensive vs. purposeful orientation
(Existential & Spiritual Issues in Death Attitudes (2008) edited by Tomer, Eliason, & Wong. Published by Francis & Taylors)

7. Dual-system model
The approach system – life expansion and processes of personal growth
The avoidance system – life protection and defensive mechanisms
The duality hypothesis of coping with death and dying

8. Cinema as an educational tool
It reflects life & popular culture
Its aesthetic power of beauty
Its evocative power of imagination
Its narrative power of story telling
Its instructive power of inspiring virtue
Its mystical power of transcendence

9. A two-factor theory of cinema
Dream-making: Entertainment thru aesthetic & emotional appeal (escape from reality)
Myth-making: Enlightenment thru moral & spiritual appeal (confront and transcend reality)

10. Romanticism in death & dying films
Individual’s heroic response to tragedy
Sentimentality: tension & relief, feel-good & break your heart
Virtues of courage, passion for living and self-sacrifice
Transcendental and spiritual aspects of human existence

11. Criteria for selection of films
Focusing on death acceptance
Exploring the deep dark realities of death and dying
Showing the triumphant human spirit in the face of danger, suffering & death
Showing sparks of love & goodness in the midst of atrocity & terror

12. Criteria for exclusion
Horror/slasher films
Gangster/crime films
The Casper genre
Trivialize & dehumanize death

13. Seven pathways of death acceptance
Die loving
Die doing what one loves
Die pursuing a dream
Die saving others
Die redeeming one’s wrongs
Die becoming a better person
Die believing in hope

14. Die loving Love is the key to make life & death meaningful
To die happy is to die with love in one’s heart
To love is to mourn its loss
Love is made poignant by death
Undying love is seen only after losing the loved one

15. Die doing what one loves
To die happy is to do what one loves most and does best
Hedonic happiness – The Bucket List
Eudaimonic happiness – Dance in the Dark, The Wrestler
To enjoy each day as if it were your last
Finding salvation in your passion

16. Die pursuing a dream
To live is to pursue a dream worth dying for (Milk, Iron Jawed Angels)
Die for an ideal (Defiance, The Last Samurai)
The meaning of your life is defined by your ultimate sacrifice
Self-transcendence is the key to resilience and meaning in life

17. Die saving others A heroic and altruistic act
Another example of self-transcendence
A living sacrifice for another person (Life is Wonderful, Saving Private Ryan)
A living sacrifice for humanity (Deep Impact)

18. Die redeeming one’s wrongs
Die happy without regrets (GranTorino)
Die happy after reconciliation
Need for confession, forgiveness & redemption

19. Die becoming a better person
The idea of death can save many lives
Encounter with death is an life-altering experience (It’s a Wonderful life, A Christmas Carol, Life as a House)
Death acceptance leads to authentic living

20. Die believing Die happy believing in hope
The invisible becomes more real than the visible when life ebbs away
A spiritual vision gives hope in the face of death (The Messenger, Miracle at St. Anna)
The power of the mystic meta-narrative

21. Conclusion
Meaning offers the best protection against death fear and the best hope for a happy life
The 7 pathways to death acceptance are also the keys to happiness and meaning in life
Dying well is related to living well

22. Thank You Dr. Paul T. P. Wong, Professor
Department of Psychology, Tyndale University College ,