The overall assumption of this dissertation project is that there is something wrong with how humans typically communicate about death in regard to both the acknowledgment of one's own death as well as the passing of others. Through the primary utilization of the work of Ernest Becker and Viktor Frankl, this deficit of human communication is discussed, defined, and reoriented toward finding meaning in the moments of life that are often mistook for being meaningless. This metaphorical march of this project is toward finding the music in both life and death that allows the importance of both to be at the forefront of conscious communication. This project engages elements of sociology, philosophy, psychiatry, and the rich culture of New Orleans in order to uncover meaning-rich communicative spaces in which one can begin to consider the inherent power and responsibility that one must communicate about death. Though this project is guided by the metaphor of mythical Grim Reaper, the reader should not be confused about the menacing tone; Ultimately this dissertation is about life more than it is about death. / McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts; / Communication and Rhetorical Studies / PhD; / Dissertation;

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