Ruth E. Toulson
Anthropologist and trained mortician. Demonstrates how the state transforms a Daoist-infused obsession with ancestors into a sterile, more easily controlled Protestant Buddhism.
Best podcasts with Ruth E. Toulson
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Sep 7, 2025 • 59min
Ruth E. Toulson, "Necropolitics of the Ordinary: Death and Grieving in Contemporary Singapore" (U Washington Press, 2024)
Ruth E. Toulson, an anthropologist and trained mortician, explores the necropolitics in Singapore, revealing how state policies reshape ancestral traditions into a controlled form of Buddhism. She discusses the emotional turmoil caused by forced exhumations and the political contestation surrounding cemeteries. The conversation highlights personal grief against societal expectations, particularly a father's heartache over his daughter's suicide, and the complex dynamics of mourning rituals that reflect deeper issues of identity and colonial legacies in a rapidly changing society.
Sep 7, 2025 • 59min
Ruth E. Toulson, "Necropolitics of the Ordinary: Death and Grieving in Contemporary Singapore" (U Washington Press, 2024)
Ruth E. Toulson, an anthropologist and trained mortician, delves into the complex relationship between death and state power in Singapore. She discusses how the government’s removal of burial sites alters traditional grieving practices, forcing families to confront loss under a modern, sterile system. Toulson explores the transformation of Daoist beliefs into a controlled form of Buddhism and its implications on cultural identity. Through vivid narratives, she highlights the impact on family ties and societal norms, revealing a poignant anthropology of death amidst rapid urban change.
