funerIs

FunerIs is a neologism used in anthropology, religious studies, and media studies to describe a family of death-related practices and beliefs that arise or persist in digital environments. It encompasses online memorials, virtual ceremonies, and the use of data and algorithms in posthumous experiences.

Etymology and scope: The term draws on the Latin funeris/funeral roots and is typically capitalized as a proper noun funerIs. There is no single formal definition, and scholars differ on scope, including ritual forms, social meaning, and technological mediation.

Academic usage: Proponents use funerIs to examine how traditional funeral rites adapt to social media, streaming services, 3D avatars, and archival data survivance. It is used as a comparative framework across cultures to analyze authenticity, memory, and community building after death.

Criticisms and limitations: The lack of consensus leads to heterogeneous interpretations and potential overgeneralization. Some critics argue that the term risks conflating distinct practices or privileging technologized memorials over non-digital ones.

See also: digital memorial, afterlife, death studies, ritual.