Understanding death in Brazilian music: A phenomenology

Abstract

Introduction: The taboo of death remains in our society and more and more dies between the hidden and the spectacle, without this inexorable part of life being discussed. Objective: To provide an understanding of the experience of death in the existential-phenomenological perspective. The units of analysis are lyrics of Brazilian songs. Methodology: The phenomenological method is used in the comprehensive analysis of emerging themes (essences), as recommended by Lanigan, who based their studies on Husserl and Merleau-Ponty. Writings of Kierkegaard, Heidegger, and Sartre guided the apprehension of death experience. Twenty lyrics were used, and of these, the following emerging themes were extracted: cruelty, helplessness, heroism, unpredictability, perpetual motion, mutilation and vulnerability. Results and Discussion: By comparison of emerging themes, comes up the permanence of "undying death" as life in human stories and the paradox of death under the consideration of authenticity and inauthenticity. Conclusion: It is hoped that this work can serve to reflect and assist health professionals to approach the theme of death with patients beyond therapeutic possibilities.