129: Jennifer Uzzell

Nostalgia Interviews with Chris Deacy

My guest this week is Jennifer Uzzell, who is studying for a PhD in Durham, has done a Masters degree at Lampeter, and used to teach full time in a secondary school. Jennifer’s original background is in theology and biblical studies, when she did her undergraduate degree at Durham. We learn about how her interest in Hinduism developed and how Jennifer is a Senior ‘A’ level examiner.

Her latest research is on Druids and their attitudes towards death and dying. We talk about how on many levels she is squaring circles.

We learn about how she became involved in the funeral director business which in some respects could be construed as a form of therapy. She didn’t see a dead body prior to working in a funeral home, and we find out how Jennifer does the job and how she has the right resources to do it and how she has a vocational role both to the bereaved and the dead.

We talk about how Jennifer’s job impacts on her research and vice versa, and we talk about the different ways of conducting funerals that work for each family – including juggling and drinking whisky in one case.

She devoured Greek mythology as a child and she talks about the paucity of work on non-Christian traditions when she was at university. Jennifer has always been interested in how words are used in translation, and she talks about why she considers herself an anthropologist of religion and being aware of watching herself watching. She discusses also being an insider both as a Druid and a funeral director.

We talk about the key role of fiction in paganism and of re-enchantment, and about the importance of myth and magic and folk horror.

Towards the end of the interview, Jennifer talks about the way funerals can be a way for families to reconnect, and we discuss the role of connecting with an imagined past and about Jennifer’s work in historical re-enactment.

Please note: Opinions expressed are solely those of Chris Deacy and Jennifer Uzzell and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the University of Kent.