Summary: Researchers have developed a clear, research-driven framework to explain why people are drawn to organised events that centre on death, disaster and suffering. These so-called “dark events” range from solemn commemorations to thrill-oriented attractions, and the new framework helps explain their appeal, social function and cultural significance.
The study identifies six core concepts that shape how dark events are produced, consumed and understood. By highlighting themes such as commercialisation, public engagement and the symbolic presence of death, the framework offers a structured way to study the cultural, psychological and social dynamics that underpin these events.
Key facts:
- Dark events cover a wide spectrum: cultural festivals, historical commemorations, sports events with tragic associations, horror experiences and guided tours focused on crime or death.
- The research proposes six analytic concepts—commercialisation; disciplinary approaches; public sphere engagement; deviant behaviour; experiential qualities; and the presence of death—to study the appeal and impacts of these events.
- Organised dark events provide a controlled environment for people to encounter and reflect on themes of mortality, disaster and suffering.
Source: University of Surrey
Why people attend events about death, disaster and suffering
Events like Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Jack the Ripper walking tours and Remembrance Sunday exemplify how societies gather around memories, narratives and rituals tied to loss and trauma. Researchers from the University of Surrey argue that studying these organised experiences is essential to understanding broader cultural practices, collective memory and public responses to mortality and catastrophe.
Published in Annals of Tourism Research, the study synthesises ideas from thanatology (the study of death and funeral practices), dark tourism and collective memory scholarship to build a comprehensive conceptual framework for what the authors call “dark events.”
Research insights from Dr James Kennell
Dr James Kennell, Associate Professor of Events and Hospitality at the University of Surrey and a co-author of the study, explains that a combination of psychological curiosity, cultural conditioning and social factors draws people to dark events. These events allow participants to confront difficult themes—like mortality and tragedy—within a controlled, often ritualised setting, where fear, fascination and reflection can be experienced safely.
The authors identify six interrelated concepts essential for analysing dark events. Below is a concise explanation of each concept and its relevance for researchers, event organisers and the public.
- Commercialisation: This concept examines how dark events are marketed, sold and monetised. Commercial factors influence how narratives are packaged, what elements are emphasised for audiences, and how commodification shapes authenticity and ethical considerations around suffering and loss.
- Disciplines and approaches: Drawing on thanatology, dark tourism research and collective memory studies provides theoretical lenses to interpret dark events. Each discipline brings methods and questions that enrich understanding—from ritual practices around death to visitor motivations and memory-making.
- Public sphere engagement: Dark events interact with media, politics and public debate. Coverage, controversy and civic responses can change how events are perceived, whether they are integrated into national identity, or whether they prompt ethical and legal discussions.
- Deviant behaviour: This area explores motivations such as thrill-seeking, taboo exploration and fascination with violence or crime. Understanding why some visitors seek out sensational or transgressive experiences helps distinguish between educational and purely entertainment-driven participation.
- Experiential aspects: Events are designed to evoke emotions—fear, empathy, awe, or reflective sadness. Analysing the sensory, performative and narrative elements reveals how organisers shape participant experience and what emotional outcomes are produced.
- Presence of death: Central to dark events is how death is represented—symbolically, ceremonially or literally. This includes both human and non-human death, the use of symbols and the real or imagined proximity to actual loss or tragedy.
Commentary from Metod Šuligoj
Metod Šuligoj, Associate Professor of Tourism Studies at the University of Primorska and co-author, notes that fascination with dark events arises from an interplay of curiosity, cultural tradition, psychological exploration and the desire for shared experiences. Whether educational, commemorative or entertaining, these events provide social spaces where participants can process difficult topics together.
About this psychology research news
Author: Georgina Gould
Source: University of Surrey
Contact: Georgina Gould – University of Surrey
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access. “Conceptualising dark events: A new framework” by James Kennell et al., Annals of Tourism Research (DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2024.103799)
Abstract
Conceptualising dark events: A new framework
Dark events are organised gatherings linked to death, disaster and suffering. This conceptual study presents a new analytical framework for understanding these events by synthesising theoretical perspectives and methods from thanatology, dark tourism and collective memory research.
The framework identifies six concepts valuable for future research: commercialisation; disciplinary approaches; public sphere dynamics; deviant behaviour; experiential elements; and the presence of death. Together these concepts create a coherent foundation for investigating how dark events are produced, consumed and remembered, and they point to new questions and priorities for researchers working in this emergent field.
Finally, the study proposes an agenda for future research that will help deepen our understanding of how dark events shape public memory, influence cultural practices and reflect changing societal attitudes toward death, disaster and suffering.