Why was the writer cremated? Thanato - anthropological aspects of death and funeral of Yugoslav literate Ivo Andric

The author discuses the funeral of Yugoslav writer, Ivo Andrić, with a particular focus on his wish to be incinerated. This wish is analyzed from several aspects: through the concept of celebrating great people in the time of socialism and from the standpoint of Andrić’s delicate political position and his consistent attempts to avoid alignment inside offered ideological, intellectual and national frames. On the other hand, his will to be cremated was analyzed from the aspect of Andrić’s attitude towards religion and death, which are visible in his works. Additional light on Andrić’s, already well researched biography, sheds his mason dossier and defining his religiosity and philosophical attitudes as theosophical. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 177028