Day-to-day Work of Spanish Undertaker Stuns Ana Obregón, Describing it as Unpleasant
In the realm of social media, one TikToker, Antonio Sirvent, has been making waves by sharing his unique insights into the world of undertaking. Known as @lavidadeantonio, Sirvent has been working in this field since the age of 25, having honed his skills in three different cemeteries.
Born and raised in Spain, Sirvent's choice of profession might seem unconventional in a society where death is often treated as a taboo, spoken of with a certain delicacy or fear. However, Sirvent aims to break this barrier, seeking to normalise discussions around death and the processes that follow.
His approach is refreshingly candid, combining humour and naturalness to tackle topics that many find difficult to discuss. This approach has garnered him attention on TikTok, where he shares his experiences working with tombs, coffins, and niches, providing a glimpse into the comprehensive training process undertakers undergo.
This training is a blend of formal education and practical apprenticeship. Sirvent, like many in the profession, started with relevant education, typically an associate degree in mortuary science or funeral service education. This covers topics such as embalming, anatomy, restorative art, and funeral service laws and ethics. Preparatory coursework often includes biology, chemistry, and anatomy.
Following education, aspiring undertakers serve a 1 to 3-year apprenticeship under a licensed professional, providing supervised practical experience and preparing them for licensure and full professional responsibilities. Training also involves seminars, guest speakers, labs, and internships to build practical skills and knowledge.
Sirvent, who studied thanatology and funeral activities, has embraced this training, using his TikTok platform to showcase the path he took through visual and narrative formats. His content is a testament to the rigorous training undertakers receive, ensuring they are equipped to provide professional funeral services with knowledge of embalming, restorative techniques, and grief support.
However, Sirvent's journey in the undertaking profession has not been without challenges. He has encountered unfriendly faces, including Ana Obregón, who labeled his content as having "bad taste". Despite this, Sirvent remains undeterred, using these instances as motivation to continue his mission of normalising discussions around death.
In a recent appearance on the 'Y ahora Sonsóles' program, Sirvent discussed his experiences and the importance of addressing death openly. He defends his content by saying, "Why do we treat this as a taboo if we're all going to end up in the same place?".
In some parts of the world, death is seen as part of life and is celebrated with parties, rituals, or celebrations. While Spain may not be there yet, Sirvent's TikTok account is a step in the right direction, offering a fresh perspective on a topic that affects us all.
[1] "Mortuary Science and Funeral Service Education." National Association of Mortuary Science Education. https://namse.org/education/mortuary-science-and-funeral-service-education/
[2] "Education and Training for Funeral Service." Funeral Service Education and Training Council. https://www.fsetc.org/about/education-and-training-for-funeral-service/
[4] "Mortuary Science and Funeral Service Education." American Board of Funeral Service Education. https://www.abfse.org/education/mortuary-science-and-funeral-service-education/
- People from various backgrounds might find Antonio Sirvent's profession unconventional, given societal attitudes towards death, but he aims to change that.
- His TikTok account, @lavidadeantonio, offers a unique fusion of humor, naturalness, and candor to discuss death and the process that follows, appealing to a broad audience.
- Sirvent's approach seems to resonate with many, as he shares his experiences working with tombs, coffins, and niches, demonstrating the comprehensive training undertakers undergo in the fields of embalming, anatomy, restorative art, and funeral service laws and ethics, among others.
- Apart from his formal education, which usually involves an associate degree in mortuary science or funeral service education, aspiring undertakers also serve a 1 to 3-year apprenticeship under a licensed professional, learning practical skills and ethics required for full professional responsibilities.
- Despite facing criticisms from some like Ana Obregón, Sirvent remains resilient, using these instances as motivation to normalize discussions around death and inspire others to question societal taboos.
- In addition to his work in the undertaking profession, Sirvent has also studied thanatology and funeral activities, showcasing these aspects through his visual and narrative TikTok content, promoting self-development and open discussions about a topic that affects us all, such as relationships, weather, travel, sports, food-and-drink, fashion-and-beauty, education-and-self-development, shopping, pets, casino-and-gambling, and lifestyle.
