My point of departure is the observation that people ubiquitously turn to aesthetic practices in response to the loss of a loved one. I argue that profound loss catapults the bereaved person into an alternate “world” that differs in marked ways from the world we usually occupy, an alternate world lacking even the basic coherence we need to function. Aesthetic practices facilitate restoration of coherence to our experience, as well as reconnection with the social world and recovery from the breakdown that profound loss involves. While the aesthetic notion of closure is frequently invoked in connection with the needs of the bereaved, I suggest that while containing the emotions experienced in connection with loss is vital if they are to be processed, unrealistic aspirations toward closure can encourage expectations that harm the bereaved. By contrast, I suggest that the aims of aesthetically punctuating experience and communicating through aesthetic gestures are beneficial for helping the bereaved adjust to their new circumstances.

中文翻译：

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美学与悲伤的遏制

我的出发点是观察到人们普遍转向审美实践以应对失去亲人。我认为，巨大的损失会将失去亲人的人推入一个与我们通常居住的世界有显着差异的替代“世界”，一个甚至缺乏我们运作所需的基本连贯性的替代世界。审美实践有助于恢复我们体验的连贯性，以及与社会世界的重新联系，并从深刻的损失所涉及的崩溃中恢复过来。虽然关闭的美学概念经常与失去亲人的需求相关联，但我建议，如果要处理与失去相关的情绪，控制这些情绪至关重要，但对关闭的不切实际的愿望可能会助长对失去亲人造成伤害的期望.