Understanding Grief and Mourning Through Film

Jul 5, 2015 | 1 comment

Wednesday, July 8, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Osher Lifelong Learning presents “Understanding Grief and Mourning Through Film” with Certified Thanatologist Gail Rubin.

The Big Lebowski Ash Scattering

The famous ash scattering scene from “The Big Lebowski”

Grief is pain, and mourners in the midst of pain may feel like it will never end. Every individual grief journey is unique to each person in its emotional depth and duration. Films provide a safe and memorable way to examine grief and mourning reactions and consider healing activities.

We’ll learn about Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’ Five Stages, intuitive and instrumental mourning styles, complicated grief, disenfranchised grief, and discuss ways to move past loss toward acceptance and growth. These concepts will be illustrated through scenes from films such as Gravity, Elizabethtown, A Single Man, Walk the Line, The Big Lebowski and other sources.

The class cost is $20 and you can register online at Osher’s website. Look for course #19873. Or, register by telephone: .

Instructor Gail Rubin, CT, is a pioneering death educator Certified in Thanatology: Death Dying and Bereavement. She uses comedy films to help teach about serious subjects. Laughter generates endorphins that help us relax about stress-inducing topics. She’s also the author and host of the award-winning book and TV series, A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die.

 

A Good Goodbye