Public Mourning
Materiality and prospects during restrictions caused by pandemics
Y. ZHANG (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
Sabina Tanović – Mentor (TU Delft - Teachers of Practice / A)
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Abstract
This article takes the perspective of the materiality of mourning to research and discuss the development of mourning and the restrictions on the methods of mourning during the COVID-19 period as well as some possible approaches to address them. Through a definitional and historical approach, this article argues that the materiality of mourning can be an essential factor in determining the efficacy of mourning. Following this, the article compares and discusses several models of mourning with case studies. The paper proposes several ways in which digital mourning complements or replaces physical mourning as an alternative to restricted physical mourning during pandemics. Ultimately we find that digital mourning with a dedicated memorial page is a more effective way of mourning, but it has to be acknowledged that each mode of mourning has certain advantages and disadvantages and needs to be selected on a case-bycase basis. What is foreseeable, however, is that digital mourning can work well as an alternative to physical mourning under current technological conditions. In the future, it will be necessary to complement the strengths and weaknesses of the different mourning methods, so that people can receive immediate and efficient mourning assistance as soon as possible after the loss has occurred.