Date of Award
5-11-2025
Date Published
June 2025
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Illustration
Advisor(s)
Deborah Dohne
Subject Categories
Art Education | Education
Abstract
Death is an inevitable reality of life, and grief, as an emotional response to death, is a universal and complex psychological experience. This study explores the role of the community in coping with death and grief. It analyzes how traditional culture and modern digital technology help individuals achieve emotional repair and social reconstruction through different forms of support. By combining psychological and sociological theories, including Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's “Five Stages of Grief” and Arnold Van Genep's “Ritual Transition theory,” the emotional transformation mechanism in the grieving process has been revealed. This thesis deeply analyzes two traditional rituals, the Zhongyuan festival in China and the Day of the Dead in Mexico, and probes into the traditional community's cultural significance and emotional support role in grief management. The study found that these rituals not only help the bereaved come to terms with loss through collective memory and emotional expression but also provide opportunities for community members to participate together, enhancing emotional connection and cultural identity.
Access
Open Access
Recommended Citation
Wang, Zhen, "From Grief to Reconstruction: From Traditional community to Modern community" (2025). Theses - ALL. 953.
https://surface.syr.edu/thesis/953
