Author Archives: Marissa Abruzzini (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

Literal and Figurative Wounds in Frida Kahlo’s “La Venadita”

The painting is one of the artist's clearest interpretations on death and suffering

Choosing just one Frida Kahlo work about death isn’t an easy task. The artist flirted with death in nearly every painting she released, owing to her numerous near-death experiences. One of my favorite Kahlo paintings is also one of her … Continue reading

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“Death by Design: Where Parallel Worlds Meet” by Jean-François Brunet and Peter Friedman

A documentary that explores the artistry of programmed cell death

When you imagine cancer cells, you probably don’t picture a group of dancers writhing around on stage. Yet, this is exactly what Peter Friedman and Jean-François Brunet depict in their documentary “Death by Design: Where Parallel Worlds Meet.” This film is purely … Continue reading

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Our Weekly Tip: One Last Letter to Your Loved Ones

When you've grieving the loss of someone, letters are a powerful tool

Our Tip of the Week: Psychologists and psychotherapists often tell their clients to express their emotions in writing, specifically in letter form. This has proven to be an effective method for resolving interpersonal problems. Often, simply expressing everything you feel … Continue reading

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Relocating China’s Dead

The impact of China's economic and population crises on graves

Back in 2009, hedge fund founder Jim Chanos was convinced that China was in the midst of a major economic bubble. Over the preceding decade, the country had invested in billions of square feet of land, building brand new cities between … Continue reading

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“A grave is a place where the dead are laid to await the coming of the medical student.”

- Ambrose Bierce
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The Hidden Humanity Within “Gates of Heaven” by Errol Morris

A look at the animal burial industry reveals how humans view love, loss and death

When Roger Ebert names your documentary one of the top ten best films ever made, you know you’ve done something right. Errol Morris received such a distinction for his 1978 classic, “Gates of Heaven.” Although the film is now almost … Continue reading

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