Nancy Berns

This book wasn't quite as in-depth as I had been hoping. As a work of sociology, it's on the lightweight side; but I don't think it's got enough ooomph to keep the interest of most general readers.

It's a survey of the idea of "closure," how it arose and the ways in which the concept is used now (mainly, as a guideline for acceptable processes of grieving; as an instrument of political pressure; and as a sales pitch for various goods and services.) Not elegantly written, but a competent overview of the major aspects of the topic.

The bit I was personally most interested in was the chapter on spaces of public grief/memory -- but the best points there were sourced from Erika Doss' "Memorial Mania," which I've already read. Additionally, the book had what I thought were a surprising number of quotes and sources taken from online news outlets and other web sites; I do think the book would have had more substance if it delved more into the sociological literature and spent more time on key subjects, rather then digressing into "lifestyle" anecdotes about "divorce parties" and the like. (I thought there were too many brief, drive-by mentions of various wacky contexts in which "closure" is used, with few of them being developed or explored.)

There's a good discussion of the movement for 'victim's rights, such as demands that murder victims' families be allowed to testify in sentencing hearings, witness executions, etc. - in the name of giving them "closure." But "closure" seems to be far more often wished for than attained. The actual experience of victims and families that attend executions usuaully seems to show them disappointed in their hope for a satisfying sense of "closure."

Nevertheless, Berns points out, once policy and law has been made based upon the concept, "closure" attains an institutional status that it arguably never earned. (I think the book is strongest on the legal development of "victim's rights" measures based upon "closure" arguments. If you're deeply interested in that topic, the book would have more appeal for you.)

The take-home message, I think, is that what we call "closure" doesn't have one single meaning, but multiple meanings: the word is often used to denote completely disaparate things, depending upon the convenience and the agenda of whoever is using it. "Closure" is very often a concept used to personalize loss and grief as much as possible, thereby distracting from systemic issues. It's also used to sell you funeral products and services, fitting nicely into the century-old industry sales model of claiming that funeral consumerism has therapeutic value.

This is NOT a self-help book! Although there is a little bit of general "advice" or at least some statements of principle right at the very end: for instance, that nobody should feel pressured to grieve in a certain way because they have been told that is the way to attain closure; and that a brief and efficient process of attaining "closure" should not be urged upon mourners as an ideal. If it is only socially acceptable to show active grief for a short time, then the continuing grieving process is forced into silence and isolation.… (mehr)