Séminaire autour de son livre paru en 2015 aux éditions de la Découverte

dans le cadre du séminaire invités du CSI

"Mourning" is the imperative that imposes itself upon all those who are confronted with the death of a loved one. But is getting rid of the dead an impassable ideal nobody can escape if they do not want to suffer too much? Vinciane Despret started by listening. “I used to say: I am investigating on the way the dead enter the life of the living; I work on the inventiveness of the dead and the living in their relationships”.

A story led to another. “I have a friend who wears her grandmother’s shoes so that she keeps pacing the world. Another travelled to climb one of the highest mountains with the ashes of his father to share with him the most beautiful sunrises. On his late wife’s birthday, one of my close relatives prepares her favorite dish, etc.”.

The author let herself be informed by the ways of being explored by the dead and the living together; she has learned from the way the living she met are able to welcome the presence of the deceased. On the way, she shows how to avoid the dilemma between “it belongs to the imagination” and “it’s simply true and real”. For quite some time, the dead were very discreet, losing any visibility. Today, things may be changing and the dead become more active. They claim, offer their help, support or comfort… They do it with tenderness, often with humor. It is all too rarely said to what extent some of the dead can make us happy!

The seminar is open upon registration to all interested persons.