In this episode of Critics at Large, Naomi Fry, Vinson Cunningham, and Alex Schwartz delve into the role of art in processing grief, focusing on Yiyun Li's new memoir, "Things in Nature Merely Grow," dedicated to her son who died by suicide. They discuss Li's philosophical approach to grief, her revolt against the conventional understanding of the term, and the book's exploration of the abyss between feelings and facts. The conversation expands to other works about grief, including Joan Didion's "The Year of Magical Thinking," Molly Jean Fest's "How to Lose Your Mother," Lou Reed and John Cale's "Songs for Drella," and recent comedy specials that tackle loss. The hosts explore the purpose of depicting grief in art, considering its ability to connect, transmit experience, and bear witness, referencing the AIDS Memorial quilt and the AIDS Memorial Instagram account as examples of collective mourning and remembrance.
