On Befriending Death

• Online Conversation  
• Register to access the livestream and one week of ad-free replay access  
• Books are available to add to your order at check-out for pick-up from Marcus Books in Oakland, California or delivery only within the United States 

Talking about death is often deemed morbid or taboo, but to fully embrace life, scientists, psychologists, and spiritual leaders all agree—contemplating death is the key to living a life with meaning. 
 
Join Joanna Ebenstein, author and founder of Morbid Anatomy—an organization exploring the interstices of art and medicine, death and culture—for a conversation with CIIS faculty and Chicane philosopher Saraliza Anzaldúa exploring how to befriend death. 

Sharing insights from her latest book, Memento Mori: The Art of Contemplating Death to Live a Better Life, Joanna discusses what it means to be mortal and shares how to both come to terms with what death means and live alongside it without fear. In doing so, you can see your own life in a new light and discover what makes life worth living.  
 
Whether you're struggling with anxiety, grieving a loved one, or seeking a greater sense of purpose, Joanna invites you to embrace your own mortality, create a personal relationship with death, and live a life of greater meaning and joy.  
 

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Joanna Ebenstein is the founder and creative director of Morbid Anatomy. An internationally recognized death expert, her books include Memento Mori: The Art of Contemplating Death to Live a Better Life, Anatomica: The Exquisite and Unsettling Art of Human Anatomy, Death: A Graveside Companion and The Anatomical Venus. She is also an award winning curator, photographer, and graphic designer, and teacher of the many times sold out class Memento Mori: Befriending Death with Art, History and the Imagination. 

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Saraliza Anzaldúa, PhD (ya) is a Chicane philosopher from south Texas and an assistant professor of philosophy at California Institute of Integral Studies in the department of Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness. Ya specializes in monster theory, with interests in both how the ideology of the monster de-humanizes as well as how the lens of monstrosity can illuminate phenomenological and existential nuances. Additionally, ya writes on Indigenous philosophy in Chicane and Mexican traditions with a focus on metaphysics and spirit through a healing lens. Aside from research, ya is passionate about bridging decolonized pedagogy and restorative spirit through community service by advocating for justice in higher education and removing accessibility barriers to knowledge. You can read more here.
 

We are grateful to our Bookstore Partner

Marcus Books is the nation’s oldest Black-owned independent bookstore celebrating its 60th year. Marcus Books’ mission is to provide opportunities for Black folks and their allies to celebrate and learn about Black people everywhere. Learn more about Marcus Books.
 

Accessibility Information

If you need to request accessibility accommodations, please email publicprograms@ciis.edu at least one week prior to the event. For more information, explore our Accessibility web page.

Important Event Information

Access to the livestream event is limited to registered guests. Registered ticket holders will receive the link to watch the livestream, will have access to chat and Q&A, and will have an ad-free watching experience.

Recording Policy

Ticket holders will have access to an ad-free replay of the event for one week after the live event. A replay with ads will be released on our YouTube channel one week after the livestream. Portions of the audio will also be released on our podcast. Only registered ticket holders who choose to watch live can participate in the chat and Q&A.

Refunding Policy

All tickets and donations for this event are nonrefundable.