Ok, my last post didn't really address your question, since I didn't know the meaning of "catharsis." I had just grabbed on the "senseless tragedy" bit and ran with it.

As for catharsis, the purging of the emotions through certain types of art:

I can only remember it happening twice--for the book "Gone With The Wind" and the movie "Braveheart."

I bawled like a baby with a rash. And I remember it felt good, and I even re-read/re-watched the sad parts just to keep the waterworks up. Afterwards, I felt drained, but in a good way.

Both times that this occured were during difficult parts of my life, and I'm sure that I needed to cry without thinking "you're so selfish...so immature...grow up and stop crying over your meaningless problems."

So yes, catharsis can happen. I think it occurs when a person doesn't usually allow themselves to cry, because they for some reason think crying over their own problems is inappropriate. So they vent by sobbing over "Where The Red Fern Grows" or "Beaches" or whatever.

--Jez"Old Yeller went to doggy heaven"zika