“The Scream” is a painting by Edvard Munch, 1863 -1944, who was from Norway. Many think that “The Scream” was done by Van Gogh but it was done by Munch, although he was heavily influenced by Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Toulouse-Lantrec.

The painting’s also called “The Cry” (1893), but Munch himself named it “Der Schrei der Natur (The Scream of Nature)”. He greatly influenced the development of German Expressionism in the early 20th Century. His work often included the symbolic portrayal of such themes as misery, sickness, and death. “The Scream” is probably his most familiar painting. It is typical in its anguished expression of isolation and fear.

From Munch Wikipedia page :

Munch wrote of how the painting came to be: “I was walking down the road with two friends when the sun set; suddenly, the sky turned as red as blood. I stopped and leaned against the fence, feeling unspeakably tired. Tongues of fire and blood stretched over the bluish black fjord. My friends went on walking, while I lagged behind, shivering with fear. Then I heard the enormous, infinite scream of nature.”^[45] He later described the personal anguish behind the painting, “for several years I was almost mad… You know my picture, ‘The Scream?’ I was stretched to the limit—nature was screaming in my blood… After that I gave up hope ever of being able to love again.”^[46]

“Ok, so what is this have to do with the Poppadillo Blog?”, one might ask.

The first time I saw this painting was in a Psychology class, I was taking during the late seventies, while I was stationed and living in Southern Italy. Assuming that everyone recognises the shape of Italy is like a boot, I lived in the heel of the boot somewhere in its middle, first in San Miquel Salintino III, and then on San Vito AB, which was between the towns of San Vito and Brindisi (Brundisium), whose port marks the end of the Appian Way.

“First and most famous of the ancient Roman roads, running from Rome to Campania and southern Italy. Begun in 312 BC by the censor Appius Claudius Caecus, the road originally ran 132 mi (212 km) to ancient Capua; by 244 BC it extended 230 mi (370 km) to the port of Brundisium (Brindisi) (see my picture to the left ) in Italy’s heel. Built of smoothly fitted blocks of lava on a heavy stone foundation, the road provided a long-lasting surface for transporting merchandise to these seaports (and thence by ship to Greece and the eastern Mediterranean).”

“Appian Way.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Oct. 2006.

 

Well so much for the piece of Roman history.

“The Cry”or “The Scream” as the title painting is called, stands in contrast to Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” painting. What comes to my mind is the peaceful serenity of the scene versus the panic of the lone individual in “The Scream”.

A contrast between good and evil that we humans inflict on one another. It brings to my mind the contrast between life before and after September 11, 2003.

I feel we need to get back to some form of sanity, at least to I  time before 9/11, and a country not living in fear. What makes it worse are politicians, Republican and Democrat, who keep it in our face instead of dealing with the problem properly in the first place and then getting on with the real problems of their constituencies and our nation.

Those who are struggling to live from payday to payday. The elderly spending a greater percentage of what little they have on medications. Our children being left behind in education. The less fortunate and the food programs whose funds are being cut back. The soldiers who have to go back for a third tour to Iraq. The veterans whose benefits are being whittled away. The vicious circle our mentally ill go through, to and from the Mental Hospitals, to the Half way House, to the Streets, to Jail, and back to the Mental Hospital. Our corroding environment, which speaks to us with hurricanes and earthquakes, as it tries to regain its balance.

……… and I could go on and on.

These problems have plagued us as long as I am old, and probably continue to do so, until we get honest, fair, and truthful representation. When elections campaigns that speak to the candidate’s policies, which address our societies problems instead of the â₠“Slamfest” campaign ads.

I grumble, as the Fat Lady Sings, and hope for a more tranquel period, and a quiet Starry Night somewhere in the middle of a Texas Night.
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© 2005-2013 Texas Tortilla Factory – Mike Vauthier