Explore Edvard Munch’s masterpiece “The Scream,” and find out why this artwork became one of the world’s most famous paintings. — An undulating sky melds into the landscape, two silhouettes move along a balustraded walkway, and a ghostly figure’s features extend in agony. Since Norwegian artist Edvard Munch created “The Scream” in 1893, it’s become one of the world’s most famous artworks. But why has its cry traveled so far and endured so long?

 

Watch the video and choose the best answer a-c to the questions below:

 

1. How did Munch’s experiences with illness affect his artistic career?

a) He used his experiences as inspiration for his art

b) He became a doctor instead

c) He only painted landscapes

2. What did Munch’s father think about his artistic ambitions?

a) He encouraged him to paint landscapes

b) He wanted him to be a doctor

c) He thought they were unholy

 

3. What did Munch mean by the term ‘soul painting’?

a) Art that focuses on technical skill

b) Art that is purely abstract

c) Art that reflects the artist’s inner feelings

4. What was one of the societal perceptions reflected in Munch’s portrayals of women?

a) They were always depicted as nurturing figures

b) They were often shown as cruel predators

c) They were always portrayed as happy

5. What inspired Edvard Munch to create ‘The Scream’?

a) A moment of overwhelming anguish he experienced

b) A dream he had about a ghost

c) A painting he saw in a gallery

6. What does the figure in ‘The Scream’ symbolize according to Munch’s description?

a) A ghostly figure

b) A reaction to nature’s scream

c) A person in pain

7.  What was a notable feature of the various versions of ‘The Scream’ created by Munch?

a) They were all painted on canvas

b) They were painted in black and white only

c) They used different materials and techniques

8. Which artistic movement did Munch’s work help to fuel?

a) Impressionism

b) Expressionism

c) Surrealism

9. What was a significant cultural impact of ‘The Scream’ in the 1990s?

a) It was used in a popular film

b) It was only displayed in Norway

c)  It was ignored by the public

Key: 1A; 2C; 3C; 4B; 5A; 6B; 7C; 8B; 9A

Glossary

• undulating – moving in a smooth, wave-like motion
• to meld – to blend or combine two or more things into one
• (a) bout (of) – a short period or episode of intense activity or illness
• institution – a building where people are sent to be cared for, especially a hospital (or prison)
• ominous – giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen; threatening
• unholy – evil or morally wrong
• rendering – a detailed or lifelike depiction (especially in art, graphics, or writing)
• hapless – unlucky or unfortunate (often used in a sympathetic or ironic way)
• to helm – to steer or direct
• wry – using dry or mocking humor
• stark – obvious, completely clear
• to bolster – to support, strengthen, or reinforce something
• heist – a robbery or theft, especially one involving planning and high stakes

 

 

Practice makes perfect

Fill in the gaps in the article extract with the words in bold below:

smooth             screech            cut through             hair  

alarming              piercing              rough

What All the Screaming Is about

An analysis of the acoustical characteristics of screams found that the sounds are unusually rough, that is, they rapidly change in frequency, which has an 1. ……….. effect on the listener’s brain.

Got your attention? Thought so. But what is it about a 2. ………….. shriek that really turns our heads? It’s what it does to our brains. The acoustical properties of the human scream poke at the neural circuits that control fear. That’s according to a study in the journal Current Biology. (…)

Our every waking moment is filled with noise, from planes flying overhead to various creatures scrambling underfoot. But a heartfelt cry can 3. ……….. all that. So what’s so special about the sound of a 4. ……..?

To find out, researchers prepared a sampler of screams from YouTube videos, popular films and excited volunteers. (…)

The scientists analyzed the acoustical characteristics of the various screams. And they found these alarming sounds are not only loud, they’re particularly 5. ………… That is, they rapidly change in frequency. Normal speech is relatively 6. ……….., with frequencies ranging only between four and five Hertz, or cycles per second.

But a shriek can swiftly fluctuate between 30 and 150 Hertz—a range that can make your 7. ……… stand on end.

When the researchers asked people to rate how frightening screams were, they found that more roughness meant more terrifying.  And increasing roughness of the sound corresponded to greater activation of the fear center of the brain.

Only one other noise scored as high as screams in terms of roughness [car alarm sound]. Which, ironically, is enough to make you [scream sound].

 

Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/what-all-the-screaming-is-about/

Key: 1. alarming; 2. piercing; 3. cut through; 4. screech; 5. rough; 6. smooth; 7. hair

 

 

Below are some words with mixed-up definitions. Unjumble them by matching each word to the correct definition.

make someone’s hair stand on end – to move quickly and sharply through something or to penetrate and be clearly heard or noticed

 piercing – having an even, regular surface or texture; happening without any sudden changes, interruption, or difficulty

screech – a short, loud, high cry, especially one produced suddenly as an expression of a powerful emotion

 cut through – to make someone very frightened

smooth – having an uneven or irregular surface or texture; it can also describe something harsh, jarring, or unpleasant in sound or behavior

shriek – a loud, harsh, high-pitched sound, often caused by brakes, metal scraping, or someone screaming

rough – a very sharp, high-pitched, or intense sound that is often unpleasant to hear

Key: 1. make someone’s hair stand on end – to make someone very frightened; piercing– a very sharp, high-pitched, or intense sound that is often unpleasant to hear; screech  – a loud, harsh, high-pitched sound, often caused by brakes, metal scraping, or someone screaming; cut through – to move quickly and sharply through something or to penetrate and be clearly heard or noticed; smooth – having an even, regular surface or texture; happening without any sudden changes, interruption, or difficulty; shriek – a short, loud, high cry, especially one produced suddenly as an expression of a powerful emotion; rough – having an uneven or irregular surface or texture; it can also describe something harsh, jarring, or unpleasant in sound or behawior

 

Watch and Revise!

Why Is The Scream Screaming

Art and Science Explained

https://www.cloud.worldwideschool.pl/index.php/s/F5cfQwqNWKda5EC

(6160)