Why is "The Scream" screaming? - Noah Charney
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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? Noah Charney shares the inspiration behind the dramatic and haunting masterpiece.
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The philosopher, Walter Benjamin, wrote in his famous essay “Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” that there is an “aura” that surrounds great works of art that cannot be scientifically explained. There’s a mysticism to the fact that we don’t know exactly why they resonate so universally, while other works do not.
Why do you think this is the case? Have you ever seen a work of art in person and felt that “aura,” which you might not feel seeing the same work on your computer or in a book? And now, in the age of AI art, is it more important than ever to have direct connections with art as physical objects? Part of Benjamin’s theory was that art created directly from the artist’s hand as a physical object is imparted with some of the artist’s inner thoughts, emotions, and passions. That certainly seems to be the case with The Scream. But what if the artist uses a digital medium, like ProCreate drawing software? Or what if the artist simply inputs prompts into software and lets artificial intelligence create the art?
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Meet The Creators
- Educator Noah Charney
- Director Martina Meštrović
- Narrator Jack Cutmore-Scott
- Composer Hrvoje Nikšić
- Sound Designer Hrvoje Nikšić
- Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
- Produced by Abdallah Ewis
- Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
- Editorial Producer Cella Wright