The etymological origin of the term scream that concerns us now we have to establish that it is found in Latin. Exactly it comes from the verb “quiritare”, which can be translated as “call for help”.
The verb shout refers to raising the volume of one's voice more than normal or usual . It is a form of expression that is usually linked to a certain state of mind that modifies communication.
Scream, shout, scream, yell, yell or even roar are some of the words that work as synonyms for shouting. On the contrary, among its antonyms we find terms such as mute, shut up, whisper or murmur, for example.
A person can scream for multiple reasons. On the one hand, it may simply be an attempt to be heard in a noisy environment or if the interlocutor is far away or suffers from hearing disorders . For example: “In the middle of the concert, due to the crowd of people, I got separated from my sister and then I had to start screaming to find her,” “Grandpa, why don't you use the hearing aid? “This way I don't have to shout for you to hear me,” “The young man, upon noticing that the sea was beginning to drag him, began to shout to get the attention of the lifeguard who was several meters away.”
Sometimes, the action of shouting is due to the desire to express approval or disapproval of something: “When the singer came on stage, his fans began to shout and applaud,” “The audience did not stop shouting until the president finished his speech.” " , "Screaming was in vain: despite the rejection of those who were in the theater, the actor performed the controversial scene."
Screaming can also be a spontaneous reaction to emotional upheaval: “When we saw how the car was falling apart, we became desperate and the only thing we could do was scream,” “There is nothing more beautiful than screaming with joy at good news,” “The boy heard his name among the winners and started shouting.”
Precisely one of the most important paintings in the history of art shows the moment in which the protagonist does not hesitate to scream. We are referring to the painting titled “The Scream”, which was made in 1893 by the famous Norwegian author Edvard Munch (1863 – 1944).
There are many theories and explanations that have been established about what that painting represents. However, the most generalized one indicates that it represents a modern man who screams in a moment of great existential despair and even anguish and anxiety in the face of existing life.
Within the current of expressionism is this work that, today, has become a true cultural icon. Hence it can be found represented on t-shirts, prints and all kinds of objects. So much so that for many, in terms of relevance and meaning, it is considered a modern “La Gioconda”.
Today, anyone who wants to see it in situ has to travel to the National Gallery in Oslo (Norway), which is where it is exhibited.