"Munch Revisited" reflects upon the recent tragedy at
Columbine High School in the town of Littleton, Colorado. The main
elements for the print were taken from Edward Munch's famous painting
"The Scream". Many of Munch's (Norwegian, 1863-1944) compositions
deal with illness, death and grief.
My print reflects on the tragic deaths of twelve students and one
teacher after a shooting spree by two fellow students who later
committed suicide. In the print, thirteen crosses in the background
line the Columbine High School building while on the left side of the
print two dark figures with long trench coats give pursue to "the
screamer". The ghostly figure lies partially outside the frame of the
print in its intent to escape from the painful reality. Who among us
can forget the haunting media coverage of the incident showing
students frantically running away from their school building? Their
fear and panic was the inspiration for this print.
Who is "the screamer"? I guess the screamer is us, you and me. All
those of us whose innocence is once again shocked at the knowledge
that such things can and do occur. That life can be interrupted with
such finality and for no apparent reason. That we wish we could
escape to live in a world without such tragedies. That merely turning
off the TV won't make these events go away and that our lives are now
forever scarred.
Julio Rodriguez, August 4th, 1999.
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