So well-put!!! As part of my nightly ritual, after washing and seruming and moisturizing, I scream into one of my fluffy bath towels. If I don’t do it, my husband worries about me. The best part is that my 8-year-old son now begins his day by screaming into a towel after brushing his teeth. The sense of release is universal. 🩵
VIVId is an annual festival of light, music and ideas, held here in Sydney, Oz. A number of years back, before COVID, it included an outdoor immersive light installation with a large grid of panels which opened when one screamed at it. A certain number of panels opened depending on the intensity of the scream. I’ve a healthy set of lungs, and though I’m usually quite reserved, I decided to express my inner voice and not only opened all the panels but kept them open for a good few seconds. The sustained scream shocked—and no doubt embarrassed—my family, friends and other patrons but was so amazingly cathartic I had to hold in tears of relief. I occasionally think about this moment and being a city urchin imagine accessing an isolated hill somewhere where I can scream into the ether whenever the mood takes me.
The Shoutlet is utterly chilling. Truth coming out of her well might be ‘skyclad’ in the tradition of witches - her nakedness lets her make greater contact with nature’s power.
Screaming has been the most primal and cathartic release for me since I was a teenager. Every now and then the emotions can no longer be contained and bubble up to explode out. Not directed at anyone else, just a need to get it out there, let it go. The only downside is a raspy voice for days afterwards. I once joked with a friend how there should be scream rooms you can rent, bonus if it’s filled with breakable objects to throw.
Thank you—a great read, Rebecca. Another image that occurred to me as I read your article: Laura Dern's various Lynchian incarnations, particularly in Inland Empire. And, with regard to the scream, you may find this interesting: https://frankrodick.com.
"Once again, our friend art can provide us with, if not solace, then at least a sense that we’re not alone with big emotions and a need for inchoate bellowing." Nicely put.
Thank you! Expressing our humanity in the many ways our body is designed to do cannot be understated, and should not be depressed or ignored. Our very “livelihood” is at stake.
One lunchtime at work I phoned my Dad and said how much I wanted to scream. I was in a big open plan office and I forget what my fury was directed at, but I just wanted to SCREAM. My lovely Dad said "shall I do it for you?" and he screamed in their little kitchen down their big old green phone. One of the best phone calls ever. I am laughing now just thinking about it. Screaming by proxy. No marketing involved...
I love this! But can’t believe this sad scream sack exists yet hasn’t been served up to me. I once took a friend to my yoga class and it had been appropriated as a scream session 🫣😱 I couldn’t get into it and it just felt like everybody was screaming at me for 90 mins.
Oh my god - can you imagine the other businesses/flats nearby having been all “oh cool, a yoga studio. That will be a nice chill business to have nextdoor” 😱😱😱
This is such a great piece. Loved it. So pleased you mentioned Women in Revolt and the punk piece. It’s a good question to ask - where do we go from screaming? There’s a brilliant section on screaming in John D’Agata’s About A Mountain. About the human voice and how no two screams are ever the same.
I can’t believe The Shoutlet is a thing! And of course marketed at women…. I felt the same about Gina Birch’s 3 minute scream - I felt quite overwhelmed by it and it followed me around the whole exhibition, but it’s also probably the piece of work that stayed with me longest. I also love the painting of truth coming out of her well! Not seen that one before.
So well-put!!! As part of my nightly ritual, after washing and seruming and moisturizing, I scream into one of my fluffy bath towels. If I don’t do it, my husband worries about me. The best part is that my 8-year-old son now begins his day by screaming into a towel after brushing his teeth. The sense of release is universal. 🩵
I absolutely love that a good scream is part of your day! I think I might have to copy you. Excellent, excellent work. 10/10
VIVId is an annual festival of light, music and ideas, held here in Sydney, Oz. A number of years back, before COVID, it included an outdoor immersive light installation with a large grid of panels which opened when one screamed at it. A certain number of panels opened depending on the intensity of the scream. I’ve a healthy set of lungs, and though I’m usually quite reserved, I decided to express my inner voice and not only opened all the panels but kept them open for a good few seconds. The sustained scream shocked—and no doubt embarrassed—my family, friends and other patrons but was so amazingly cathartic I had to hold in tears of relief. I occasionally think about this moment and being a city urchin imagine accessing an isolated hill somewhere where I can scream into the ether whenever the mood takes me.
:@ :@ :@
The Shoutlet is utterly chilling. Truth coming out of her well might be ‘skyclad’ in the tradition of witches - her nakedness lets her make greater contact with nature’s power.
Screaming has been the most primal and cathartic release for me since I was a teenager. Every now and then the emotions can no longer be contained and bubble up to explode out. Not directed at anyone else, just a need to get it out there, let it go. The only downside is a raspy voice for days afterwards. I once joked with a friend how there should be scream rooms you can rent, bonus if it’s filled with breakable objects to throw.
Dear lord. That’s absolutely terrifying…. I am utterly speechless. Scream less? Scream! Scream loudly! Let the neighbours hear it…
Thank you—a great read, Rebecca. Another image that occurred to me as I read your article: Laura Dern's various Lynchian incarnations, particularly in Inland Empire. And, with regard to the scream, you may find this interesting: https://frankrodick.com.
"Once again, our friend art can provide us with, if not solace, then at least a sense that we’re not alone with big emotions and a need for inchoate bellowing." Nicely put.
I’ve always found the time spent driving through a car wash a great place/time to get a scream or two in.
Thank you! Expressing our humanity in the many ways our body is designed to do cannot be understated, and should not be depressed or ignored. Our very “livelihood” is at stake.
Time to revisit this track I think : https://open.spotify.com/track/5DzQiBR2Hwb1aHy99pSz8y?si=oeOpAKULRh-y8BeuCTHiwA
One lunchtime at work I phoned my Dad and said how much I wanted to scream. I was in a big open plan office and I forget what my fury was directed at, but I just wanted to SCREAM. My lovely Dad said "shall I do it for you?" and he screamed in their little kitchen down their big old green phone. One of the best phone calls ever. I am laughing now just thinking about it. Screaming by proxy. No marketing involved...
This is so sweet/funny/amazing. May we all have a proxy screamer at the end of the phone
I love this! But can’t believe this sad scream sack exists yet hasn’t been served up to me. I once took a friend to my yoga class and it had been appropriated as a scream session 🫣😱 I couldn’t get into it and it just felt like everybody was screaming at me for 90 mins.
Oh my god - can you imagine the other businesses/flats nearby having been all “oh cool, a yoga studio. That will be a nice chill business to have nextdoor” 😱😱😱
Well…….the location was…Camden Market
🤣🤣🤣
This is such a great piece. Loved it. So pleased you mentioned Women in Revolt and the punk piece. It’s a good question to ask - where do we go from screaming? There’s a brilliant section on screaming in John D’Agata’s About A Mountain. About the human voice and how no two screams are ever the same.
Oooh, I’ll have to track that down. Thanks for reading x
I can’t believe The Shoutlet is a thing! And of course marketed at women…. I felt the same about Gina Birch’s 3 minute scream - I felt quite overwhelmed by it and it followed me around the whole exhibition, but it’s also probably the piece of work that stayed with me longest. I also love the painting of truth coming out of her well! Not seen that one before.