Jan Munske

Amidst frustration, guilt, and anger, five days behind schedule, a deep longing erupted within me. It was a moment of desperation where I lost myself and allowed myself to be distracted by endless hours of YouTube consumption. I lay on my bed, thoughts of unfinished tasks tormenting me, and my hands clutching a pillow. The restlessness that seized me was all too familiar.

This feeling of inner turmoil manifested in uncontrollable teeth grinding and a constant tension in my toes that no distraction could prevent. Sweat made its way onto my skin, soaking my T-shirt as the minutes on the clock passed relentlessly. But then it became clear to me: I had to scream. I had to release this pressure and these emotions. It was no longer acceptable to continue to stay silent, to be crushed by external influences, and to suppress my feelings. It was time to listen to myself, acknowledge my inner conflicts, and summon the courage to raise my voice. In an act of self-liberation, I opened my mouth. I screamed, not with words, but with a loud, silent scream. My body trembled, my fingers and toes clenched. It was a scream of anger, desperation, and determination. A scream that broke through the cold, quiet processes in my mind and forced me to take action.

Screaming as Liberation and Silent Communication: A Journey into the World of Expression

In a world where we are often forced to suppress our emotions, where external expectations and societal norms weigh us down, screaming is an act of liberation. It is a way to be honest with oneself, acknowledge inner conflicts, and find the courage to raise one's voice. This scream is a rebellion against the suppression of our feelings, a reminder of our existence, and the authenticity of our emotions.

Screaming is not just an individual expression; it is also an act of self-assertion that reminds us that we exist, our feelings are real, and our voices matter. It opens alternative ways to express ourselves when words fail, becoming a powerful medium, an expression that resonates deeply within ourselves.

This idea emphasizes that communication is not limited to spoken words. Our voice and our body are instruments of expression that go beyond mere language and can convey joy, pain, anger, desperation, or liberation. They offer comfort and solidarity when words fail and convey messages of hope or warning that are understood across language barriers.

Screaming is more than just noise. It is a form of communication that empowers us to express ourselves and be heard. In a world often dominated by societal norms and expectations, screams are an act of liberation. They break the silence and penetrate the surface of our control. They are the silent expression of our innermost conflicts and deepest desires, and in this silent communication, we find not only our own liberation but also a connection to others who are going through similar struggles.

The art of screaming reminds us that sometimes the quietest words are the most powerful. In a world where silence often prevails, screams are the ones that remind us that life is full of emotions worth expressing. Our journey into the world of expression through screams shows us that liberation happens through both noise and silence, and our voices in all their forms should be heard.

Observation Paper on Screaming Workshops: An Exploration of Emotions, Community, and Media Change from My Perspective

This summer, I had the opportunity to lead "Screaming Workshops" in various settings and with different groups of participants. These experiences were highly enlightening for me and expanded my perspective on screaming as a form of expression. It is important to note that I do not seek a hierarchical position but rather explore screaming out of personal necessity and share it with other people. My goal is to explore and understand the emotions that screaming evokes and, at the same time, to offer an invitation to a shared experience.

Diverse emotional reactions:

During the screaming sessions, I observed a wide range of emotional reactions from participants. Some seemed relieved when they screamed, while others appeared frightened or embarrassed. Still, others experienced a mix of feelings. This diversity of emotions highlighted the profound effect of screaming on an individual level. As the workshop leader, I also experienced my own emotions, particularly the fear of the participants' reactions and the pressure for the workshop to be successful. At the same time, I felt an urgent need to scream together with the participants to express my own feelings. It was amazing to realize how cathartic screaming could be and how it helped me release my own emotions.

Community and Silence:

After screaming, a remarkable silence often followed, accompanied by an increased sense of community. Participants seemed to feel more closely connected to each other, and this sense of belonging was of great significance to many of us. This experience opened up considerations on how such moments of silence and community could be creatively used to enrich the workshop and deepen the sense of community.

Workshop Format and Media Change:

The idea of implementing these experiences into workshops was a deliberate media change. How can a neutral space be created where participants can freely express themselves without establishing hierarchies? In what spaces can this workshop function, and how can participants be adequately prepared? These questions are crucial and provide room for further explorations.

Creating a safe and neutral space where participants can freely express themselves is one of the most important tasks. This space should promote openness and invitation without establishing a dominant authority or hierarchy.

The workshop offers an excellent opportunity to explore and deepen the practice of screaming as an artistic expression. This could involve experimenting with different screaming techniques, examining the impact of screaming on the audience, or even exploring the history of screaming expression in art.

Reactions and Further Development:

Some participants reported increased emotional expression and a deeper connection to their own feelings through screaming. Participants also gained a deeper understanding of emotional expression and new insights into the effect of screaming on their emotions. These two types of gains are closely related and can reinforce each other, as emotional experiences often deepen understanding.

This text marks the beginning of a more extensive work, with further workshops and research on this fascinating topic on the horizon.