HUM 102 Module Four Project Draft Template

Complete this template by replacing the bracketed text with the relevant information.

Part One: Choose the Creative Works

1. Visual Arts: Edvard Munch (1893), “The Scream”

2. Literary Arts: Sylvia Plath (1963), “The Bell Jar”

3. Describe the value of the diverse perspectives demonstrated in the chosen creative works.

The creative works of Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” and Sylvia Plath’s “The Bell Jar’ provides

a deep explanation about the story to the human experience creating a mental anguish, personal

identity and social pressures.

Edvard Munch’s The Scream was the iconic painting that captured a moment of existential

dread, where the whole story revolves around the central figure that seems to reverberate

throughout the landscape. The value of this perspective lies in its ability to bring abstract

emotions for example fear and anxiety into a visual form. “The Scream” does not just depict a

singular emotional experience but invites reflection on how society in general fails to address the

mental health struggles of an individual.

Sylvia Plath, “The Bell Jar” offers an intimate portrayal of mental illness through the lens of

Esther Greenwood, a young woman struggling with depression and the senses of her health.

Plath’s exploration of mental health, identity and gender roles reveals the inner battle of someone

trapped in a world of expectations. The perspective values lies in its honest portrayal of

complexities of mental health and illness, in the context of women. “The Bell Jar” encourages

the readers to empathize with a character caught between personal desires and social limitations

bringing an understanding on how mental illness can worsen the cultural expectations.
 4. Describe potential biases and assumptions present in the creative works in relation to the

topic.

On the Visual Arts the way Munch visualizes the figure’s internal turmoil might be influenced

by is own experiences with isolation, anxiety and social alienation, which may not fully

encompass the diverse experiences of mental illness or emotional distress across different

cultures.

While emotions are certainly widespread, the assumption that these feelings look or feel the

same across different individuals or cultures would overlook how mental health is experienced

and interpreted differently around the world.

Literary Arts: Sylvia Plath, “The Bell Jar”, is biases that it’s rooted in her personal experience

with mental illness and social expectations. This can create a potential bias in how the story

presents the mental health struggles of Esther Greenwood. The story focuses on the middle class

of women in 1950s however, this narrows perspective that overlooks the major factors like race

and sexuality intersect with mental illness. One of the major assumptions of the “The Bell Jar” is

that the experience of mental illness is tied to the external pressure placed on women in the

society.

Part Two: Self and Society

1. Describe how the creative works create meaning surrounding the topic.

Both the visual arts, “The scream” and the literary arts, “The Bell Jar” are profound examples of

how meaning surrounding complex themes of mental illness, individual identity and emotional

distress can be conveyed through visual arts and literature.

use of bold, expressive lines, distorted figures and exaggerated colors. Through a combination of

expensive techniques, symbolism and the use of color, composition and form, Munch effectively

communicates the feelings of anxiety, existential dread and fear. The color evokes a sense of

urgency, chaos and emotional intensity. The figure appears to be both experiencing and

expressing terror. In summary, “The Scream” creates meaning through its expensive use of

color, form, symbolism and its emotional charged atmosphere.

Literary Arts: Syvlia Plath. “The Bell Jar” creates meaning surrounding the mental illness,

identity and social pressures through the character of Esther Greenwood and her inner narrative.

The Bell creates a central metaphor in the novel, symbolizing Esther’s sense of suffocation, and

the disconnection from the world around her. “The Bell Jar” creates meaning by illustrating the

complexity of mental health and its connection to identity and social expectations. In summary,

the novel’s vivid portrayal of Esther’s mental breakdown and recovery process invites readers to

explore their own experiences with mental health and self-identity.

2. Describe how the creative works have impacted society’s perception of the topic.

Both the creative works, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath and The Scream by Edvard Munch have

impacted the society’s perception and shaped the cultural understanding, providing the

complexities of the human experience.

Sylvia Plath (1963), The Bell Jar is a novel that explores the life of Esther Greenwood, a young

woman struggling with mental illness. This novel has an impact on how the society views mental
health, especially on women mental health. The novel’s examines the pressure placed on women

to conform to traditional roles such as being a perfect daughter, wife and mother escalated with

the feminist movements of the 1960s and 1970s. The Bell Jar continues to be cornerstone text in

feminist literature, offering readers a nuanced exploration of identity, mental illness, and

struggles women face in a patriarchal society.

Edvard Munch (1893), “The Scream” is the iconic images in art history. The painting depicts a

figure standing on a bridge, screaming as they appear overwhelmed by the sense of panic. The

impact of the scream to the society helps in understanding the art and the human emotion. It

challenged traditional artistic representations of reality by focusing on internal emotional states

rather than external, physical representations of the world. The image’s pervasive influence can

be seen in various forms of popular culture, from films and literature to advertisements and has

become a symbol of the human condition in the modern era, helping to normalize conversation

around emotional vulnerability, mental health and anxiety.

In conclusion both The Scream and The Bell Jar have a significant effects on the society’s

perception of the arts. Together, these culture have revolved around the cultural conversation

mental health, emotional vulnerability and the personal identity.

3. Describe how the creative works might be perceived by different groups of people.

The perception of the Edvard Munch, “The Scream” and the Sylvia Plath’s, “The Bell Jar” can

diversely vary depending on the experience of the group, their backgrounds and the level of

understanding.
a. Sylvia Plath, “The Bell Jar”

i. Feminists can view The Bell Jar as an important literary work that advocates on the struggles

and challenges related to women by the society. The novel interprets Esther’s struggle as a direct

commentary on the stifling roles assigned to women. Feminists see The Bell Jar as a critique of

these limiting norms that reduce women’s worth to their ability to fulfill these traditional roles.

ii. Mental Health: These advocates may appreciate the novel for helping normalize discussions

about the mental health and for being one of the first to depict mental illness. The novel through

the Esther’s struggle with severe depression and her eventual breakdown, helps to destigmatize

the conversation around mental health providing important way into the emotional and

psychological challenges faced by those dealing with mental illness.

b. Edvard Munch, “The Scream”

i. The public generally may be evoked by The Scream’s emotional responses. It is widely

recognized and seen as a symbol of panic. The image has become iconic in popular culture, for

example in advertising, which dilutes its original intent but also expands its reach.

ii. For the mental health professionals and psychologists, The Scream is powerful visual

representation of existential anxiety, psychological distress and the emotions that can accompany

mental health crises. The figure in painting is often seen as isolated and disconnected from the

world around them, which symbolizes the feeling of alienation many individuals with mental

health issues experience.

topic.

Both Sylvia’s “The Bell Jar” and Edvard, “The Scream” have a big influence on how society

understands and emphasize with the mental health topic. By exploring the Esther’s psychological

struggles, The Bell Jar helps the readers to see beyond the symptoms of depression and

understand deeper the feeling of being trapped in one’s own mind.

Normalizing with emotional stress, the novel explains the depression as something that affects

anyone, regardless of the success and appearance.

Esther’s struggle encourages the readers to emphasize with someone who is struggling with

depression, making his or her experience of mental illness more manageable and

accommodative.

The raw and the emotional impact of The Scream evokes a strong emotional response from the

viewers. This helps those with fear, anxiety and helpless efforts to feel a deep connection to the

figure’s emotional experience.

The Scream invites or advocates the viewers to reflect on and discuss the nature of emotional

distress and mental health encouraging empathy toward those who experience similar emotional

struggles and challenges.

In summary, both The Scream and The Bell Jar emphasize the isolation that often accompanies

mental illness. Esther’s alienation in The Bell Jar and the figure’s sense of disconnection in The

Scream demonstrates how mental health struggles can lead to individuals to feel cut off from the

world around them. By humanizing the experiences of those affected by mental health
conditions, both works inspire understanding, reduce stigma and encourage greater empathy for

those who are suffering.

5. Explain how the creative works encourage critical thinking regarding the topic.

Both works of creative, provokes a deep reflection and critical thinking about the complex nature

of mental health. Both works pushes the readers and viewers to engage with the challenges and

struggles more analytical level, prompting critical thought about both individual and responses to

mental health.

The Bell Jar advocates and encouragers the readers to critically examine how external

expectations particularly those related to gender roles, social conformity and family dynamics

can impact the individual’s psychological well-being. Esther’s encounters with psychiatric

professionals, who often appear dismissive and uninformed, makes readers critically to consider

whether the psychiatric system is focused on true healing or is more concerned with conforming

individuals to societal norms. The novel encourages readers to critically examine how rigid

gender roles and the pressure to conform to societal ideas can negatively impact an individual’s

mental well-being.

The Scream encourages the viewer’s to explore the psychological depths of emotional distress

and not only as a personal experience but also as a shared human phenomenon. It invites the

viewers to consider how existential questions such as the search for meaning and fear of life’s

uncertainties affect our metal well-being. Viewers should be able to ask, what is the role of

modern life in fostering these feelings of alienation and anxiety? The Scream can be interpreted
as a reflection of the figure’s internal emotional chaos, suggesting the complex relationship

between one’s inner psychological state and the external world.

In conclusion both The Bell and The Scream foster critical thinking about the mental health by

presenting mental distress in ways that are layered, multifaceted and complex. They challenge

societal norms, question the treatment of mental illness and invite viewers and readers to

consider mental health not just as a clinical issue but as a deeply human experience shaped by

social and emotional factors.

References

Plath, S. (1971). The Bell Jar. Harper and Row

Munch, E. (1893). The Scream [Painting]. National Gallery, Oslo.

Smith, J.M. (2004). Gender and Mental Health: The role of societal expectations in shaping

women’s psychological well-being. Journal of Feminist Psychology, 12(3), 123-134.

Taylor, L. B. (2016). The symbolism of mental distress in The Scream and its connection to

modern depictions of anxiety. Art and Psychology Journal, 22(4), 44-58.