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The Sick Child, by Edvard Munch.

Yes, like Joaquin Phoenix, I'm still here.
I've had some health problems from chronic insomnia, and I do apologize, beyond my control. I saw Pina, the Oscar-nominated documentary about the dancer Pina Bausch, and it was amazing. I had high expectations of it, and it blew me away! That is my next post and since I have been so tardy (again, I apologize) I will be diving right into the Edgar Allan Poe for the big opening this weekend! Here is a clip of Emily being buried alive. When writing his stories in real-life, Poe capitalized on the Victorian fear of being buried alive; the fear had become so widespread that people requested having an emergency alert mechanism placed in the coffin with them, should they revive, they could alert someone to their condition (this, of course, is really an inner-fear of being emotionally and psychologically buried alive, expressed in the neurosis of the physical burial):

What other time have we seen a blond buried alive, trying desperately to get out of her coffin? Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill 2. I don't see a direct connection now, but that doesn't mean we won't. You might also enjoy this featurette with the actors interviews discussing the film:

We have seen the Civil War being invoked throughout many films--even Lockout placed an over-sized bust of Abraham Lincoln in the President's office-- and while the events of The Raven take place well ahead of the Civil War, the man being potentially cut in two by the pendulum may reference that idea of the "divided country" depending on who he is and his role in the narrative. Great stuff, but, speaking of the Civil War...

I just couldn't wait until the June 22 release of Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter so I got the book for less than $9.00 including shipping, hardback.  Maybe there is something good about insomnia...