The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters (Reminiscence)
The theme of the dualism of dreams and reality is intricate and requires further clarification. Goya's interpretation calls for the vigilance of the mind to restrain obsessive fantasies that take hold when consciousness is weakened during sleep. In a dream, logical thinking is suspended, and the imagination takes control, creating seemingly alien and dangerous outcomes. This artistic allegory argued for the authority of common sense, a perspective that may have been reasonable in the 17th-century Enlightenment. However, contemporary neuroscience and psychiatric discoveries present a more nuanced understanding.
The narrative power of dreams is well-acknowledged, ranging from spiritually uplifting beliefs to insights into the inner self. Dreaming often involves deeply immersed in the events experienced, with limited power to manipulate them or maintain wakeful awareness. Lucid dreaming, where one is aware of being in a dream, offers a unique opportunity to study consciousness. The ability to attend lucidly to an experience as a dream raises questions about the boundaries of such a state of mind.
Despite extensive research and discoveries, the cognitive purpose of dreaming remains unclear. While dreams can reveal imaginative realities, the challenge lies in remembering or extracting these revelations upon waking. Despite numerous well-documented cases, dreams remain as enigmatic as ever. The significance of being able to witness imaginative realities while dreaming, only to forget or be unable to extract such insights in the morning, remains a puzzle in the realm of consciousness.
(Title Rus.) Сон Разума Рождает Чудовищ (реминисценция)
Software used: 3ds Max®, Adobe Photoshop®, Adobe Illustrator®, Photo Stock
George Grie, September 2017
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The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters (Reminiscence) surreal dreams