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Authors: |
Czegledy, Nina. | |
Title: |
Dream Theories | |
| Keywords: | consciousness, visual preception, dreaming, neurobiological models | |
Abstract: |
From Aristotle to Freud, philosophers, physicians and fortune-tellers have been deciphering and analyzing human dreams. In this century, the debate between content-driven psychological analysis and a neurobiological approach, has never ceased. My presentation investigates current dream theories as related to consciousness, lucid dreaming, visual perception, mental imagery, and creativity. Sorcerers and shamans -long-time avatars of altered consciousness- have always suggested that our firm belief in a stable world is a dream, an illusion, akin to a virtual reality experience. Lately, various scientific theories incorporated some of these assumptions. Interdisciplinary studies include neurophysiological theories by Karl Pibram, neurocognitive models proposed by John Antrobus and various theories based on quantum mechanics. A holograph-like universe has been suggested by David Bohm, where the observer (dreamer) becomes a connected, interactive participant. Early this century, neurobiological investigations were hindered by Freud's legacy. In 1953 the discovery of REM sleep and its correlation to dreaming opened a new era of research. It is only within the last two decades however, that a concentrated effort has been made towards providing a neurocognitive model of dream physiology and a neurobiological infrastructure of dreaming mechanisms. Dreaming is commonly explained as a sequence of chiefly visual, often hallucinatory sensations. Visual mental imagery is defined as seeing in the absence of immediate sensory input and considered distinct from physically present stimuli or perception. Bizarre features of dreaming might be due to unexpected shifts in the visual imagery of the dreamer and have been recently explained by neurocognitive studies of the visual system. The understanding of dreaming mechanisms is dependent on the comparison of waking and sleeping processes. Lucid dreamers are often considered messengers between waking existence and dreaming. What is the significance of different states of consciousness in a "post-biological" era? Does mental imagery -as expressed in dreaming- inform creativity? What can we learn from conscious dreaming? Are dreams connected to virtual representations of ourselves as suggested by Freedom Baird's digital "dream composer"? An examination of these issues might clarify our understanding of the visual perception process relative to dreaming theories. |
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| Czegledy, Nina. czegledy@interlog.com www.interaccess.org/aurora, www.ostranenie.org/cyberknitting An independent media artist, curator and writer, Nina Czegledy divides her time between Canada and Europe. Her latest projects include Art and Biomedicine presentations at CAiiA 1 /2 and ISEA98,the Aurora Universalis collaboration including curating Aurora, an exhibition of electronic art at InterAccess Toronto, Canada. Dreaming Aurora (CD ROM), Aurora Universalis from Lapland (internet presentation) and Triptych (interactive video), are projects in development. Czegledy was currently touring Scandinavia with Kanadians, a current selection of videos and films,participated in the Polar Circuit 2 media residency , she was teaching the Crossing Over Workshop s in Sofia and Novi Sad, curating and programming for Ostranenie97, directing the Performance Bytes, Canada-wide telecommunication project, producing Triptych (digital video) and curating the In Sight , Media Art From The Middle of Europe touring project. Czegledy published in various journals both in North America and her native Hungary. |
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