Danny Uppala

Ms. Lacey
15 March 2015
Draft IV
A Plunge into the Phenomena of Human Dreams
It may come as a shock to many, but modern science still cannot provide a thorough
explanation as to why the human brain dreams and even sleeps. This is one of sciences greatest
mysteries concerning the human brain. The phenomenon of dreaming has captivated the hearts
and minds of mankind since the beginning of time. Dreams are a universal human fascination
and obsession, and the mysterious nature of this enigmatic wonder only adds to its prevalence in
human culture.
Dreaming is such a relatable action due to the fact that every human on earth dreams.
Human spend a third of their life sleeping (Arkin 1978). Some might not remember his or her
dreams; however, everyone does in fact dream every time they enter a period of sleep (Arkin
1978). During this remarkable phenomenon, the human brain can allow the dreamer to enter an
alternate realm of reality. Within this realm, our own conscious is in communication with our
senses and in most cases this is involuntary. With the rare exception of lucid dreaming, the
dreamer is not subject to pick the contents of their dream.
There are many theories as to why the human brain dreams. To this very day there is still
no universal scientific consensus as to why dreams occur. There are many scientific as well as
philosophical hypotheses as to why we dream. The reason there is no universally accepted theory

is due to the fact that modern science simply cannot fully comprehend the capabilities the human
brain. The brain is the most mysterious and complex organ in the human body. Although there
are countless hypotheses, there are a few main scientific theories that many would argue are the
best presumptions as to why the human brain dreams.
One of the most popular theories for human dreaming is that the brain simply needs rest.
Many would argue against this theory due to the fact that during the process of dreaming,
modern technology has revealed extremely high neural activity occurring in the brain (Kai-Ching
2014). A purely scientific approach as to why we dream, which is one that many scientists
accept, is that when one dreams and sleeps, the brain is sorting and associating memories
acquired during the day as well as learning what is important and what is not or forgettable (KaiChing 2014). There is much scientific evidence for this theory, which also leads into a third
related theory. It simply states that the brain, through the process of dreaming, is running
simulations and problem solving strategies before testing out these key actions in the real world
(Kai-Ching 2014). It is fascinating to truly comprehend the power of the subconscious when one
can wrap their mind around the process of the human subconscious brain actually developing the
conscious.
One of the most popularized and sustained theories as to why humans dream came from
Freud in 1900. Freud was the leading expert in the field of human dreaming during his time
period. He believed that dreams are a mental activity that the brain undergoes (Freud 1978). He
believed that dreams give tremendous insight into the subconscious. During sleep, the mind is
disconnected from the outside world however it is still functional. Due to the fact that it is still
functioning, Freud believed that the mind would undergo activity which leads to the process of
dreaming (Freud 1978).

Another theory as to why humans dream is that the human brain dreams to process
painful emotions with symbolic associations. Scientists believe that when we dream we are
running ideas and emotions in a psychological context (Markley 1991). The content of our dream
is therefore symbolic to what emotions we are coping with (Markley 1991). When there is
trauma in ones life then the dream becomes much more complicated; however, when life is
much more simple the dream also becomes much more simplistic. One can determine that there
is a pattern to many of these theories and that pattern lies on the path of the subconscious
fulfilling the desires of the individuals themselves.
Something that most humans innately desire is overall fulfilment in their lives. A theory
as to why we dream is to help us achieve this fulfilment in some type of way. This is actually one
of the more popular and accepted theories as to why humans dream. This theory can also be
attributed to Freuds research. He states that when humans dream, they are fulfilling their
personal desires (Freud 1978). Many would argue; however, do people really desire to have
nightmares? Based on Freuds research, he would contend that even the most terrifying dreams
are still accomplishing the fulfillment of the dreamer. Just because something has elements of
fright, terror, and discomfort, it does not mean that it cannot be beneficial in the long run. This is
a universal life lesson in which most people will come to an agreement.
Nightmares or night terrors are familiar to anyone who has ever dreamed. A nightmare is
a dream that occurs in the REM cycle which creates a frightening experience for the dreamer,
who is often left with emotions of fear, terror, fright, anxiety, and despair (Dream 2015). It is
truly fascinating that our fears of the subconscious mind can affect even our dream projections.
Perhaps nightmares can be attributed to the innate fears that we all have as humans within. Many
scientists agree that, although frightening, nightmares can be beneficial overall to humans.

Scientists and researchers believe that nightmares are the subconscious minds way of making
the dreamer aware of areas of focus and improvement in life (Fireman 2014). They also
illuminate potential dangerous elements that we as humans might encounter (Fireman 2014).
Nightmares are of extreme interest to both scientists and philosophers alike due to the mysterious
nature of the phenomenon. Yet again, the mysterious elements of the dream continue to add to it
allure.
Aside from the countless scientific explanations for dreaming there are numerous
philosophical theories as to why humans dream. One of the most popular philosophical theories
concerning consciousness and dreaming comes from the great philosopher Descartes. The
question that this philosopher based his entire theory on is how can I be sure that I am not now
currently dreaming? He believed that humans cannot trust in their senses in life, without
invoking guidance from a benevolent God (Arkin 1978).
His theory is that everything that we know could be false and be generated from a dream
(Arkin 1978). This is due to the fact that during a typical dream, the dreamer goes through a
situation that is similar to one that is experienced in everyday life. Within this dream the dreamer
does not realize that the experience that they are currently in is a dream. Thus, the experiences
that one has in a dream cannot be differentiated from real life. It is because of these facts that
Descartes believed in his theory.
Another philosophical theory concerning dreams is that when one dreams, the dream
occurs in real time. This means that the dream is not one brief flash and it is approximately
taking place in real time. Proof of this theory can be attributed to the fact that when one
remembers his or her dream they can usually recall points of a dream and may sometimes forget

details in-between these points (Goodwyn 2012). This means that when one is dreaming, the
scope of his or her actions is similar to actions carried out in real life.
There are many theories as to why we dream; however, there is no doubt that dreams are
of much religious significance to many all around the world. Since the beginning of time dreams
have been a means of communication to the supernatural. In many religions, such as Christianity,
dreams have been used as a medium in order for God to communicate with humans. Dreams are
a truly significant part of Christianity and have held many crucial roles that affected the course of
biblical history.
Dreams can be extremely fascinating when it comes to the subject of another reality.
Many would conjecture that dreams are a portal towards an alternate reality. It is true that when
one dreams they are not in our normal reality but they are submersed into an alternate reality
while still being able to perceive that which is immersing them. Perhaps the greatest example of
dreams providing an alternate source of reality can be the subject of those that are blind from
birth. How can someone who has never visually seen the world dream? Many would wonder if it
is even possible for these people to even dream. The facts of the matter are that they indeed
dream.
According to much research done in the field, the blind dream however their dreams
contain little to no visual at all. Their dreams consist of mainly auditory and other senses
excluding visual (Blechner 2013). Although the majority of the blind do not dream visually they
still have similar dream situations to those who have sight. It is truly fascinating to comprehend
the fact that the blind, though lacking a primary sense, still in fact have dreams. One interesting
difference between the blind dreamers and those with sight is that the blind had reported many

more nightmares then those who were not blind (Blechner 2013). Scientists are still researching
as to why this is.
Building on the notion that the blind do not dream visually can lead into another
fascinating topic concerning human dreams. Although dreams can be extremely universal and
have almost limitless content there are limits to dreams. According to The Limits of Dreams by
J.F. Pagel, dreams have limits based on the contents of the dreamers mind. Pagel states Nonperceptual images are two-dimensional neurological pictures presented as a coded threedimensional space. Imagery, thin as thought, lacks some of the vitality and vivacity of waking
visual perception being in comparison thin, dry, two dimensional, and inert (Pagel 2008).
Dreams have been a significant icon in all ages and cultures of mankind since the
beginning. There are few matters that every member of the human race can relate to and this
phenomenon is one of them. Dreams have attributed to beliefs, religions, and lifestyle of almost
every culture on the planet. Even in the modern culture of our very own country, dreams have an
iconic importance. Many would conjecture that the mysterious and enigmatic nature of the
phenomenon is the reason for this iconic status.
Dreams can be found in every aspect of pop culture. Countless movies, books, works of
literature, and music all devote tremendous prominence to the subject of dreaming. Perhaps this
iconic status can be attributed to the mysterious nature of dreams themselves. Mystery in
whatever context is extremely interesting to mankind. There is nothing perhaps more mysterious
then the concept of human dreaming, which would explain the prevalence of dreams in pop
culture.

Dreams can be very useful in screenplay, literature, films, and more. They can completely
take the linier path of a work and completely disrupt its course. When one is dreaming absolutely
anything can take place and many clever creators of art have used the nature of the dream to their
advantage. According to the Limits of Dreams, The dream is a useful vehicle for the
manipulation of time. Time can be expanded, contracted, or reorganized with flashbacks, flashforwards, and dream inserts. If used as an integrated element of memory, the dream can be used
to induce expectations, anxiety, and desire in the viewer. If used skillfully, such a manipulation
can proved insight and clarity (Pagel 2008). These are some of the reasons that creators of pop
culture use dreams so frequently in their works.
Many forms of pop culture have utilized the unique ability of dreams to add to the allure
and artistic potential of the work itself. Some popular examples of the use of dreams in films can
include: Inception, Requiem for a Dream, Pulp Fiction, Minority Report, The Wizard of Oz and
countless others. Inception is one of the more recent popular films which truly use the aspects of
dreams to its advantage. The movie is centered on the premise that the main characters can
penetrate the dreams of others in order to unlock the secrets of the dreamers own subconscious.
The film was a tremendous success and has grossed over $800 million worldwide to this present
day (Pomerantz 2010). It also received many nominations and awards as well as strong positive
reviews from many film critics. The mysterious nature of the dream undoubtedly was the reason
it was chosen as the subject of the entire work; and based on the success of the film, it was the
right decision.
The Wizard of Oz was a film which was made in 1939. The film has become an icon in
the world of pop culture and has been extremely renowned and successful. The film is about a
young girl and her dog, which get sucked away into a tornado and end up in a magical world

where almost anything is possible. At the end of the film the girl wakes up and realizes that she
was having a dream which leaves the audience questing was she dreaming or did her trip to the
magical land take place. The creators of this film were outstanding in creating this classic work
and they did a tremendous job utilizing the mysterious and limitless nature of the dream to their
advantage.
The use of dreams in pop culture does not stop at just motion pictures. There are
countless literary works that utilize the appealing elements of dreams. One of the more popular
authors to use dreams in his works is just as mysterious as the subject of human dreams
themselves, Edgar Allen Poe. One of his more famous poems, entitled The Raven, is a truly
marvelous work of literature. The poem is centered on the cloudy premise of a dream and it is
only through this element that the poem gains all of its allure and its poetic license. The poem is
one of the most popular by Edgar Allen Poe and there is no doubt that the use of dreaming in this
work attributed greatly if not completely to its success and renown.
Although there has been no collective consensus by humans as to why we dream, there
are some things that we all do agree upon no matter where one stands. Dreams are an
inexplicable phenomenon that is shared by absolutely all members of the human race. They are
something that we all can relate to no matter where one is from, what culture, what viewpoints,
and his or her standing in life. The human brain is capable of tremendous marvels and perhaps
science will never truly understand how or why we dream but one thing is for certain. The
mysterious and enigmatic nature of this phenomenon will continue to hold an iconic status
throughout the course of history, and as time continues, these qualities will exponentially add to
its cultural prevalence in the human race.

Works Cited
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Amsterdam: Elsevier/Academic, 2008. Print.
Goodwyn, Erik D. The Neurobiology of the Gods: How Brain Physiology Shapes the Recurrent
Imagery of Myth and Dreams. Hove: Routledge, 2012. Print.
Arkin, Arthur M., John S. Antrobus, and Steven J. Ellman. The Mind in Sleep: Psychology and
Psychophysiology. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1978. Print.
Markley, O.W. "Why Do We Dream?." Whole Earth Review 72 (1991): 10. Academic Search
Premier. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.
Fireman, Gary D., Ross Levin, and Alice W. Pope. "Narrative Qualities Of Bad Dreams And
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"Dream". Encyclopdia Britannica. Encyclopdia Britannica Online. Encyclopdia Britannica
Inc., 2015. Web. 18 Feb. 2015
Calvin Kai-Ching, Yu. "Psychopathological Symptoms As A Function Of Trauma, Dreams, And
Inhibitions." Dreaming 24.4 (2014): 309-322. Academic Search Premier. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.
Blechner, Mark J. "What Are Dreams Like And How Does The Brain Make Them That Way?."
Contemporary Psychoanalysis 49.2 (2013): 165-175. PsycINFO. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.
Freud, Sigmund. The interpretation of dreams. Hayes Barton Press, 1978.

Pomerantz, Dorothy. "DiCaprio To Bank Dreamy Paycheck From 'Inception'" Forbes. Forbes
Magazine, 10 Aug. 2010. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.