Tuesday, April 2, 2013

What Are Dreams?: Nova - Emily Kalshoven


I watched the documentary “What Are Dreams?: Nova” which basically explored everything that anyone has ever said about dreams. At the beginning of the documentary, they present the argument of whether dreams are the nonsensical byproduct of a sleeping brain or rather a window into our unconscious mind. The main argument of the film is that, yes, dreams are complicated, complex windows into our minds and much of what occurs in our dreams has significance in our lives, one way or another. The documentary shows how the dreams must have a purpose based on how they impact our sleeping and waking lives, and explore why mother nature provided all of these different factors that allow dreams to occur for us (paralysis, different stages). The film grasps attention most largely at the beginning of the film by having people of all ages speaking of some of the weirdest dreams they’ve had in their lives, and sort of acting them out. This appeals to pretty much everyone because we’ve all had those weird dreams that freak us out and we’ve never really understood. They then ask questions that make you want to know the answers to the questions about dreams that they answer later in the documentary. The film appeals to logic by providing facts, statistics, various tests that make logical sense to those watching. The film develops its argument of dreams holding significance by walking through different areas of the brain and different ways that dreams impact daily lives. The film even claims that nightmares, which generally have an emotional impact on people,  are significant in what they show and teach. I am very convinced of the film’s argument. I have always found it hard to believe that dreams hold no value, so it is interesting to see the various ways that dreams have been proven to have purpose.

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