Kate Berlant: Art, Psych, and the Collective Unconscious in new movie DREAM SCENARIO

Apr 11, 2024

VIDEO

Art Credit: Jano Tantongco, jano.tantongco@gmail.com

AUDIO

How do dreams intrude upon our Psyche, our roles in others’ lives, and our societal identities?

“Dream Scenario” is a thought-provoking new film that explores the uncanny power of the collective unconscious to shape culture and be shaped by it. In the movie, Nicholas Cage’s character Paul mysteriously starts appearing in others’ dreams across the globe. He grapples with the fear of being randomly celebrated by the collective and later demonized. Kate Berlant’s role in the film and insights into Jungian analysis and dream interpretation launch our conversation into the growing presence of Jung’s insights in art and film. We explore the effect of instant and unwarranted celebrity through social media and the power of archetypal roles to change the actor and activate the collective. Kate reveals her personal connection to analytical psychology and the path her inner work has taken her.

We are all powerfully affected by our dreams and the dreams of others. Dreams serve as a mirror, reflecting the depths of our unconscious and revealing truths about our inner selves and external perceptions. They offer a unique window into the complex interplay between the individual and the collective.

Art and dreams emerge from the same substrata of the unconscious, and their images move seamlessly between the two realms. The act of creating art, whether through film, comedy, or other mediums, is deeply intertwined with exploring and expressing unconscious material, serving as both a reflection and an exploration of the myriad ways our inner worlds manifest. The intersection of art and analytical psychology offers insights into the human psyche and creative expression, demonstrating how deeply our dreams and artistic endeavors connect to our search for meaning.

We all coexist in a shared psychological field, the collective unconscious, a concept introduced by Jung. It is a reservoir of shared experiences, symbols, and archetypes inherited from our ancestors and common to all human beings. When an individual captures the attention of the Collective, archetypal forces are set in motion, compelling them to change in complex ways. Exploring the archetypal roles we embody in dreams and life can illuminate our deepest fears, desires, and the psychological field shared by society. It reveals universal themes that unite and divide us. The influence of celebrity and public persona on an individual’s self-identity is significant, often blurring the boundaries between personal reality and societal projection. This underscores the power of public perception in shaping our understanding of ourselves.

Even as the unconscious can punish us, it can also protect us. Cultivating a benevolent relationship with the unconscious is quickly done through disciplined methods. Engaging with one’s dreams through practices like dream journaling can lead to meaningful self-discovery and personal growth, allowing individuals to delve into the unconscious and emerge with a richer understanding of their motivations and fears.

The fascination with and pursuit of fame reflects a more profound quest for recognition, validation, and understanding within the collective human experience, driving individuals to seek out and navigate the complex dynamics of visibility and anonymity. Technology, mainly through social media, challenges our relationship with the unconscious by saturating our lives with curated images and narratives that shape our dreams and desires, altering the landscape of our inner lives in unprecedented ways.

HERE’S THE DREAM WE ANALYZE:

“I’m a passenger in a moving car. The driver notices that we are going through a bad area and begins to close the car windows with a second layer of window, a dark armor that comes standard in these future cars. She was closing the windows when I realized it was too late to close mine. A young boy comes through the still-open gap in my window. He lands on my lap and has a metallic stick that’s like a toothbrush, but instead of bristles, it has spikes. This is part of a scam that’s known in this future environment. These spikes will be used to poke me, to infect me with something horrible. If I am so scared that I open the door to eject this child, people are waiting outside to attack our vehicle and hurt us all in ways that could be even worse. Even in the dream, I begin to ponder what infection in my past led me to this sad life where I’m about to be infected. The past and future are jumbled. If I had made better choices, could I have lived better? Could I have been a better person? I see all of my missed opportunities, and it’s as if I accept that my life was already infected before I face whatever infection will come of these spikes, but I won’t open the car door.”

LEARN MORE ABOUT KATE AND HER UPCOMING SHOWS HERE

UNLOCK THE SECRETS OF YOUR DREAMS:

Dream School provides a gently paced program with live interactive webinars, an uplifting online community, thought-provoking audio modules, and guided journaling to deepen your experience. Lisa, Deb, and Joe crafted the program with you in mind and companion you through the process. “Step-by-step, we’ll teach you how to interpret your dreams.” Join the revolution of consciousness! Join Dream School and Transform Your Sleep into the Greatest Adventure of Your Life: LEARN MORE