The Paradoxes of the Unconscious: The Algorithm of Dreams in The Film Vanilla Sky

Year 2024, Volume: 12 Issue: 3, 950 - 965

Ece Erol

https://doi.org/10.18506/anemon.1479181

Abstract

Throughout history, the endeavor to explain and interpret the act of dreaming has remained a fascinating pursuit. Various institutions and disciplines from ancient times to the present have contributed to the formation of dream discourse, leaving traces of their cultures. Among these disciplines, psychoanalysts hold a significant place in shaping the concept of dreams. Sigmund Freud interprets dreams as manifestations of repressed desires and unrealized intentions. Conversely, Carl Gustav Jung emphasizes the role of the collective unconscious and archetypes, regarding dreams as important tools for personal development and self-realization. In other words, Jung interprets dreams as expressions of the unconscious. In this context, dreams can be described as sources that open a door to the psyche like prisms shedding light on individuals' subjective states and insights. This study analyzes the 2001 film "Vanilla Sky," directed by Cameron Crowe, through Carl Gustav Jung's dream theorem of free association.

Keywords

Carl Gustav Jung, Dream, Psychoanalysis, Vanilla Sky, Hollywood

Bilinçdışının Paradoksları: Vanilla Sky Filminde Rüyanın Algoritması

Abstract

Throughout history, the endeavor to explain and interpret the act of dreaming has remained a fascinating pursuit. Various institutions and disciplines from ancient times to the present have contributed to the formation of dream discourse, leaving traces of their cultures. Among these disciplines, psychoanalysts hold a significant place in shaping the concept of dreams. Sigmund Freud interprets dreams as manifestations of repressed desires and unrealized intentions. Conversely, Carl Gustav Jung emphasizes the role of the collective unconscious and archetypes, regarding dreams as important tools for personal development and self-realization. In other words, Jung interprets dreams as expressions of the unconscious. In this context, dreams can be described as sources that open a door to the psyche like prisms shedding light on individuals' subjective states and insights. This study analyzes the 2001 film "Vanilla Sky," directed by Cameron Crowe, through Carl Gustav Jung's dream theorem of free association.

Keywords

Carl Gustav Jung, Rüya, Psikanaliz, Vanilla Sky, Hollywood

References

• Adler, G. & Hull, R. F. C. (1983). The collected works of C. G. Jung. New Jersey: Princeton.
• Aymen (2011). The different types of scrying. (erişim: 01.04.2024), https://spiritual.com.au/2011/07/scrying-the-different-types-of-scrying/
• Berge, S. P. (1980). Lucid dreaming as a learnable skill: A case Study. Perceptual and motor Skills, 51, 1039-1042.
• Blass, R. B. (2002). The meaning of the dream in psychoanalysis, New York: University of New York.
• Castle, R. V. (1994). On dreaming mind. New York: Ballatine.
• Corno, D. D. (1982), Dreams and their interpretation in Ancient Greece, Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies, 29, 55-62.
• Doğan, S. (2016). İzlenimcilik’ten Kübizm’e, Aristoteles’ten Aufustinus’a “Zaman”ın değişen yönü, İdil, 5(26), 1623-1644.
• Eranimos, B. & Funkhouser, A. (2017). The concept of dreams and dreaming: A Hindu perspective, The Inernational Journal of Indian Psychology, 4 (4), s. 108-116.
• Freud, S. (1994). The interpretation of dreams. USA: Modern Library.
• Garcia, A. (2020). Specters of critical pedagogy: Must we die in order to survive?. (Shirley R. Steinberg ve Barry Down Ed.), The SAGE Handbook of Critical Pedagogies içinde (ss. 135-157). New York: SAGE.
• Givrad, S. (2016). Dream theory and science: A Review, Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 36(3), 199-213.
• Gülhan, A. (2003). Bitkilerin ışığı. İstanbul: Tilki.
• Homeros. (2019). Odysseia. İstanbul: Türkiye İş Bankası Kültür Yayınları.
• Hughes, J. D. (2000). Dream interpretation in Ancient Civilizations, Association for the Study of Dreams, 10, 7-18.
• Indick, W. (2004). Movies and the mind theories of the great psychoanalysts applied to film. USA: McFarland.
• Jacobson, S. (2023). Freud vs Jung similarities and differences. Harley Theraphy. https://www.harleytherapy.co.uk/counselling/freud-vs-jung-similarities-differences.htm
• Jones, E. (1910). Freud’s theory of dreams, The American Journal of Psychology, 21(2), 283-308.
• Jung, C. G. (1954). The practice of psycotherapy, CW 16. Princeton: Princeton University.
• Jung, C. G. (1975). The archetypes and the collective unconscious. UK: Routledge.
• Jung, C. G. (1978). Psychological reflections a new anthology of his writings 1905-1961. Princeton: Princeton University.
• Jung, C. G. (2021). Rüyalar.(A. Ecdaroğlu, Çev.) İstanbul: Pinhan Yayıncılık.
• Khodarahimi, S. (2009). Dreams in Jungian Psychology: The use of dreams as an Instrument for Research, Diagnosis and Treatment of Social Phobia, Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences, 16(4), 42-49.
• Lear, J. (2005). Freud. New York: Routledge.
• March, J. (2014). Dictionary of classical mythology, USA: Oxbow Books.
• Mattoon, M. (1978). Understanding dreams. Dallas: Spring Publications.
• Pendrick, G. J. (2002). Antiphon the sophist. UK: Cambridge.
• Pigman, G. W. (2019). Concepts of dreaming from Homer to 1800. UK: Anthem.
• Porter, A. (2021). Sigmund Freud: Rüyalar, hipnoz ve psikanaliz hakkında kapsamlı bir rehber (E. Okutan, Çev) İstanbul: İlksatır Yayınevi.
• Reef, C. (2001). Sigmund Freud pioneer of the mind. New York: Clarion.
• Remler, P. (2010). Egyptian mythology, a to z. New York: Facts On File.
• Rountree, C. (2003). Two views of Vanilla Sky, The San Francisco Jung Institute Library Journal, 21(4), 25-43. Sa, J. F. R. ve Fernandes, E. G. (2016). Psicologia analitica e a interpretaçao dos personagens dos sonhos lucidos. Revista de Psicologia, 28(1), 146-152.
• Samuel, A. (2003). Jung and the Post-Jungians. New York: Taylor & Francis.
• Schafer, S. B. (2019). Media models to foster collective human coherence in the psychecology. USA: IGI Global.
• Skidmore, S. (2018). Dream Interpretation: The Next Frontier of Psychoanalysis, Intuition: The BYU Undergratuate Journal of Psychology, 13 (2), s. 1-15.
• Spence, L. (2003). An encyclopedia of occultism. Pennsylvania: Carol Publishing Group.
• Stevens, W. O. (2021). Routledge library editions: Sleep and dreams. UK: Taylor & Francis. (Erişim: 22.04.2024),https://www.google.com.tr/books/edition/_/VYi4swEACAAJ?hl=tr&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj0xJTU3ZuGAxXzgP0HHVNLBr0Q7_IDegQIDxAC
• Swick, L. J. (2014). Incubating, Navigating & Interpreting Sacred Dreams for Spiritual & Personal Growth. USA: Skylight Paths.
• Szpakowska, K. (2001). Through the looking glass: Dreams in Ancient Egypt. K. Burkeley (Eds.), Dreams: A reader on the religious, cultural, and psychological dimensions of dreaming (s. 29-45). Palgrave.
• Williams, S. (2009). The big Picture making sense out of life and religion. USA: Sean Williams.
• Wilson, D. H. (2006). Terminal constructedness and the technology of the self in Cameron Crowe’s Vanilla Sky. Extrapolation, 47(2), 259-279.