Story & Symbol: The Dream as Personal Myth - Reading and Writing with Freud & Friends
An interdisciplinary class in which we discuss the science, psychology, cultural significance, and artistic uses and potentials of dreams and dreaming.
No'a L. bat Miri
Average rating:
4.7
Number of reviews:(29)
What's included
8 live meetings
12 in-class hoursClass Experience
Rest assured: this is the dreamiest class on all of Outschool! Have you ever had a dream that left you wondering just where it came from? Do you notice that sometimes your dreams feel more real than others, or that you go through periods where they are easier to recall after waking? Is there a dream, or nightmare, that you’re sure you’ve had so many times that it feels like a part of you? Dreaming has provoked the human imagination throughout history and across many cultures, being treated as both prophecy and nonsense, with “dictionaries” of dream symbols having been penned by many. What does science say about why we dream? What does psychology say about what we dream? More importantly, what can the arts teach us about what dreams mean? Join me for an exploration of your wildest dreams, the symbols and stories created in your subconscious, and an analysis of how dreaming has impacted art and human history. We will study: contemporary and classic literature from around the world, including poetry, short fiction, and essays; short films; visual artwork such as paintings and sculptures; music from different genres and eras; the science of why we dream and what variables impact our dreaming; the psychology of dreaming and interpretations of dream symbols from different cultures; the role of dreams in religious and mythological texts; the history of the human understanding of dreaming; what science says about if and how other creatures have dreams; criticism of the use of dreaming as a “cliche” literary technique and how to keep written dreams “fresh” for readers The focus of our craft development will be on: making good use of subplots, exploiting the potential of parentheticals, getting creative with footnotes, and embracing the unseen as an element of our writing Class assignments will include: One essay analyzing the use of a dream or dream symbol in a piece of literature, visual art, or film, plus the learner’s choice of one or more of the following, incorporating a story or symbol from the learner’s own dreams or from a list of common dream themes provided by the instructor: an essay, a short story, a set of two or three poems, a short script for stage or screen. All work will be reviewed by the instructor and returned for revisions. ***It is STRONGLY recommended that learners complete "Story & Symbol 101" prior to this course.***
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Because this class deals with dreaming, and students will be invited to share from their own dreams, there really is no limit on what sort of content might be covered. It's important for people to understand that dreams are not something we choose with our full, regular, socially-aware consciousness, so potentially disturbing things, whether violent or sexual or just plain strange, need to be treated with dignity and objectivity, focusing on story and symbol without casting judgment. Class readings will deal with science, psychology, different religious and cultural traditions, and more. Please make sure that your learner can handle such a wide range of subjects with maturity, and that a trusted adult is available to work through thoughts and feelings that might come up. If your learner has a particular emotional trigger or subject s/he needs to avoid for the time being, this class is not the best choice, and I would recommend that s/he considers a different course in the Story & Symbol series with firmer content.
Supply List
All materials read, watched, or otherwise reviewed for class will be made available through the classroom. However, it is recommended that your learner keep a physical (paper) notebook for the purpose of dream journaling. This should not be more than a few dollars at a stationary shop, pharmacy, or supermarket.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined December, 2018
4.7
29reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
About a year and a half ago, I did something sort of silly. After a lifetime of trying to be smarter, stronger, and more successful, I asked myself what I really wanted to be, and I asked myself what I really enjoyed. The general answer was kindness and laughter, the specific answer was that laughing myself awake was the best thing I'd ever felt. I set out on an adventure, gathering in all of the scientific literature and amassed cultural knowledge we have about dreams, with the odd goal of making mine funnier. In the process of all of these experiments, I fell in love with the dreaming mind, one of the strangest and most beautiful storytellers I've ever met. Reviews
Live Group Class
$360
for 8 classes1x per week, 8 weeks
90 min
Completed by 1 learner
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-18
3-8 learners per class
