Dreams and Such

I have recently decided that there should be rules about dreaming, which also made me ponder dreams and the whole point of them.

As many of us are aware of, because of SCIENCE, dreaming is the brain's way to safely put us in different situations without harmful consequences (well okay, there can be harmful consequences but I'll get to that in a minute). Now, when you think of this certain possibilities come to mind, like jumping off a building, going around town naked, swimming endlessly without oxygen (one I've had a lot), etc. etc. But dreaming also enables the brain to put us into situations that could be more emotionally scaring then physically, a line that is exceptionally thin because dreams can be emotionally scaring depending on the subject matter. You might experience a dream with a lover you have not considered, a devestating fight with someone you care about, witnessing the death of a loved one, or maybe it's simply replaying a tramatic experience.

Technically the brain is testing out these ideas, it's sort of going "How would we handle XYZ if it happened?". The problem here, is that the brain can be bad at figuring out that a certain topic might be emotionally scaring just from dreaming about it. And here in lies the problem, and a story (though very brief).

Almost a year ago I dreamt of finding my best friend dead on my driveway, covered in blood. I'll assume that my brain was pondering "What if we lost the person most important to us? How would we cope?". Needless to say, it was very tramatic for me. I believe I woke up screaming.

The image of that dream continues to replay in my mind almost a year later, the thought repeating over and over again.

Sometimes dreams can be a bit of a warning, but only if you're aware of the possibility that what happened in your dream might actually happen. Now, said friend lives in Europe so it isn't likely to happen,  but I suppose the possibility of his death is there *knocks on wood, doesn't want to put it out there*

Just last night I had another one of those line-crossing dreams, and as someone who is tortured by her own brain quite often, I'd like it if sleeping were safe. Now, on to the rules.

It would be nice, in my opinion, if we could make rules for our brain for dreaming. Like, you cannot bring up the following topics. Do not even make this a possibility in my head. Stuff like that. But discussing something with one's subconcious is kind of difficult, a non-accessible part of our brain.

So.....Thoughts? Anything you'd like to say to your brain NOT ALLOWED?

Hitchcock (and Scathach) on Fear in Film

The Love of Horror

"Fear, you see, is an emotion people like to feel when they know they're safe"
---Alfred Hitchcock


I think what this quote says is so true. Fear isn't something welcomed when one's safety is compromised. However, when one is safe, fear is an exhilarating emotion that gives a brilliant adrenalin rush. This is why we see the existence of roller coasters - the thought of death feels imminent, yet you are safely tucked away under belts and steel bars.

And of course, this is why horror films and novels are such a success. Murder, pain, terror, these are subjects strange to talk about, yet are tantalizing to view on the big screen. I don't know why people are like this. Why do we find these subjects so interesting?

Maybe because we have this urge to know what hasn't been told to us. What's under the sheet? Behind the curtain? In the crate? In fact, I think it was Hitchcock who said something like there is nothing more frightening than an unopened door.

This, my dear readers, is where horror films have changed. In Hitchcock's day, horror was exhibited with mystery. We weren't told in The Birds, for example, why they attacked people or what happened to the small town of Bodega Bay. The thought that the birds may still be on their rampage is much more frightening than the truth that was so cleverly left out.

Today, horror is shown by the display of pure terror or gruesome images. In the film Panic Room, we know exactly what's happening within the rest of the house. We know where the robbers are and what they plan to do, and this creates horror by the terrible thought of being trapped in your own home, with no way of calling for help.

Horror films, for me, and I think everyone, are a guilty pleasure. Like a thick, dark slice of chocolate cake, we know it's not good for us, but it's oh so good.

~ScathachWarrior

PS: Let me know your opinions on fear and the ever popular "scary movie".