THE ROLE OF LUCID DREAMING
IN THE MOVIE FILMS
A Research Paper Presented to
The Faculty of English Resources Center
School of Multimedia Arts
Asia Pacific College
Magallanes, Makati
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Course
ERESWRT - Research Writing
Charlene Marie M. Ronquillo
March 2014
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Lucid Dreaming as everyone knows that it is an illusion that comes
from one' sub consciousness that once a person is aware already that everything
happens is a dream. Lucid dreaming itself can compare in other things that
people do and have in the real state. Likewise, lucid dreaming is a playground
for our minds and experiment things that are not usually happen in one's real
life. It doesn't only fulfill our desires and pleasures but also it may give
people good insights in real life, thus, a reference in our real life and can
be an inspiration in making some things like novels, music or even in making a
story for a movie film.
Every one knows lucid dreaming comes from one's subconscious.
Subconscious is commonly encountered as the unconscious mind which means it is
a part of the brain in which doesn't have focal awareness unlike in the
consciousness part of the brain. People most likely to have dreams as they
sleep but when the time comes that they already know that they are only
dreaming, that's the time in which a person has an access to a higher state of
our self-awareness that comes from subconscious mind.
Rebecca Turner is a long time lucid dreamer and the creator of the
website "World of Lucid Dreaming." In her article, "Lucid Dream
and the Inner Self," she stated that lucid dreaming begins in a simple
realization that the individual is in the scenario of dreaming which awakens
one's conscious part of the brain while the other parts of the body is at rest.
However, what makes lucid dreams different is the fact that these type of
dreams feel real.
Turner says, "Instantly, your dreamworld becomes a living alternate reality, where everything you see, hear, feel, taste and even smell can be as authentic as real life."(http://www.nlp-secrets.com/lucid-dreaming-and-inner-self.php)
Lucid Dreaming feels like an immersive game. Like in every game,
the person can manipulate all the things that he/she wants to change. Every
game has a controllers which is the main character or head in the game with the
help of the game consoles, the game can have a better result that can reach the
satisfactory of the player. Same thing with the concept of lucid dream, an
individual can control the whole scenario that is happening in their dream. The
person who is experiencing lucid dreaming can change anything, change the
emotions over the scenario, having super powers, flirting with someone or even
riding at the back of a dragon can be done. The differences between the two is
that there are no devices that will be used in lucid dreaming. The only thing
which the person is needed to control his/her dream is that first you should be
lucid in your dream of course, and your subconscious.
Tim Post wrote an article entitled "Lucid Dreaming."
There the author discussed that lucid dreaming is like a video game which an
individual can control everything, manipulate every data or everything in
his/her surrounding through some game consoles. But on the other hand, the
author person explained the differences within the literal video game and being
lucid in a dream, the author said that it is easy to access everything in the
lucid dream because you don't have any device that you will use to do things
that can be done in a video game. Meaning an individual who is lucid in his/her
dream is the main superior and at the same time, the main character in the
dream.
As Tim Post said that, "A
lucid dream offers limitless opportunity to gain extraordinary experiences that
are impossible or difficult to gain in everyday life." As the researcher said in her first
researcher statement, that lucid dream has less boundaries than in real life,
you don't have to follow any law or mechanics to have a great game in your
dream. (http://www.lucidipedia.com/lucid-dreaming/)
Lucid dreaming also has connections with Buddhist concepts like
the Maya. Robert Waggoner wrote a book called, "Lucid Dreaming: Gateway to
the Inner Self." In the book it was discussed how illusion and Maya have
the same concept. There the author also mentioned how lucid dreamers, once they
realize the truth that they can build their own illusions, begin making stuff
out of their imagination.
As the author, Robert Waggoner said, "They learn the process of how
they create their own reality, their own Maya.". It only means that people who
experienced lucid dreaming are not aware that they make their own illusions, it
just you can move through it while you decide to make that illusion. (http://books.google.com.ph/books?id=Jquw6rtphG8C&pg=PA110&lpg=PA110&dq=maya+illusion+and+lucid+dreaming&source=bl&ots=vYNhRLdjKV&sig=J1gvo20f_mPRLpug7o4UTPMlmig&hl=en&sa=X&ei=AkM6U7TgIeudiAeh2YD4Bw&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=maya%20illusion%20and%20lucid%20dreaming&f=false)
Lucid dreaming encourages a person to be more creative. When thy
find out that there are no limits to what they can accomplish in their dreams,
they start to imagine more than they usually would. That is why lucid dreaming
is also an inspiration for art. Many movies have featured the concept of lucid
dreaming. Rebecca Turner wrote an article called, "Top 10 Lucid Dreaming
Movies." There the author gives some popular movies that features lucid
dreaming. The author also explains how each movie shows the concept of lucid
dreaming.
As Rebecca Turner said that, "Dream
movies capture the imagination like no other, and take us on a conscious quest
inside the dream world.". And
the researcher agreed with it, because it give not only satisfaction to the
audience but also give more ideas in which people can have a powerful
imagination. (http://www.world-of-lucid-dreaming.com/lucid-dreaming-movies.html)
But with regard to lucid dreaming in movies, the researcher
observes that these movies have very different approaches with regard to lucid
dreaming.
The researcher conducts this study to give you more information on
why and what is the main role of the concept of lucid dreaming in those movies
that you watched which feature it like for example the movie Inception, Matrix and etc.
The purpose of this study is to explain what is the main role of
lucid dreaming in the movie films about it.
B. Statement of the Problem
This study has a goal of answering these question:
What is the main role of the lucid dreaming in some movie films?
C. Significance of the Study
Film Makers/Screen Writers
This research study would be able to
help film makers and screen writers because this study has a connection with
their jobs and other than that, they could gain more fresh ideas on how will
they make another movie that is related to lucid dream and have the public's
eye to that movie.
Psychologists
Knowledge of this study would serve as
a benefit for them to know what is difference between the effect on those
people who always watched movies which has lucid dreaming concepts and to those
people who actually experienced lucid dreaming and for them to be able to give
some reasonable ideas for those upcoming patients who will asked regarding this
matter.
Future Researchers
This study will help future researchers
and serves as a reference to have an added information regarding lucid dreaming
and movies.
D. Scope and Delimitation
Since lucid dreaming has a broad information and it can be an
inspiration in all kinds of form of art because of it's mysticism, this study
will only focus on what is the main role of lucid dreaming in this movie films which
it featured.
This study will no longer discuss the main role of lucid dreaming
in any other form of art except for the movie film. It will only discuss a
subjective field between the lucid dreaming and the role of it in movie films.
E. Methods of the Study
The topic of this study is what is the main role of lucid dreaming
in some movie films that featured it. In order to find the answer, the
researcher found some articles from the website in the internet and read some
topics in the book about it. Aside from that, the researcher watched some
movies regarding about the topic like Inception, The Matrix and The Avatar so
that she can have the full understanding of it. Through all that, the
researcher used the descriptive method since the researcher has a goal of
knowing what is the main role of lucid dreaming in the movie film all about.
F. Definition of Terms
1. Dreams
A
series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during
sleep.
2. Fantasy
The
faculty or activity of imagining things, esp. things that are impossible or
improbable.
3. Hallucinations
An experience involving the apparent
perception of something not present.
4. Illusion
A thing that is or is likely to be
wrongly perceived or interpreted by the senses.
5. Imagination
The
faculty or action of forming new ideas, or images or concepts of external
objects not present to the senses.
6. Nightmares
A frightening or unpleasant dream
7. Scenario
A
written outline of a movie, novel, or stage work giving details of the plot and
individual scenes
8. Subconscious
Concerning
the part of the mind of which one is not fully aware but which influences one's
actions and feelings.
Chapter 2
Discussion
What are the main role of lucid dreaming in some movies?
I. Definition of Lucid Dreaming
The researcher splits the two words so that the readers
can truly understand the meaning of lucid dreaming. Lucid, according to Merriam - Webster Dictionary,"(a) It is an
adjective which means very clear and easy to understand";"(b) able to
think clearly". While the word dreaming,
based on Merriam - Webster Dictionary, "(a) a noun which means a series of
thoughts, visions, or feelings that happen during sleep";"(b)an idea
or vision that is created in your imagination
and that is not real". If the reader will read it clearly, he/she will
observe as the author observes that lucid is an description to have a clear
understanding on what you have and dreaming is a state of having a pictures in
your mind which means when the two words combine
it easily understood that you have a clear understanding
on what you have in your imagination during your sleep. Lucid dreaming is a
kind of dream wherein a person knows that he/she is dreaming. And with
that, a person has the ability to control the things of what will happen in the
next scenario.
The problem in this study is what is the main role of the lucid
dreaming in some movies. So, the researcher listed some popular movies that
featured the concept of lucid dreaming.
II. Movies with Lucid Dreaming Concept
Not all movies in this list directly state that the concept
of lucid dreaming is in the story but when you watch and analyze it, the reader
will realize that somehow, the concept lucid dreaming is present.
A. Inception
This movie is one of most interesting movie for the researcher.
The audience might confused on the story because of many transitional scenarios
and having a thought like "What is really happening in the movie?".
It's normal because just like the researcher, in the first place, the
researcher didn't get what is the point of the movie. But when the
researcher what it all over again, she realized that the movie is pretty cool
awesome. The way the whole production of it makes it more complicated as before
it was aired in the big screen. It is amazing not only because of its effects
but also the content of the story itself.
For those who didn't watched it yet, here's a iceberg for the
readers. This is the story of a man named Cobb who is a corporate raider and
has a work of stealing other ideas by entering in their minds secretly by the
means of a apparatus that one person or more can be inside a person's dream and
interact with each other. The story started when Cobb is hired by the a
powerful billionaire who assigned him to do the opposite thing of what is his
real work; To put a new idea into his opponent's mind, and do it so well
he believes it is his own. Saito, the rich man who hired him, makes an offer
that he can't refuse. So, he decided to make a team for the mission, Arthur,
his best friend and longtime associate; Earnes, a master at description; Yusuf,
a chemist; Ariadne, a new recruit who is a student and a brilliant
architect who is recommended by one of those close relative. The mission seems
complicated in the first place because they didn't know how to start it, but
they make a plan to have a successful mission. But the question is, will the
mission work according to plan and be successful or not? And that's what the
audience should watch it to find it out.
Like what David Denby discussed in the article "Dream
Factory: Inception" in the website of newyorker.com, the director made a science
- fiction thriller that exploits dreams as a vehicle for doubling of action
sequence. Added for that, the movie has a concept of lucid dreaming which the
director gives a different levels of lucid dreaming; deep, deeper, and the
deepest stage in which the audience got more interest to it.
But what is the role of lucid dreaming in this movie?
There in the movie, in able to enter in an individual's dream,
they make an apparatus for them to enter secretly and do what they want added
to that they can also interact together with their own consciousness. The
apparatus made to have an easier access in entering lucidly in another's dream
or bring them into a person's dream.
As the main character Cobb(Leonardo DiCaprio) said in the movie, "We create the world of the dream," and with that the researcher thinks
the author if the story of the movie Christopher Nolan experienced somehow
being lucid in one of his dreams. Because, researcher thinks no one could ever
make a story like this if he/she didn't experienced to be lucid on their
dreams. Because, that simple sentence not only gives a lot of things in
lucid dreamers but also it has a broader meaning that empower our minds and
imagination.(
Another thing that the researcher caught her attention is the
answer of the director of the movie, Christopher Nolan said in an interview
last April 4, 2010 in LA Times with Geoff Boucher, "And the only outlandish idea that the film presents,
really, is the existence of a technology that allows you to enter and share the
same dream as someone else.". Meaning that this movie only
shows that even the existence of both things which are the technology that
people used to have an easy life and the
dreams that people experienced every night have their connection and somehow,
in related to each other. and has a "what if's" that in the future,
this movie can be done in real life. (http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/cinema/2010/07/26/100726crci_cinema_denby)
B. The Matrix (1999)
For those readers who didn't watch it yet, here's a glimpsed. This is a story of a man who is Neo, a software author by the day and a hacker by the night. Neo is recruited by a civil - rebel group specifically the team leader who is Morpheus and the leather - clad who is Trinity to join the rebellion for the freedom of mankind.They explained to Neo that the world that he living and believing in is not true, it is only a computer program that can think and learn which is called a matrix. The matrix is a computer program that creates virtual reality in order to manipulate people after putting them into a deep sleep and become lucid in their dreams, in which most of the people believe that it is the reality. The group also stated that the goal of the group is to crack the framework in order to break the matrix and free mankind. So, after a long explanation of Morpheus on why Neo should join the group, Morpheus offers a two pills, the red and the blue pill, as an options for Neo on what will he do. The options are: continue living in a world that is not real as it looks like or go beyond and find what the truth is. The researcher encourage the readers to watch and find out more on what Neo will choose and what will he do.
According to the article "The Matrix (Wachowski Bros., 1999) as an enactment of Plato's' Allegory of the Cave" of Claire Binnion in the website academia.edu. There the author stated the connections between the famous book of Plato which is "The Republic" and the movie "The Matrix(1999). One of the similarities which is discussed is the ides of not being in control by someone which is present in both things.
But what is the role of lucid dreaming in this movie?
In this movie, lucid dreaming used as a way in order to control people or the whole world. The innovaters create a clone of the world the we are living which is the matrix. The innovaters maked this so that they can control people and do believe that the world that they are living is still true. They put the people into a deep sleep and have a lucid dreaming which is closer to real life so people don't doubt about what place there moving is.
As Neo said to Morpheus in the movie, "Have you
As Neo said to Morpheus in the movie, “ Have you ever had that feeling where you are not sure you are awake or still dreaming?” It’s a kind of question that somehow people can usually ask to themselves every time there having a vivid dream that close to what is really happening in the real world even the researcher that conduct this study. Because sometimes, when people get lucid in their dreams, people recognize these dreams as their real life, because somehow it is closely related to what is happening in real world or the scenario in dream state is better than in their real life so they choose to stay with it.
(http://www.academia.edu/1113241/matrix-platon-article)
With all of that, the researcher conclude that this kind of movie shows the advantages and disadvantages of having an excessive used of technology and several practices of being lucid in the dreams. In which there has a possibility that it will happen near future if people can’t discipline themselves and being control over those gadgets that blinds people ffom what reality is.
Chapter 3
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS
AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary
The goal of this study is to determine what is the main role
of lucid dreaming in some movies.
The researcher used a design which is the descriptive
research method wherein datas and informations that are gathered and used in
this study, are from books and
articles in the internet, were used to answer the question
that is stated. And after all this reviews and readings, the research findings
are the following:
1. Not all movies have lucid dreaming as
their main role in the story. Some of them only feature an iceberg of what
feels like when you are in lucid dreaming
2. Some directors used their personal
experience of being a lucid in a dream as their reference in making a movie
that can have the people's eyes in it.
3. Movies have their different input on how
they will use the concept of lucid dreaming in the story, and in order to have
a twist, writers add some concept and create unusual stuff that people may have interested to.
4. Several movies like Inception and Matrix
which have the concept of lucid dreaming in the story, are those stories that
can create m
Conclusions
The following conclusions that based from the research
findings are drawn:
1. The concept of lucid dreaming can be used in
different kinds of role depending on how the writer or director will do it to
be more confusing to audience.
2. Audience or viewers don’t easily determine what
is the role of lucid dreaming in one airing of it. They should watch it at
least 3 times so that they can truly understand the content well.
3. Not all movies that have connection in lucid
dreaming didn’t have concept of it as
their main point in the story. Some
movies only features an iceberg of it like, what it seems like when a person is
being lucid in a dream.
4. Although most of the people might say lucid dreaming
is harmful for them, it doesn’t have to be that way because in positive ways,
lucid dreamers have their advantages in which they can empower more their
imagination and enable to create some things like stories in movies.
Recommendations
After concluding some points in the study, the researcher hereby
gives some recommendations for the readers.
1. Students who are taking film courses should try
to take the lucid dreaming concept in their stories so that their stories will
come up with a big twist in it.
2. People should watch some movies with lucid
dreaming concept in order to develop thinking skills and gain more information about lucid dreaming in order to understand more further about lucid dreaming.
3. Writers should read this study in order to have
knowledge and reference as they make new stories to be in film.
4. Future researchers should conduct study that has
a connection with lucid dreaming like this, so that people may know further
about the true meaning of what is lucid dreaming is.
Reference
A. Book
Waggoner, R. (2009). Lucid
Dreaming:Gateway to the Inner Self
Moment
Point Press, Inc.
B. Electronic Media
Turner, Rebecca (2008). “ Lucid Dreaming and the Inner Self”
Retrieved last March 24, 2014 from http://www.nlp-secrets.com/lucid-dreaming-and-inner-self.php
.
Post, Tim (2004). “Lucid Dreaming” Retrieved last March 24,
2014
Turner, Rebecca (2008). “Top 10
Lucid Dreaming Movies” Retrieved last March 24, 2014 from http://www.world-of-lucid-dreaming.com/lucid-dreaming-movies.html
.
Denby, David (July 26, 2010). “Drem
Factory: Inception” Retrieved last April 4, 2014
Binnion, Claire (March
26,2003). “The Matrix (Wachowski Bros., 1999) as an
enactment of Plato's'Allegory of the Cave” Retrieved last April 15,2014
from http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/ccb0201.doc.
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