Sleep Well Tonight

[dotinthesky]

The writer Dennis Cooper asked people some time ago to submit dreams to his blog. These would be passed on to Bernard Welt, someone who specialises on dream interpretation.

I submitted this dream.

This is what he had to say about it:

The dreamer and his friend represent two styles of dealing with conflict—and I would guess that the emphasis on the official sanction for the fights indicates the kind of actual life conflict the dreamer has in mind. The dreamer experiences a scene that is unpleasant—being victimized—but when it comes to the strategy of standing up to the bully on the approved way, he cannot see the scene; it is elided — what some of you theoryheads would call a lacuna. It is instead envisioned as catastrophe — the desert scene — with the dreamer’s state of mind seen as animals fleeing, and a final image of the brave friend defeated.

This reminds me of dreams that essentially weigh the possible consequences of imagined courses of action, based on scenarios from the dreamer’s past — or maybe imagination.

From Dennis Cooper's blog.

Comments

[wwidsith.livejournal.com]

Very interesting. Does it strike you as true? I was always told that what matters in interpreting dreams is not so much what happens as how you feel about it, what your emotions are. I've been keeping a dream diary for a couple of years though - I love it.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I personally don't agree with it. I take a very Jungian view of dream interpretation, so the female in my dream is my anima (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anima_(Jung)) rather than a different style of dealing with conflict. I also agree with you that it relies heavely on the dreamer himself/herself and how they feel about it. However, what he said about the important scene missing - the jump to the outcome - was very interesting... I hadn't thought about that! It has certainly given me some things to think about.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

So what made you decide to keep a dream diary? (I have one too by my bed, thanks to desayuno_ingles)

[wwidsith.livejournal.com]

It was just one of those things (like starting a blog) to try and get me into the habit of writing every day.

I love it because it's so like automatic writing - I'm still half-asleep as I reach for the biro. Sometimes even reading something from a day ago, it seems like it was written by someone else.

[suede.livejournal.com]

didnt know you liked cooper!
its so cool to be on his blog!!

which cooper's book have you read? any you want to recommend?

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I've only read one of his books (lent to me by my landlady, who nearly did her PhD on him!) I quite enjoy his blog; I keep going back to it for its many fascinating rabbit holes...

Which ones of his have you read?

[suede.livejournal.com]

i have just read 3: frisk, closer and guide.
guide was so funny with many brit pop references.

which one have you read?

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I can't remember for sure but I think it was Frisk. Is that the one with close parallel's to Columbine?

[suede.livejournal.com]

Columbine? The high school masacre?
hmm no, thats not frisk, maybe its another one i havent read.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I'll double check and get back to you.

Of those three, which one did you like the best?

[suede.livejournal.com]

I liked the 3 of them, but guide was funnier because it's a bit biographical and blur and menswear references on it are funny.
Well, alex james hated it because he's the object of some disgusting cooper fantasies :D

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm, that's going straight to my wish list. :-)

[suede.livejournal.com]

haha as soon as you read it tell me what you think about it!

[naturalbornkaos.livejournal.com]

I think that might've been "My Loose Thread"?

Cooper's writing gives me the creeps. "Frisk" was a bit of an inspiration for "Filth Kiss" purely in that it showed that there's no such thing as going too far...

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I didn't know you read Cooper! Which ones of his can you recommend? I think my landlady has almost all of his books; I'll see if I can borrow some from her.

[naturalbornkaos.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I'd 'recommend' any of the ones I've read. They're not exactly enjoyable experiences, but they're certainly interesting and original. If you've not read "Frisk", it's a good place to start. It's pretty horrific in parts though.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to remember which one I read... I've had a look in Amazon but none of them seem to fit the description. I'm pretty sure it was about a teenager who was playing a school mass murder, ala Columbine.

[rag-and-bone.livejournal.com]

i like that he says you don't see the fight but experience a natural "catastrophe."

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Are all fights catastrophes, natural, or both?

[rag-and-bone.livejournal.com]

both? all of the above? i hate fighting.