Philosophy, Dreaming and the Literary Imagination [electronic resource] /
Schrage-Früh, Michaela.author.
This book explores the intersections between dreaming and the literary imagination, in light of the findings of recent neurocognitive and empirical research, with the aim to lay a groundwork for an empirically informed aesthetic of dreaming. Drawing on perspectives from literary theory, philosophy of mind and dream research, this study investigates dreaming in relation to creativity and waking states of imagination such as writing and reading stories. Exploring the similarities and differences between the 'language' of dreams and the language of literature, it analyses the strategies employed by writers to create a sense of dream in literary fiction as well as the genres most conducive to this endeavour. The book closes with three case studies focusing on texts by Kazuo Ishiguro, Clare Boylan and John Banville to illustrate the diverse ways in which writers succeed in 'translating' the experience and 'language' of the dream. .
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents -- Acknowledgments -- 1. Introduction -- 2. 1. Toward an Aesthetic of Dreaming. From Freud to Neuroscience. Evolutionary Perspectives on Dreaming and Waking Fictions -- 3. 2. Dreaming and Waking Imagination. The Spectrum of Imagination. The Dreamer as Author, the Author as Dreamer. The Dreamer as Reader, the Reader as Dreamer -- 4. 3. Dreaming Fictions, Writing Dreams. The Diversity of Dream Types. The 'Language' of Dreams.Translating the 'Language' of Dream -- 5. 4. Conjuring up the Dream: Three Literary Case Studies. Writing a Dream: Kazuo Ishiguro, The Unconsoled(1995) Dreaming of Wonderland: Clare Boylan, Black Baby (1988) Dreaming Up the Past: John Banville, The Sea (2005) -- 6. Conclusion -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index.
This book explores the intersections between dreaming and the literary imagination, in light of the findings of recent neurocognitive and empirical research, with the aim to lay a groundwork for an empirically informed aesthetic of dreaming. Drawing on perspectives from literary theory, philosophy of mind and dream research, this study investigates dreaming in relation to creativity and waking states of imagination such as writing and reading stories. Exploring the similarities and differences between the 'language' of dreams and the language of literature, it analyses the strategies employed by writers to create a sense of dream in literary fiction as well as the genres most conducive to this endeavour. The book closes with three case studies focusing on texts by Kazuo Ishiguro, Clare Boylan and John Banville to illustrate the diverse ways in which writers succeed in 'translating' the experience and 'language' of the dream. .
Aesthetics.
Philosophy of mind.
Literature-Philosophy.
Linguistics
Aesthetics.
Philosophy of Mind.
Literary Theory.
Philosophy of Language.