Dreams: Ideology, Interpretation, Imagination [6-weeks, $180 Suggested]

Instructor: Andrews | Thursdays May 6-June 10 | 8:00-10:00 PM ET

Do you remember your dreams? Do you think they portend the future? Are they telling you a secret hidden meaning about yourself? Do you have big dreams for your future? Why did your high school English teacher keep talking about the American Dream? Were you daydreaming when they did? What’s a daydream anyway? And, really, what does happen to a dream deferred? In the course of 6 weeks, we’ll explore the multiple meanings of “dreams,” as well as theories about their function. What ideological forces do “dreams” as aspirations harness? How did Sigmund Freud develop the idea of the “unconscious” and a come up with a therapy grounded in dream interpretation? Are dreams really liminal spaces that put us in contact with spirits, other worlds, or even the outer possibilities of our imaginations? Or is it all just the random firing of synapses in your brain, completely meaningless?  We’ll explore philosophy, literature, and visual art that draws on dream imagery, while keeping our own dream journals. The class will culminate with an optional writing workshop to explore creative and critical writing that emerges from our reading and discussions. 

Image: Claude Cahun, “Aveux Non Avenus” (1930)

We depend on a mix of direct student donations and supplemental donations to make all classes pay-what-you-can. Please pick the pricing tier that corresponds with your needs and that you are able to pay now. If you would like to pay in installments, make your first payment now and make a note on your check-out form. If you would like to donate more later in the term, you can always come back and use the “Make a One Time Donation” button! To use a full scholarship, just pick the $3 tier to cover site/processor fees. 

If at any point up to 48 hours before your first class session you realize you will be unable to take the class, we will work with you to reallocate your funds to a future class, to another student’s scholarship, or refund it. After classes begin, we are only able to make partial refunds and adjustments.