Across the Aesthetics of Dreams: from Autocreation to Proto-Art

Resumo

This paper explores the relationship between dreams and the realms of aesthetics, creativity and the arts. It examines how the philosophies of dreaming and creativity intertwine, demonstrating how dreams parallel various art forms—from painting and literature to film. Analysing dreams and nightmares as narrative creations of the mind, this study highlights their influence on fantasy and horror genres. A threefold categorization of how artists have historically interpreted and represented dreams is proposed, illustrated through key examples from their oeuvres. These artistic engagements, combined with the aesthetic appreciation of actually experienced auto-creative dreams, significantly advance the philosophical understanding of oneiric experience. Ultimately, this study positions dreams as both a form of proto-art and a root of aesthetic inspiration, introducing «natural surrealism» as a framework to conceptualize their creative nature. This investigation thus offers a comprehensive overview of the aesthetic dimensions of dreams, stressing their potential to enrich creative practices.

Keywords: dreaming, sleep, aesthetics, art, creativity.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21747/21836892/fil42a8