Recognition of Dreams as a
Contemporary Cultural Expression
Olaf Gerlach Hansen,
Copenhagen, Denmark, has an MA in Philology and Linguistic
Psychology. His postgraduate studies were in the Psychology of
Dreams. Since 1998 he has been Director General of the Danish
Center for Culture and Development, a governmental organization.
He was host of IASD’s 2004 conference in Copenhagen.
Abstract
Dreams and dreaming are
contemporary and universal cultural expressions. The study of
dreams is–in comparison with the study of other cultural
expressions–not socially valued whether at national level or in
international co-operation. The dominant discourse still tends to
regard the study of dreams as a sectarian cultural expression
belonging to a “new age” ideology developed in the West, or as an
expression of folk culture or indigenous cultures–which is either
dying or under transition.
The
pure and applied study of dreams is not recognised in the same way
as studies of other contemporary cultural expressions. One example
is that the studies of music, literature and visual art are all
given higher recognition in educational and cultural policies and
support systems across the world. Other examples are the studies
of media and religions, which have built vast organisations and
educational and cultural support systems around them.
This
presentation discusses strategies for better social recognition of
dreams and dreaming. The discussion includes an introduction to
the “Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity
of Cultural Expressions”, which was adopted by 148 countries in
favour in UNESCO October 20, 2005 and its relation to dreams as a
cultural expression. The discussion will also discuss how to put
the case for dreams and dreaming in education as a way to
implement “quality education”, which is the current key focus in
the global strife for “Education for All”. Finally the discussion
also seeks to discuss some practical steps worth considering in a
strategy.
Reference list
(1) Convention on the
Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions,
please see:
http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.phpURL_ID=11281&URL_
DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
(2)
On the Education for
All Global Monitoring Report 2005 – the Quality Imperative, please
see:
http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=35939&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
