MbShea@PWP@English@UMCP

Abstract: In the following series of blog posts, I attempt to connect surrealist themes with the significance of dreams in three popular cinematic works: Game of Thrones, Inception, and Alice in Wonderland. Too often do viewers of popular TV shows and movies acknowledge the importance of dream sequences without understanding the surreal influences behind these plot choices. Throughout history, mankind has questioned the meanings of dreams. Ancient Egyptians believed that dreams served as messages from the higher beings, while the Greeks believed that priests helped interpret dreams from the gods. Don't you wonder whether objects and interactions in your dreams are symbolic and representative of real life? Surrealism looks at the intersection of dreams and reality. In order to guide viewers in grasping the implications that dreams have for our favorite characters such as Bran, Jon Snow, and Cobb, I will bridge this gap and allow you to understand the purpose behind dreams in the shows. If you are interested in any of these shows, reading these blog posts will allow you to draw interesting conclusions, such as possible deaths of major characters, or meanings behind prophecies. As an intense fan of these cinematic works as well as art history, I can offer valuable insight into the relationship between these two subjects. This insight can help you infer what certain elements in Game of Thrones, Inception, and Alice in Wonderland truly mean and represent.

WC:233

Reader profile: a casual TV fan that doesn't necessarily wonder what dreams mean in the cinematic works.

Reader response: I really like watching these movies and shows, but surrealism seems like a boring and complicated topic. The word itself strikes fear in my heard, and has given me nightmares ever since I learned about it in high school art class. But wait, here it talks about Jon Snow and how he....Hm. I think I will spend a couple of minutes reading this blog post. Well, here it mentions Bran's dream and how that connects with the prophecy I remember hearing about in Season 2. That makes sense, but maybe the prophecy means that Bran is the one who will save the 7 kingdoms from the White Walkers. Huh. I think I will continue reading.

A,

I like your reader's response. You might find a way to suggest that knowing about surrealism will deepen a fan's pleasure at viewing these stories, as well as discussing them with others.

Be sure to give a lay-oriented reader-friendly definition about surrealism early on -- do not get too captive to the higher ed/high brow version.

One way to do this might be to think of synonyms for surrealism or even art examples. Perhaps, we are more used to surrealism in visuals. This helps set you up for the dream sequences.