Symbolic representation of photography in a dream, memory and documentation

Dream Meaning:Photography

Photography is a universal symbol for memory, for documentation, and for the capture of the moment. It connects the feeling of transience with the desire to preserve. Freud interpreted it as a symbol of narcissism, Jung as the archetype of memory, spiritual traditions as a mirror of the soul.

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Dream Interpretation by Freud

Freud interpreted photography as a symbol of narcissism and self-perception (Freud, 1900). Photography represents the desire for self-affirmation.

Taking a photo shows, according to Freud, the desire for documentation. Seeing a photo represents the desire for memory.

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Freud, S. (1900). The Interpretation of Dreams. Franz Deuticke, Vienna.

Dream Interpretation by Jung

Jung understood photography as the archetype of memory, as the tool that captures memory (Jung, 1964). Photography is the symbol of documentation.

Whoever sees a photo receives a message of memory. Jung saw the invitation to explore and preserve one's own memories.

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Jung, C. G. (1964). Man and His Symbols. Doubleday, New York.

Spiritual Interpretation

In spiritual traditions, photography is considered a mirror of the soul, what captures and preserves memory. It is the symbol of spiritual documentation.

Dreams with photography are read as an invitation to explore one's memories and preserve spiritual moments.

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Bulkeley, K. (2016). Big Dreams. Oxford University Press. Fromm, E. (1951). The Forgotten Language. Rinehart & Company, New York.

Cognitive Continuity

According to Domhoff, photography in dreams reflects memory and documentation (Domhoff, 2003). It appears when the dreamer goes through a change.

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Domhoff, G.W. (2003). The Scientific Study of Dreams. APA. Domhoff, G.W. (2018). The Emergence of Dreaming. Oxford University Press.

Neurobiology & Emotion

According to Walker, REM sleep activates visual processing and memory processing (Walker, 2017). Photography dreams arise when the brain links memory with emotional states.

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Walker, M. (2017). Why We Sleep. Scribner. Walker, M.P. & van der Helm, E. (2009). Overnight therapy? The role of sleep in emotional brain processing. Psychological Bulletin, 135(5), 731-748.