An extensive new anthology of dream stories gathered from across Europe suggests that the continent's collective subconscious leans towards the mundane and the anticlimactic. Titled 'Dreams in Europe', the book by German playwright and author Wolfram Lotz presents a collection of thousands of dreams, revealing a consistent pattern of narratives that begin with dramatic potential but often end abruptly or shift to more prosaic concerns.
Lotz spent five years meticulously reviewing entries from online 'dream forums' in over 25 European languages, translating them into German and editing them into concise short stories. Despite the diverse cultural and religious backgrounds of the contributors, Lotz noted a striking uniformity in the dreams' narrative structures. He observed that many dreams commence with an element of adventure or a significant journey, only for it to be interrupted, diverted, or simply dissipate without a conclusive resolution.
Illustrative examples from the anthology include a woman who dreams she is responsible for the Holocaust and contemplates elaborate schemes for atonement, only to be distracted by the more immediate concern of a business meeting. Another dream features a woman being pursued by murderers, who then inexplicably settle down with her to watch television. A man's dream of advising President Emmanuel Macron on social policy quickly devolves into a discussion about haircuts and dog training, highlighting the recurrent theme of dramatic scenarios being undercut by everyday details.
Lotz posits that this 'prosaic' quality in European dreams reflects contemporary life on the continent. He suggests that the modern European experience, characterised by accessible healthcare and insurance systems, often resolves potential crises pragmatically, leading to a subconscious less inclined towards grand, unresolved narratives. He notes, "When we fall ill, we go to a doctor who gives us a medicine, and in most cases we soon feel better. Or when someone steals something from us then that may in the past have been the start of a long chase, but today we just call our insurance and that’s it."
The author describes an 'understated melancholy or sadness' permeating these collected dreams, suggesting a broader absence of transcendence in the European mentality. Lotz, an award-winning playwright, chose not to interpret the dreams, instead allowing their inherent lack of conventional meaning to speak for itself. The anthology offers a unique insight into the shared psychological landscape of Europeans, where even the most fantastical subconscious journeys often lead back to the ordinary.