Sleep and Folklore in Popular Culture

by Dr. Franziska Kohlt

It’s easy to dismiss dreams as “just dreams”—incoherent visions, disturbing, odd images that don’t really mean anything much. But in stories, myths, and fables, dreams are vital. They’re often used as a literary device to provide insights and foreshadowing. Through the dreams in stories, we get to the heart of deep philosophical, scientific, and religious problems. Dreams allowed writers to transcend boundaries and confront things otherwise off-limits.

In this eye-opening six-part series, Dr. Franziska Kohlt looks at the concept of dreams through the lens of the stories that feature them. You’ll visit the enchanted slumbering land of Sleeping Beauty and the dark and mysterious realm of The Sandman. You’ll explore the ironic dreaming devices of Slaughterhouse-Five; the trippy, fantastical world of Alice in Wonderland; and many more on the quest to deconstruct the symbolism and intent of the dreams that are part of the narrative—or even, in some cases, that are characters in the narrative.

Join Dr. Kohlt in exploring your favorite books, stories, comics, and myths, and gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of them by shining on a light on the parts of the tale that happen in the dark.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Psychology, Folklore, History, Mythology, Education

Audible Audio

First published September 29, 2022

Reviews

[Grace Arango · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lets just say this proved to be a helpful source of research for my novel...

[Alannah Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Sleep and Folklore in Popular Culture by Dr Franziska Kohlt. It was such an interesting and unique listen that blended folklore, psychology and cultural analysis in a way that felt both accessible and thought provoking.

What stood out most to me was how the course explored familiar ideas about sleep such as dreams, nightmares and sleep paralysis through the lens of folklore and storytelling. It made me think differently about things we often see as purely scientific or biological, showing how deeply rooted they are in cultural beliefs and history. I found the connections to modern popular culture especially engaging, as it helped ground the material in something recognisable and relevant.

The lectures were clear and well structured, and I appreciated how each topic built on the last. At times, I did find certain sections a little repetitive or slower paced than I would have liked, which is the main reason this is a four star rather than a five star for me. However, overall it was still a really compelling and worthwhile listen.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in folklore, psychology or the cultural meanings behind everyday human experiences. It is one of those courses that leaves you noticing things differently long after you finish it.

[Cassandra Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Series of lectures. Some interesting facts and thoughts.

[Ronald Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve had a long-standing interest in dreams as someone who had recurring nightmares and night terrors. Over the course of my life, I realized that I began to devalue my dreams and the content in them. This book reminded me of the reasons I used to pay attention to them and make an attempt to decipher them in an attempt to get to know my inner landscape all the more.

This short audiobook from the great courses is a nice way to get your feet wet, and get the wheels turning and thinking about dream symbolism and how it works its way into the fiction that inspires and is inspired by real life. If you have an interest in any of this, I would definitely recommend it

[teacupsandunicorns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating study on dreams, the history of how people from different time periods and cultures view/interpret dreams, how important dreams are to not just brain health but emotional and spiritual health. Also a fascinating look at how dreams are portrayed in folklore, stories, media, entertainment, and dream symbols (like the forest, the fae/fairies).

[NaTaya Hastings · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short but very interesting read. I've been studying mythology, folklore, fairy tales, etc. my entire adult life, and much of my non-adult life. So it didn't provide me with a lot of new information. Even so, It was very well done. If you're just starting to dabble in this area, I think it would be a very good jumping off point

[Edie Kennard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sleep and Folklore in Popular Culture by Dr. Franziska Kohlt is a fascinating deep-dive into the shadowy space where dreams and storytelling collide, earning a solid 4/5 for how thoughtfully it pulls apart something we usually shrug off as meaningless. Across six engaging parts, Kohlt moves effortlessly from the eerie stillness of Sleeping Beauty to the unsettling presence of The Sandman, weaving in works like Slaughterhouse-Five and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to show how dreams act as gateways to deeper philosophical and emotional truths. What makes this series stand out is how it treats dreams not just as narrative tricks, but as essential tools that let writers explore taboo ideas, existential fears, and hidden desires. It’s smart without feeling dry, and insightful without becoming overly academic, though at times it can lean a bit heavy on analysis when you might just want to linger in the mystery. Still, it’s an eye-opening, slightly hypnotic journey that leaves you looking at stories—and your own dreams—with a new sense of curiosity.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This lecture series from the Great Courses provides an interesting, sometimes rambling, exploration of the role of dreams in human culture. Dr. Kohlt shows us how dreams have always played a role in our existence and have had a significant impact on psychology, mythology, folklore, literature, and popular entertainment. The work of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung get covered, as do seminal stories such as Dante’s Divine Comedy, Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman, Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five, and Lewis Carrol’s Alice in Wonderland. At just over three hours, Sleep and Folklore in Popular Culture is merely an introduction to a much larger subject, or series of subjects.

The contents:

Introduction
Lecture 1: Myths and Origins
Lecture 2: Pilgrimages and Magic Forests
Lecture 3: The Golden Age of Dreams
Lecture 4: The Sandman’s Uncanny: Dreams and Psychology
Lecture 5: Worlds Beyond: Visions in Altered States
Lecture 6: Transmediated Sleep: A New Age of Dream

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[Image: Book Cover]

Citation:
Kohlt, F. (2022). Sleep and folklore in popular culture. Audible Originals, LLC. https://www.audible.com/pd/Sleep-and-...

Title: Sleep and Folklore in Popular Culture
Author(s): Franziska Kohlt
Series: The Great Courses
Year: 2022
Genre: Nonfiction - Folklore and literary studies
Length: 3 hours and 11 minutes
Date(s) read: 8/17/24 - 8/18/24
Book #162 in 2024
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[Chris Howells · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was brilliant! I have kept a dream journal for a while now, a friend recommended I do one and it has helped me a lot. This lecture series, although not a self help course, opened my eyes to the importance of dreams in our cultural history. I don't want to seem poo faced about it, because this is a very entertaining listen and like all good teachers Dr Kohlt simplifies her subject without patronising or loosing anything. Brilliant and I cannot recommend this enough. And being free to members is a very nice added bonus.

[Blair Hodgkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of this lecture series is grounded in psychological studies (as you would expect) and that is not exactly my strength. I suspect there is much therefore that was beyond my grasp, but there were some excellent examples in popular culture that illustrated the lecturer's points, so my time was not utterly wasted. It was enjoyable romping through the dream worlds of many authors and filmmakers.

[Cristiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first three lectures are interesting enough, but the last three are a rambling mess. The audiobook deserves 3 stars, but I was tempted to give only 2 because it is unbelievable and unacceptable that a scholar may mispronounce Carl Jung's family name (particularly after pronouncing perfectly well words like "unheimlich" etc.).

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting series of lectures. I like how they look at dreams not just in terms of myths and legends but in terms of modern media as well. I listened to the audio version and I found the narration was good though she seemed to struggle at times.

[John Remedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A broad overview of dream mythology, folklore, fairytales and its frequent appearances in popular culture.

Read by the author, and for the price of free-on-Audible this was an interesting and informative way to spend any evening.

[Mikkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty neat book actually

[Tillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

These lectures hit several of my niche interests (personal and academic) and it was really enjoyable how the connections across time and space through literature were made!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of the more engaging Great Courses titles I've ever heard. Glad it was free through Audible Plus.

[G. Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version, and the content was good, which gets the four stars, but in the version I listened to the narration was hesitant and stilted, which I'm afraid distracted me

[Asami · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting, but I thought this lecture series was just okay.

[Adri G.M.]

DNF @ 30%

[Marialena Prapa · Rating 4 out of 5]

very interesting

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not finish this book. I think the title is deceptive - it should reference dreaming, not sleep. The author talks about dreaming and the imagery of dreams through literary history.