R. von Pnaklendorf
Acolyte
Recently, on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, an aesthetic—or perhaps a cultural movement—known as Dreamcore has emerged. It centers on dreams viewed through liminal perspectives, unsettling imagery, and images that resemble memories whose origin we cannot quite recall. These short videos or clips are usually accompanied by ambient music characteristic of the movement, which by itself conveys a distinctly oneiric atmosphere. Beyond this, they often carry strong messages about the limitations of consciousness, adopting a deeply introspective focus on the human condition, the use of reason, and the ways in which dreams explore trauma and manifest it through images.
I am not sure whether any of you use Instagram—I do, though I do not have TikTok—but even so, I have come across several of these videos, or reels. What they convey resonates strongly with the philosophy of Thomas Ligotti, as well as with his recurring imaginary: puppets, the uncanny valley, madness—it feels strange, unsettling. Yet it is always framed through a dreamlike and introspective lens, approached in an existential manner.
As mentioned, this movement has a clear focus: the exploration of the personal psyche at a oneiric level. It almost never adopts a positive outlook; pessimism predominates, and in some cases it makes striking statements that closely resemble what Thomas Ligotti referred to as “Negation” in The Conspiracy Against the Human Race. The use of AI-generated images and videos has also influenced the liminal imaginary of this movement, further intensifying its sense of unreality and psychological dislocation.
Had you heard of Dreamcore before?
Just as H. P. Lovecraft may have directly or indirectly influenced the thinking of past generations, I feel that, in a similarly indirect way, Thomas Ligotti’s philosophy has influenced contemporary generations. This influence also highlights the current zeitgeist, revealing much about the state of society today.
I am not sure whether any of you use Instagram—I do, though I do not have TikTok—but even so, I have come across several of these videos, or reels. What they convey resonates strongly with the philosophy of Thomas Ligotti, as well as with his recurring imaginary: puppets, the uncanny valley, madness—it feels strange, unsettling. Yet it is always framed through a dreamlike and introspective lens, approached in an existential manner.
As mentioned, this movement has a clear focus: the exploration of the personal psyche at a oneiric level. It almost never adopts a positive outlook; pessimism predominates, and in some cases it makes striking statements that closely resemble what Thomas Ligotti referred to as “Negation” in The Conspiracy Against the Human Race. The use of AI-generated images and videos has also influenced the liminal imaginary of this movement, further intensifying its sense of unreality and psychological dislocation.
Had you heard of Dreamcore before?
Just as H. P. Lovecraft may have directly or indirectly influenced the thinking of past generations, I feel that, in a similarly indirect way, Thomas Ligotti’s philosophy has influenced contemporary generations. This influence also highlights the current zeitgeist, revealing much about the state of society today.
