This research project was heavily influenced by the current available dream influencing material. It seems people are very willing to interfere with their brains to affect dreams today, even though no one is really sure of the real purpose and workings of dreams. Our collective desire to escape bad experiences and manipulate our own bodies and minds to somehow become better made me uncomfortable.
With this project, I wanted to take a critical look at this race to become better that runs so deep into our societies today that allows for physical and mental interference even in areas that science does not understand fully. I wanted to go even further in this direction and develop the idea of influencing dreams through medication and daily rituals. I was surprised with the results.
I developed a sleep ritual, which would bring many elements currently found in pharmacies to put together a deluxe package of random elements that looked good and proposed that people use it for a while. That included vitamin pills, herbal tea, incense, scented candles, gel masks, cough syrup, breathing masks with essences and sleep and meditation sounds on a USB stick.
I created a video infomercial to the product, with alleged testimonials from users. People were gracious enough to provide some feedback to the idea: I have told them about the product and asked for one or two sentences in video as if they were real users.
I also created
a website to host the photo documentation and the video, as if it was a real product on sale.
Experiment
I have done open answers interviews with seven people to assess the impact of the concept and investigate if they would be willing to actually use such a product. Although most people said they would never pay for such a product, I found two people to help test the product. Of all my collaborators, only one man said he would be willing to use this seriously if it was proven it could make him more productive. He is currently studying for a very difficult civil servant exam and is more than willing to try any additive that would make him more focused, smarter or more productive in his studies.
Both participants have found the ritual to be too complicated, with too many elements. However, they said completing it took less time than originally planned. With a bit of organization, it could work for real people looking for better sleep quality, but neither felt they were particularly more productive or focused. The effect was just that of a good night's sleep, nothing further than normal.
A few details about the ritual itself: it was designed to work six days a week, with one "free" day before starting again. It builds on the actions of each day before and requires quite a lot of discipline and dedication. I have read a little about methods for sleeping better and incorporated those simple instructions under the disguise of a complicated ritual. First, setting a daily sleeping routine and going to bed at the same time. Second, preparing yourself to go to bed and turning off computers, telephones and TVs. Third, drinking relaxing herbal tea and exploring simpler versions of meditation methods to fall asleep easier. Nothing of this is world-changing, but people have trouble doing it on a regular basis. If they believe they are following a miracle ritual designed by science, it becomes an obligation and no longer a suggestion. Taking vitamins is also harmless, but the use of placebo medication is well-known to achieve the desired effect if the person taking the medication believes it will help.
In the end, it was about researching sleep techniques and creating an attractive illusion of presentation to engage people in the process. It was an interesting exploratory journey that began with a huge negative critical view and changed into a discovery of existing, real techniques that can positively influence people with a different look. It was also interesting for me to see that people are willing to participate in an unconventional experiment for such a simple thing as a good night's sleep.
Also, it was a rich learning experience for me, personally, to understand better how much our life with gadgets, home working and stress can influence our sleep. And, in turn, how much a good night's sleep can become a magical remedy for lack of focus and productivity.
Special Thanks
Sascha Bachmann
Sarah Oliveira Galvão
Leonardo Galvão
Carol Burnier
Cecilia Cavalieri
Bruno Linhares
Bruno Cardoso
Bruno Varela
Yang Zhong
Anna Lim
João Baltazar