CultureAugust 16, 2026

dreamscape

DREEM-skayp

Definition

A surreal or fantastic environment, setting, or collection of imagery that resembles the illogical, vivid, or hazy quality of a dream.

Etymology

The word is a compound formed by combining 'dream' (from Old English 'drēam') and 'scape' (a suffix shortened from 'landscape'). It emerged in the 20th century to describe settings that possess an oneiric or hallucinatory quality.

In the news

The article uses the word to describe the intense, nightmarish atmosphere created by David Lynch in his film Wild at Heart. It highlights how the movie blends reality with fantasy to create a surreal cinematic environment.

The Criterion Collection – November 2026 Releases Announced

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The Arts Shelf

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