In the article "The Meaning of Dreams," author Bert States challenges the idea that dreams can readily be translated into meanings. The author also challenges the random vs. meaningful dichotomy that has long defined psychologists and philosophers who are interested in dream interpretation. Instead, States proposes a distinction based on order and disorder. Dreams themselves, he believes, are meaningful, even if the disorder makes them seem random. Instead of interpreting the images and events of dreams into universal meanings, as Sigmund Freud did, States believes that the dreams are the meaning.
             The author's formulation is a useful critique of works on dream interpretation, many of which underestimate the role of cultural differences in their quest for universal meanings. Freudian psychologist, for example, would tend to see a dream of dolphins swimming through the water as phallic objects, signifying sexual desire. In Japan, however, dolphins symbolize fidelity, so a dream of dolphins for newlyweds is seen as an omen of a long, happy marriage. This example illustrates the difficulty of creating an encyclopedia of dream meanings that encompass the human experience.
             Furthermore, States' line of reasoning contributes greatly to the debate regarding dream interpretation. He is right in asserting that the random vs. meaningful divide is not an adequate framework for interpreting people's dreams. His formulation also highlights the weakness of focusing on overt or covert meanings, on what dreams signify. In a way, his arguments have much in common with media theorist Marshall McLuhan, States bring attention to the act of dreaming itself. It is not the perceived message that is the heart of the matter, for the interpretation of the messages can differ according to individual background and experience. Rather, the fact that we dream is itself meaningful.
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