History Main / OpinionChangingDream

* The children's book ''JustADream'' is entirely based on this idea. As in the above example, the main character is uninterested in environmentalism until he has a serious of dreams showing what the world might be like if no one took care of the earth.

* Wayne's plan for Waynestock in ''WaynesWorld2'' is the direct result of a dream with Jim Morrison telling him to set up a huge show in Aurora. Others he recruits also mention having the Jim Morrison dream later on.

* Mocked in ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'''s "I'm A Little Bit Country" episode where Cartman acts as if he doesn't care about American history so that he can get into a coma and have an opinion changing dream.
** He also elaborately stages incidents that would render him unconscious so that he can have the educational dream and thereby avoid the bother of actually studying. After many amusing failed attempts, he succeeds.

* In an episode of ''Cosby'', BillCosby's character Hilton Lucas is disinterested in studying WilliamShakespeare, until he has a dream where Shakespeare himself(played by Tom Conti) explains the relevance of his works. One notable CastingGag moment finds Lucas cast in the role of Theatre/KingLear, with Sabrina La Beauf(Sandra from ''TheCosbyShow'') as Gonreil. By the end of the episode he's much more interested in Shakespeare's plays.

* Mocked in ''SouthPark'''s "I'm A Little Bit Country" episode where Cartman acts as if he doesn't care about American history so that he can get into a coma and have an opinion changing dream.

* Subverted in the LooneyTunes short "Pigs Is Pigs", where Piggy is seen eating too much for his own good. When he goes to bed he has a nightmare where a scientist forcefeeds him. Eventually Porky has a BalloonBelly and eats one more piece of food before he explodes. After he wakes up, he still rushes downstairs to continue eating, having learned nothing!
* Another LooneyTunes example, "The Big Snooze" has Elmer Fudd [[NoFourthWall tearing up his Warner Brothers contract]] after being bested by BugsBunny one time too many. Bugs invades his dreams and induces [[DerangedAnimation a truly]] [[WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs bizarre nightmare]] as only BobClampett can produce, prompting Elmer to get back to work.

[[caption-width-right:250:Pay close attention to my preaching 'cause it will change your mind when you wake up!]]
A character is bored or disinterested about learning something. Or he is just completely uninterested in a certain topic and doesn't understand why other people value it so much? Usually it has something to do with history. Or he is just a mean person who doesn't understand why his behaviour is wrong. He is comfortable with his ignorance and just goes off doing banal or evil things. Sometimes he even pokes fun at other characters' seriousness about the topic.

Then he or she goes to sleep and has a dream. Usually [[TalkingInYourDreams some legendary character arrives and provides the person with a lot of background information about the topic]]. Sometimes the dreaming ignoramus is put in the action himself. Now he gains knowledge and enthusiasm about a topic he actually knew nothing about. Or he finally starts to see things from his victims' point of view.

When the character eventually awakes he makes a HeelFaceTurn. He finally realizes the importance of learning math, respect for your country, respect for your ancestors, respect for people he formerly threatened or hurt,... and so on. In most cases he even becomes an vocal supporter of the cause.

This corny plot device was very popular in old educational films and tv series.

When a character actually wishes things to be different, only to find out that life has changed for the worse, you have a BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor. In both cases the character always wakes up, glad that things are just the way they are.

* An episode of ''SisterSister'' ("I Had A Dream" (1998)) features one of the sisters ridiculing the deeds of her African-American ancestors and is reluctant to carry on with her own miserable life. In her dream she is visited by several historical Afro-American characters who all claim they want to give up and do something else. She convinces them to do otherwise and do the historical deed that they are famous for. When she wakes up she respects her ancestors.
* In an episode of ''Cosby'', BillCosby's character Hilton Lucas is disinterested in studying WilliamShakespeare, until he has a dream where Shakespeare himself(played by Tom Conti) explains the relevance of his works. One notable CastingGag moment finds Lucas cast in the role of KingLear, with Sabrina La Beauf(Sandra from ''TheCosbyShow'') as Gonreil. By the end of the episode he's much more interested in Shakespeare's plays.

* In the Pluto cartoon, [[PlutosJudgementDay "Pluto's Judgment Day"]], MickeyMouse punishes [[PlutoThePup Pluto]] for chasing a little kitten. Pluto then goes to sleep and has a nightmare where he is sent to Hell and tortured by several cats. When he awakes he changes his ways and acts gentle towards his feline friends.

* The ''TomAndJerry'' cartoon "Heavenly Puss" shows Tom dying and going to Heaven. There he is told that he should go to Hell, but if he can make Jerry sign a contract of forgiveness he may enter Heaven. Tom goes through great lengths to do so, but in the end he fails and is cooked in Hell. Then it turns out it was AllJustADream and he hugs Jerry to become friends again.

----

When the character eventually awakes he finally realizes the importance of learning math, respect for your country, respect for your ancestors, respect for people he formerly threatened or hurt,... and so on. In most cases he even becomes an vocal supporter of the cause.

* The main character in ''ItsAWonderfulLife'' loses all faith in himself and his life. He dreams that an angel appears to him who shows him that his life has value to other persons. After he wakes up he rediscovers that life has meaning to him and runs off to celebrate it with his family members.

* ''AChristmasCarol'': Ebenezer Scrooge hates Christmas and helping the needy. But after a long dream where he is visited by his late partner Jacob Marley's ghosts and then three more ghosts he changes his character completely and becomes a good person.

* In the Pluto cartoon, "Pluto's Judgment Day", MickeyMouse punishes Pluto for chasing a little kitten. Pluto then goes to sleep and has a nightmare where he is sent to Hell and tortured by several cats. When he awakes he changes his ways and acts gentle towards his feline friends.

* Subverted in the LooneyTunes short "Pigs Is Pigs", where a prototype character of PorkyPig is seen eating too much for his own good. When he goes to bed he has a nightmare where a scientist forcefeeds him. Eventually Porky has a BalloonBelly and eats one more piece of food before he explodes. After he wakes up, he still rushes downstairs to continue eating, having learned nothing!

[[quoteright:233:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/porkysam5xb_4139.jpg]]

* Mocked in ''SouthPark'''s "I'm A Little Bit Country" episode where Cartman acts as if he doesn't care about American history so that he can get into a coma and have an opionion changing dream.

* In an episode of ''Cosby'', BillCosby's character Hilton Lucas is disinterested in studying WilliamShakespeare, until he has a dream where Shakespeare himself(played by Tom Conti) explains the relevance of his works. One notable CastingGag moment finds Lucas cast in the role of KingLear, with Sabrina La Beauf(Sandra from ''TheCosbyShow'') as Gonreil.

* The main character in ItsAWonderfulLife loses all faith in himself and his life. He dreams that an angel appears to him who shows him that his life has value to other persons. After he wakes up he rediscovers that life has meaning to him and runs off to celebrate it with his family members.

* AChristmasCarol: Ebenezer Scrooge hates Christmas and helping the needy. But after a long dream where he is visited by his late partner Jacob Marley's ghosts and then three more ghosts he changes his character completely and becomes a good person.

* An episode of SisterSister ("I Had A Dream" (1998)) features one of the sisters ridiculing the deeds of her African-American ancestors and is reluctant to carry on with her own miserable life. In her dream she is visited by several historical Afro-American characters who all claim they want to give up and do something else. She convinces them to do otherwise and do the historical deed that they are famous for. When she wakes up she respects her ancestors.

* In the Pluto cartoon "Pluto's Judgment Day" MickeyMouse punishes Pluto for chasing a little kitten. Pluto then goes to sleep and has a nightmare where he is sent to Hell and tortured by several cats. When he awakes he changes his ways and acts gentle towards his feline friends.

* The PorkyPig cartoon OldGlory has Porky struggling to get thru the Pledge of Allegiance. He falls asleep and is visited by Uncle Sam who tells him about the American War of Independence. Porky learns the value of American freedom and wakes up. Now he is able to recite the entire Pledge from memory.

* Subverted in the LooneyTunes short "Pigs Is Pigs", where a prototype character of PorkyPig is seen eating too much for his own good. When he goes to bed he has a nightmare where a scientist forcefeeds him. Eventually Porky has a BalloonBelly and eats one more piece of food before he explodes. After he wakes up, he still rushes downstairs to continue eating, having learned nothing!

* The TomAndJerry cartoon "Heavenly Puss" shows Tom dying and going to Heaven. There he is told that he should go to Hell, but if he can make Jerry sign a contract of forgiveness he may enter Heaven. Tom goes thru great lenghts to do so, but in the end he fails and is cooked in Hell. Then it turns out it was AllJustADream and he hugs Jerry to become friends again.

* Mocked in SouthPark's "I'm A Little Bit Country" episode where Cartman acts as if he doesn't care about American history so that he can get into a coma and have an opionion changing dream.

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<<|Dreams|>>

Then he or she goes to sleep and has a dream. Usually some legendary character arrives and provides the person with a lot of background information about the topic. Sometimes the dreaming ignoramus is put in the action himself. Now he gains knowledge and enthusiasm about a topic he actually knew nothing about. Or he finally starts to see things from his victims' point of view.

<<|{{Plots}}|>>

Then he or she goes to sleep and has a dream. Usually some legendary character arrives and provides the person with a lot of background information about the topic. Sometimes the dreaming ignoramus is put in the action himself. Now he gains knowledge and enthusiasm about a topic he actually knew nothing about.

When the character eventually awakes he finally realizes the importance of learning math, respect for your country, respect for your ancestors,... and so on. In most cases he even becomes an vocal supporter of the cause.

A character is bored or disinterested about learning something. Or he is just completely uninterested in a certain topic and doesn't understand why other people value it so much? Usually it has something to do with history. He is comfortable with his ignorance and just goes off doing banal things or even pokes fun at other characters' seriousness about the topic.