The Uncanny (Sigmund Freud)

"The Uncanny," a concept by Sigmund Freud, refers to feelings of discomfort or eeriness caused by something familiar that has become strange or unsettling. It occurs when everyday experiences or objects evoke subconscious fears or repressed thoughts, blurring the line between the known and unknown. For example, a toy doll that looks almost human can evoke uncanny feelings because it triggers subconscious associations with life and death. Freud suggests that the uncanny reveals hidden anxieties about mortality, the unconscious mind, or aspects of ourselves that we find disturbing yet familiar.