The uncanny (das Unheimliche in German) is a concept developed by the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud (1856-1939). It describes a feeling of malaise or discomfort which is experienced when something familiar has been disturbed. The uncanny puts into doubt our perception of the real world, and explores the zones of uncertainty between dreams and reality, between what is familiar and what is strange, thus raising questions about our understanding of the world. It has often been exploited in literature and art to invoke the affects and hidden aspects of the human psyche.