"The Uncanny" is a concept that describes feelings of unease or discomfort when something familiar is presented in an unfamiliar or distorted way. This term was popularized by the German psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud in his 1919 essay, where he explored how the familiar can become unsettling. Examples include dolls, robots, or even certain artworks that evoke a sense of eeriness. The uncanny often blurs the line between reality and the surreal, making people question their perceptions. It can be found in literature, film, and art, where characters or situations evoke both recognition and fear. Works by Edgar Allan Poe and Alfred Hitchcock often illustrate this theme effectively.