Journal Entry #2

http://archive.sensesofcinema.com/contents/directors/02/lynch.html

In Thomas Caldwell's essay "The Evil That Men Do" he tries to examine what the overall theme seems to be in most of David Lynch's film work. The esteemed director was once asked what this exact theme was in his paintings and films and he replied that instead of being interested in global issues, he was concerned with what happens in the surrounding small communities because "home is a place where things can go wrong." Although Caldwell briefly notes that Lynch himself had an unstable childhood because of moving around a lot, the author of this essay quickly moves away from this point and rightfully focuses on the films themselves.

"Eraserhead" is somewhat of an exception as it was Lynch's first major feature and therefore, quite personal given the time it was made. The film reflects Lynch's disgust for the industrial/violent climate of Philadelphia as portrayed by the decaying setting the story takes place in. We also see his anxieties of becoming a father manifested in the deformed baby monster. "Blue Velvet" is an examination of a patriarchal society and its violent underbelly. "Lost Highway" and "Mulholland Drive" deal with characters who create illusions to escape from the reality they cannot bear, like Fred creating the character of Pete Dayton to avoid the realization he has killed his wife in LH or Diane's misguided interpretation of events in MD that eventually leads to her killing her female lover.

Caldwell goes on to summarize the article and Lynch by stating that "...Lynch's films are tragedies about the overwhelming tendency for people to condemn themselves to a world of darkness and confusion, by succumbing to violence and the desire to control others." I guess the only thing I can offer as to how I personally relate to Lynch's films is that even though I may not exactly understand what is going on in his films, the stories, tone and atmosphere he portrays is very identifiable to things I've experienced in my own life. I've felt the disgust of industrialization and anxiety of parenthood like in "Eraserhead." The late-night debauchery in "Blue Velvet" is something I've seen firsthand while growing up in small Mid-Western college towns; drinking, drugs, sex and violence. And perhaps my own misgivings in these areas have led me to create a false reality or rationalization like the characters in "Lost Highway" and "Mulholland Drive." All I know is that the surreal symbolism and other techniques used by David Lynch in his films have shown to be something that I can identify with and that to me makes Lynch and his work relevant.