The Philosophy of David Lynch (The Philosophy of Popular Culture)

From his cult classic television series Twin Peaks to his most recent film Inland Empire (2006), David Lynch is best known for his unorthodox narrative style. An award-winning director, producer, and writer, Lynch distorts and disrupts traditional storylines and offers viewers a surreal, often nightmarish perspective. His unique approach to filmmaking has made his work familiar to critics and audiences worldwide, and he earned Academy Award nominations for Best Director for The Elephant Man (1980), Blue Velvet (1986), and Mulholland Drive (2001). Lynch creates a new reality for both characters and audience by focusing on the individual and embracing existentialism. In The Philosophy of David Lynch , editors William J. Devlin and Shai Biderman have compiled an impressive list of contributors to explore the philosophy at the core of the filmmaker's work. Lynch is examined as a postmodern artist, and the themes of darkness, logic, and time are discussed in depth. Other prominent issues in Lynch's films, such as Bad faith and freedom, ethics, politics, and religion, are also considered. Investigating myriad aspects of Lynch's influential and innovative work, The Philosophy of David Lynch provides a fascinating look at the philosophical underpinnings of the famous cult director. Introduction / William J. Devlin And Shai Biderman -- The World Of David Lynch. The Owls Are Not What They Seem: The Logic Of Lynch's World / Robert Arp And Patricia Brace -- Intuition And Investigation Into Another Place: The Epistemological Role Of Dreaming In Twin Peaks And Beyond / Simon Riches -- The Horrors Of Life's Hidden Mysteries: Blue Velvet / Sander H. Lee -- The Thing About David Lynch: Enjoying The Lynchian World / Russell Manning -- The World As Illusion: Rediscovering Mulholland Dr. And Lost Highway Through Indian Philosophy / Ronie Parciack -- Selfhood And Subjectivity: The Existential Drive Toward Self-understanding. All Roads Lead To The Self: Zen Buddhism And David Lynch's Lost Highway / Mark Walling -- City Of Dreams: Bad Faith In Mulholland Dr. / Jennifer Mcmahon -- Constellations Of The Flesh: The Embodied Self In The Straight Story And The Elephant Man / Tal Correm -- David Lynch's Road Films: Individuality And Personal Freedom? / Richard Gaughran -- Lynch's Zarathustra: The Straight Story / Shai Frogel -- The Self Confronts The World: Issues In Ethics, Society, And Religion. There's A Sort Of Evil Out There: Emersonian Transcendentalism In Twin Peaks / Scott Hamilton Suter -- In Heaven Everything Is Fine: Erasing Traditional Morality / Jason Southworth -- The Monster Within: Alienation And Social Conformity In The Elephant Man / Shai Biderman And Assaf Tabeka -- Prophesies, Experience, And Proof: Philosophy Of Religion In Dune / William J. Devlin. Edited By William J. Devlin And Shai Biderman. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. From his cult classic television series Twin Peaks to his most recent film Inland Empire (2006), David Lynch is best known for his unorthodox narrative style. An award-winning director, producer, and writer, Lynch distorts and disrupts traditional storylines and offers viewers a surreal, often nightmarish perspective. His unique approach to filmmaking has made his work familiar to critics and audiences worldwide, and he earned Academy Award nominations for Best Director for The Elephant Man (1980), Blue Velvet (1986), and Mulholland Drive (2001). Lynch creates a new reality for both characters and audience by focusing on the individual and embracing existentialism. In The Philosophy of David Lynch, editors William J. Devlin and Shai Biderman have compiled an impressive list of contributors to explore the philosophy at the core of the filmmaker's work. Lynch is examined as a postmodern artist, and the themes of darkness, logic, and time are discussed in depth. Other prominent issues in Lynch's films, such as Bad faith and freedom, ethics, politics, and religion, are also considered. Investigating myriad aspects of Lynch's influential and innovative work, The Philosophy of David Lynch provides a fascinating look at the philosophical underpinnings of the famous cult director. -- Publisher Copyright page ......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgments ......Page 8 Introduction ......Page 10 "The Owls Are Not What They Seem" ......Page 16 Intuition and Investigation into Another Place ......Page 34 The Horrors of Life's Hidden Mysteries ......Page 54 The Thing about David Lynch ......Page 70 The World as Illusion ......Page 86 All Roads Lead to the Self ......Page 104 City of Dreams ......Page 122 Constellations of the Flesh ......Page 136 David Lynch's Road Films ......Page 152 Lynch's Zarathustra ......Page 168 "There's a Sort of Evil Out There" ......Page 184 "In Heaven Everything Is Fine"......Page 198 The Monster Within ......Page 216 Prophesies, Experience, and Proof ......Page 234 Contributors ......Page 248 Index ......Page 252 University Press of Kentucky Copyright page 5 Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 Introduction 10 "The Owls Are Not What They Seem" 16 Intuition and Investigation into Another Place 34 The Horrors of Life's Hidden Mysteries 54 The Thing about David Lynch 70 The World as Illusion 86 All Roads Lead to the Self 104 City of Dreams 122 Constellations of the Flesh 136 David Lynch's Road Films 152 Lynch's Zarathustra 168 "There's a Sort of Evil Out There" 184 "In Heaven Everything Is Fine" 198 The Monster Within 216 Prophesies, Experience, and Proof 234 Contributors 248 Index 252 ISBN,9780813129914,(alk.,paper),—,ISBN,9780813133966,(ebook) ISBN 9780813129914 (alk. paper) — ISBN 9780813133966 (ebook) Essayist, social critic, poet, "mad farmer," novelist, teacher, and prophet: Wendell Berry has been called many things, but the broad sweep of his contemporary relevance and influence defies simple labels. With his unique perspective and far-reaching visi