David Lynch

russell dame (russell@mail.ttlc.net)
Wed, 21 Apr 1999 23:38:30 -0400 (EDT) 

I agree with what you're saying and I think that there's a lot of merit to the participatory aspect of readership/viewership. However, I think the key is that the reader creates Part of that writing. It's extremely liberating to step from under the yolk of objective interpretation; I think when a work becomes completely subjective, as I'd argue Lost Highway is, it runs the risk of being nothing at all, though. LH, like his other films, is an Experience, but I think Lynch showed too much talent a long time ago to settle for that. Still, Laura's quote "I'm gone, James. I'm gone; gone, like the turkey in the corn. Gobble. Gobble," is one of the most chilling scenes, again for me - getting back to that subjectivity you so rightly pointed to, in any medium. Thinking about it now makes me want to suffer through Fire Walk With Me all over again. You're right; Lynch always gives you food for thought. At his best, though, he's a complete filmmaker. I think I'm sounding like someone who would argue against Seymour: A

R


How very true. I think it was once I learned to embrace this idea that 
           writing is communication and therefore a participatory rather than passive 
           activity, and that every reader of your writing is in essence creating a 
           part of that writing themselves, my writing *really* kicked into high gear.

           It's true, it's a little like art appreciation, you can run away from, say,

           Abstract Expressionism (or any form of abstraction) for a long long time, 
           but if you stop and let it offer you its merits you can learn a lot more 
           than simply shutting your eyes and walking the well-trod path. In fact, I 
           think it's pretty essential in understanding Salinger's fiction and going 
           beyond the obvious questions of setup, conflict, climax, resolution, or 
           what have you. And it's *absolutely* essential in watching `Lost Highway', 
           but if you can get past the initial reaction of `what the hell was that???'

           it'll give you food for thought for days. 

           (damn it, now your messages are doing the Invisible Ink thing too! I must 
           check my settings here on this clunky ol' computer) (: 

           Camille