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| David Lynch |
This
summer I taught a course about your work, which was offered to students
at the University of Central Florida through the School of Visual
Arts and Design. There were 50-60 students in this class, most of
them in their twenties, some of them film majors, some not.
I
gave them an optional assignment to write a short note to you
containing a question or comment about your work. I explained that I
would write a letter to you including some of those questions and
comments. Almost everyone responded.
Most
of the students expressed great admiration for your work. Many asked
about your sources of inspiration. There were also many inquiries
about whether you are planning to make another film and, if so, what
it would be about.
Of
all your films, Eraserhead
received
the
strongest response in these
notes.
“It's
one of the most memorable films I have ever seen,” wrote a student
named Maelynn Perez. “I don't just remember the visuals and sound,
but my horror.” Another student, Asa Gentry
wrote, “Eraserhead got
under my skin. For days after viewing it, I reassessed my life
choices and considered changing my major. It reads to me as a
testament to all the things we can't control in life and the ways in
which we try.”
Here
are some of the questions my students asked in their notes:
“Do
you want your audience to discover or fully understand the symbolism
in your films?” (from Spencer Card)
“I
noticed that you have a strong fascination for 1950s
culture...Knowing that you were raised under the influence of the
decade, what aspect of that culture do you admire the most?” (Paul)
“How
would you change Dune,
given the chance? I loved it, BTW.” (Kevin Morris)
“How
do you know where to place the camera?” (Alex Mierisch)
“What
appealed to you about pursuing The
Straight Story,
considering that the
plot was drastically different from the high-tension films you
previously created?” (Karli Windischmann)
“Is
there a dream film project you would like to make?” (Wade Burkett)
“Are
you interested in the interpretations/theories that fans come up
with, with regard to the plots of your films? Would you prefer that
they accept them at face value or do you enjoy the discussion?”
(Alexandra Christman)
I'd
like to add that we had extraordinarily spirited and, I think,
insightful discussions after your films.
I
know you are busy, but even a word from you would mean a lot to my
students.
Jay
Boyar
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