Does David Lynch consider his own films to be science fiction / fantasy?

Does David Lynch consider his own films to be science fiction / fantasy? - Shallow Focus Photo of Stormtrooper

I have just seen both Eraserhead and Mulholland Drive for the first time. Both films contain elements that would be traditionally classified as "science fiction" or "fantasy", but these elements are generally unexplained in the script and could also be considered more hallucinogenic or dream-like.

I know Lynch famously hates being pressured to confirm a specific interpretation of his films, and I suspect he'd be generally uninterested in the question of whether particular scenes "really happened" or not within the context of the world depicted.

But has he ever spoken about what genre he considers these films to be in? Specifically, has he ever addressed whether he considers his harder-to-classify films (i.e. not Elephant Man or Dune) to be science fiction or fantasy?



Best Answer

Lynch himself, as I see it, takes great pride in the fact that his films are not of specific genre. In many interviews[1] he implies that not only the meaning of his films are up to the interpretation of the viewers, but probably the genre also. It depends on the meaning that you, as a viewer, give to the scenes you see in his pictures, to interpret whether this is science fiction, drama or just a visual representation of one of Linch's dream or hallucination.

[1] for example -




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Why is fantasy not science fiction?

Science fiction often takes place in a dystopian society sometime in the future and contains elements of advanced technology. A fantasy story, on the other hand, is usually set in the fantasy realm and includes mythical creatures and supernatural powers.

Is science fiction a subset of fantasy?

The technical definition of Science Fiction is as a subset of Fantasy. Fantasy in common use, however, has become a term for settings that (any one or more of): lack modern technology. have magic.

Where do I start with Lynch?

Where to Start with David Lynch
  • The Elephant Man. The Elephant Man Review. ...
  • Blue Velvet. Blue Velvet is the first of Lynch's bizarre mysteries \u2013 it starts with Kyle MacLachlan and Laura Dern acting as amateur detectives after MacLachlan's character discovers a severed ear in a field. ...
  • Twin Peaks.




IL CINEMA DI DAVID LYNCH: TRA INCUBO E SOGNO




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