ABSTRACT

Director David Lynch is best known for films that channel the uncanny and the weird into a distinct "Lynchian" aesthetic, in which sound and music play a key role: Lynch not only writes his intended sounds into the script but also often takes on the role of creating the sounds himself.

This concise study explores what makes Lynch’s sonic imprint distinct, breaking down three different sound styles that create Lynch’s sound aesthetic across his films. Showing how sound offers new insights into the aesthetic and narrative work of Lynch’s filmmaking, this book highlights new dimensions in the work of a key American auteur and deconstructs the process of building a unique sound world.

chapter 1|22 pages

The Sound World of David Lynch

chapter 2|35 pages

Sound Design

chapter 3|11 pages

Diegetic Music

chapter 4|18 pages

Non-diegetic Music

chapter 5|10 pages

Voice