Themes in Blue Velvet - 3149 Words

Exploring the Dark Side: Contrasting Themes in Blue Velvet The subconscious psyche is one of the most fascinating and almost completely inexplicable aspects of human behavior. Even more intriguing than merely the subconscious is the notion of a darker, more repressed side that many individuals refuse to acknowledge exists within them. In David Lynchs film Blue Velvet, the director attempts to explore the psyche of a young man named Jeffrey Beaumont, most notably the clash between his darker side and good side for the first time in his life. Using themes that sharply contrast one another, Lynch provides insight into the character of Jeffrey and the struggle that he is faced with. Jeffrey is in a transitional period of his life,†¦show more content†¦Lynch chooses to use such stark contrast in an effort to establish not only the differences in ones perception, but of the psyche as well. The opening sequence is used by Lynch as a metaphor for Jeffreys state of mind throughout the entire film, as Jeffrey realizes he has a dark side yet is trying (most of the time) to suppress it. The town of Lumberton, like Jeffrey, is an idealized version of what America and Americans should be like and yet, much like Jeffreys mind, it is full of dark secrets and contradictions. One aspect of Jeffreys psyche being explored is the notion of his battle between innocent love for a young girl and the animalistic lust he possesses for an older, more mature woman. The good or innocent side of Jeffrey is personified in the character of Sandy. Sandy is often depicted wearing light colors, with blue eyes and perfectly brushed blonde hair. When Sandy is first introduced into the film, she enters through utter darkness, stepping out of the shadows and into the light in a medium shot. Lynch follows this up with a long reverse tracking two shot in which Jeffrey and Sandy make small talk and innocently flirt with one another. Dorothys introduction into the film, however, is quite different. The film first truly introduces the audie nce and Jeffrey to Dorothy with a subjective shot from her closet. After breaking into Dorothys apartment andShow MoreRelatedContrasting Themes in David Lynchs Film, Blue Velvet Essay3021 Words   |  13 PagesContrasting Themes in â€Å"Blue Velvet† The subconscious psyche is one of the most fascinating and almost completely inexplicable aspects of human behavior. Even more intriguing than merely the subconscious is the notion of a darker, more repressed side that many individuals refuse to acknowledge exists within them. In David Lynch’s film â€Å"Blue Velvet,† the director attempts to explore the psyche of a young man named Jeffrey Beaumont, most notably the clash between his darker side and â€Å"good† sideRead MoreEssay about Scene Analysis of David Lynchs Film, Blue Velvet637 Words   |  3 PagesBlue Velvet: Scene Analysis The opening scene in David Lynch’s Blue Velvet portrays the theme of the entire film. During this sequence he uses a pattern of showing the audience pleasant images, and then disturbing images to contrast the two. The first shot of the roses over the picket fence and the title track â€Å"Blue Velvet† establishes the setting (Lumberton) as a typical suburban town. The camera starts on a bright blue sky with birds chirping and flying by and then tilts down to brightRead MoreEssay on Blue Velvet: Scene Analysis648 Words   |  3 PagesLynchs Blue Velvet portrays the theme of the entire film. During this sequence he uses a pattern of showing the audience pleasant images, and then disturbing images to contrast the two. The first shot of the roses over the picket fence and the title track Blue Velvet establishes the setting (Lumberton) as a typical suburban town. The camera starts on a bright blue sky with birds chirping and flying by and then tilts down to bright red roses over a bright white fence (red, white and blue symbolizesRead MoreEssay on Movie Analyses1637 Words   |  7 Pagesthat suits the movie. There are many qualities to judge a movie by, but it is best to find qualities that certain movies share in common to best judge the two. The three movies being compared and contrasted in this paper are The House of Games, Blue Velvet, and The Unbearable Lightness of Being. To best analyze these movies, they will be looked at from three viewpoints: their use of both physical and emotional relationships, their use of surrealism, and their use of art and music. Before one can learnRead MoreThe Use Of Symbols In The Masque Of The Red Death Essay1122 Words   |  5 Pagesprinces abbey. However, no walls can stop death since it is unavoidable and inescapable. Throughout the story, Poe uses symbols such as the rooms, the masked figure, and the clock to convey the theme that no one can escape death. The image of the rooms used in the story has a main contribution to the theme being conveyed. Prince Prosperos abbey consists of seven different and symbolic rooms. The fact that there were seven rooms is symbolic in itself due to the fact that there are seven stages inRead MoreDavid Lyncg s Blue Velvet And Psycho1931 Words   |  8 Pagesacting abilities. David Lyncg’s Blue Velvet and Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho share several overarching themes, including violence, isolation, and purity, and the actresses’ performances brought chills down the spines of the audience as we witnessed innocent characters struggling to prevail against the evil that surrounds them. The intensity of the each film is made possible by Isabella Rossellini and Janet Leigh portraying Dorothy Vallens and Marion Crane in Blue Velvet and Psycho, respectively. TheRead MoreThe Masque Of The Red Death Symbolism Analysis954 Words   |  4 PagesDarkness of Symbolism Gothic literature often has a common theme of fear and/or death. Author Edgar Allan Poe is the most well known gothic writer because of his famous dark and frightening short stories such as â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death.† Poe is so popular because of his ability to write stories that leave lasting effects on all readers. In this story, he uses many small symbols that then relate to the major symbols, such as Prince Prospero, his name represents his prosperous lifestyle. TheRead MoreInconsequential Rock Sub-Genre: Glam Rock Essay1846 Words   |  8 Pages1912 blues music gained national attention when W.C. Handy released the song â€Å"Memphis Blues†, which unleashed a new approach to music. Off-shoots of the blues, jazz and ragtime, quickly became popular and set a trend around the world. Blues music in the meantime, was gaining popularity and appeared more frequent, evolving as it progressed. By 1954 Elvis had come on the music scene with a radical new approach to popular music. His contribution bridged a race gap that brought underground blues musicRead MoreEurydice : The Myth Of Orpheus And Eurydice1599 Words   |  7 Pagesdesign specifications and leaving freedom for interpretation for the rest of the designs. The few specific design specifications integrate the central theme of endangered unity and the choice that Eurydice must make, and similarly they propel the designers into their own creativity of interpreting the play through their choice in the design. The themes of love, death, loss, uncertainty, and unity surround the play. The longing for unity seems to be central to the play. After falling in love with OrpheusRead MoreCult Hit Films : Harold And Maude2026 Words   |  9 Pagesbacklash because during the 1970’s there were high rates of suicides among teenagers and college students. However, over time college students found the movie very entertaining, therefore bringing the movie into the lights and making it a cult hit. In Blue Velvet, a neo-noir mystery film directed by David Lynch and released in 1986, received a variety of critical responses from a wide range of audience, but this movie’s unique style earned Lynch his second nomination for Best Director. The idea of innocent