Blue Velvet’ (1986): A Dark Trip Down the Slippery Isles of Voyeurism and Human Sexuality

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Blue Velvet’ (1986): A Dark Trip Down the Slippery Isles of Voyeurism and Human Sexuality

Journal Title: International Journal of Communication and Media Studies (IJCMS) - Year 2019, Vol 9, Issue 3

Abstract

While it is next to impossible to completely decipher any of the works from the stables of David Lynch, ‘Blue Velvet’ (1986) does provide us with a reasonable clue to unlocking his much discussed world of human subconscious. ‘Blue Velvet’ is not just a film; it is more of a cinematic revolution. It entirely transformed the traditional yet mundane ways of American cinema and how! No wonder it is considered one of the most influential movies in the history of not just American cinema but global cinema as well. It was at once revered and hated for reasons pretty much the same. Ingrained violence, a debilitating atmosphere, weirdness, a nightmarish world, darkness and the propensity to unleash the inner crudeness have since marked all of Lynch’s films. However, ‘Blue Velvet’ provides all of that and in a way that is not too palatable to an ordinary cinemagoer. Lynch had himself referred to the movie’s autobiographical nature. One look at the film and it becomes crystal clear that it primarily delves into the sheepish worlds of voyeurism and resultant sexuality. This paper makes an attempt at unraveling these primary motifs of the movie through the dissection of its numerous symbolisms and frames, some of them being absolutely audacious even when looked at through a rather liberal reel lens.

Authors and Affiliations

SUNAYAN BHATTACHARJEE

Keywords

Blue Velvet David Lynch Sexuality Surrealist Cinema & Voyeurism

EP ID EP605778
DOI 10.24247/ijcmsjun201917
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