For Reflection with David Lynch and Stories Without Explanation
In the book BIG FISH, I came across a passage about explaining symbols in films. And yes, understanding Lynch’s films isn’t exactly easy – but we keep trying anyway. At least, I’m one of those who love to search for meanings. 😊
🔹 “A film should work on its own. It’s absurd when a filmmaker has to explain what it means. The world within a film is invented, and audiences love to step into it. To them, it’s real. And when they find out how certain things were done and what they mean, it naturally affects their experience. I feel that we should protect the world of film and avoid saying things that might disturb the viewer’s impression. It can be highly absurd, yet people still crave to intellectually understand and put it into words. And when they fail, it frustrates them intellectually. But meaning lies within them – they just need to let it surface. The thing is, people know much more than they think.” – David Lynch
I always let my close friends read my stories first because I’m curious about their reactions. For instance, with my story “The Bridge Across the Swamp,” I had doubts—was it too long for a blog post? But one of my friends told me she found it gripping, intriguing, and thought-provoking… until she reached the explanation of the symbols. That, she said, ruined the magic for her. 😊
I hesitated for a long time, but now I know for sure – things shouldn’t be over-explained. Readers might not grasp everything the author intended, but that’s okay. Everyone can find their own meaning in a story—something that resonates with them. And that’s what truly matters.
✨ David Lynch also meditated, and his inspiration often came through meditation. Maybe he worked with his stories in a similar way to me. You don’t always fully understand the story, but somewhere deep inside, it touches you.
I meditated on how to express this in an image—and this is what emerged. 😊
