David Lynch, whose death was announced in January, was one of the most innovative American filmmakers of all time – a true legend of cinema. This one-day course explores his works from 1977 to 2017, and offers a critical insight for Lynch fans and also those who are less familiar with his art.

David Lynch, whose death was announced in January, was one of the most innovative American filmmakers of all time – a true legend of cinema.

His creative projects have continually challenged, puzzled, and excited audiences, from the bizarre Eraserhead to Mulholland Drive, the “greatest film of the 21st century” (BBC Culture, 2019).

This one-day course explores Lynch’s works from 1977 to 2017 via several different frameworks, such as postmodernism, ideology, narrative, duality, and meta-textuality, offering a critical insight into Lynch’s works for Lynch fans and for those who are less familiar with his art.

11.30am – Intro, ice breaker, Lynch’s early life
12pm – Eraserhead, Art Cinema and Surrealism
12.30pm – The Elephant Man, Dune and Auteur Theory
1pm – Postmodernism and ideology: Blue Velvet and Wild at Heart
1.45pm – LUNCH
2.35pm – Narrative and Duality: Lost Highway and Mulholland Drive
3.20pm – Inland Empire: digital filmmaking; the "woman in trouble" narrative and feminist theory (including Mulholland Drive)
4pm – Twin Peaks Universe: surreal TV; controversy; metatextuality
4.50pm – Closing remarks, final questions / comments
5pm – END

FURTHER INFORMATION

Price: £20 / £18 Members

Tutor: Connor Winterton

Booking Information:
This one day course will run at Phoenix on Saturday 15 March 2025, 11.30am – 5pm.
You must be 18 or over to attend.

Cancellation Policy:
We do not offer refunds for cancellations of bookings, except in exceptional circumstances. In the event that an advertised course is withdrawn, we will endeavour to give 7 days’ notice and a full refund will be made.

View our Learner Agreement.

ABOUT THE TUTOR

Dr Connor Winterton is course leader and lecturer in Media Studies at Loughborough College, and has previously worked as an Associate Lecturer in Media and Communications at Birmingham City University. Connor is also an active researcher, and their main expertise lies in representations of gender and sexuality in contemporary media. However, they have many interests in the fields of film and media, which range from auteur cinema to audiences and spectatorship.