aesthetics of blue velvet
TRANSCRIPT
-
7/27/2019 Aesthetics of Blue Velvet
1/7
27-08-2007 Monday
Aesthetics of Film & Video
Assignment 2
Zeeshan Ahmad
Short Paper 1:Blue Velvet
Blue Velvetis a psychological thriller, written and directed by David Lynch.
The film follows the clean cut Jeffrey Beaumont (Kyle MacLachlan) as his
curiosity leads him to discover the seamy dark side of an otherwise quaint and
idyllic American small town. Thematically, the film has also been classified as
neo-noir1 and stylistically, some have also described Blue Velvetas surrealist2.
The film starts with a cursory glance over the town of Lumberton. The first
few seconds establish Lumberton as an idealist suburban town with clear blue
skies, white picket fences and neatly trimmed lawns. This depiction is a clear
reference to American soap operas from the 50s and 60s which depicted similar
idyllic lifestyles and settings3. The film then zooms into one of the perfects lawns
to depict various insects writhing in the dirt. These first few seconds serve as a
prelude to the films explicit theme of what lies beneath. This prelude can be
considered a metaphor that pre-empts Jeffreys discovery of a dark and twisted
-
7/27/2019 Aesthetics of Blue Velvet
2/7
underworld beneath the peacefulness he has so far encountered in suburban
Lumberton.
This insect motif repeats itself throughout the course the film. For
example, when Jeffrey first visits Dorothy Vallens (Isabella Rossellini) apartment,
he masquerades as an insect exterminator. Another subtle allusion to this motif is
the mask Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper) uses to inhale his mysterious drug 4.
Bens (Dean Stockwell) brothel can also be considered as alluding to a bee hive,
filled with bloated mindless prostitutes resembling worker bees, completely under
the sway of the queen bee, Ben5. At the end of the film, the insect motif appears
again, this time in direct reference to what was shown at the beginning, when
Jeffrey spots a robin with an insect in its mouth. This scene can be interpreted in
different ways. It can be considered an allusion to Jeffreys rescue by the power
of love6. At the same time, it represents how Frank is just one of the many
insects that exist in the world and how the underworld will survive despite his
death.
Another important motif in the film is the ear as a doorway to the mind. If
this film is considered a study into the depths of the human mind, then particular
attention must be given to this key symbolic element. When Jeffrey is first
introduced, he is shown discovering a severed human ear. The camera then
promptly zooms into the ear until the scene changes. The camera only zooms
out of an ear (this time Jeffreys ear) near the end of the movie, when Jeffrey has
come out of his ordeal. Apart from signifying the theory above mentioned, the ear
motif also signifies Jeffreys journey in and out of his ordeal, the severed ear led
-
7/27/2019 Aesthetics of Blue Velvet
3/7
Jeffrey to Dorothy and Frank and when the camera zooms out of the ear at the
end, it signifies the end to Jeffreys ordeal7.
Apart from the above mentioned meaning, the insect and the ear motif
also serve another subtle purpose in the film. Both of them play a key role in
giving the narrative a sort of symmetry, which in my opinion, heightens the films
beauty.
A less important motif is that of Blue Velvet. Although it bears no direct
relation to the story of the film, it serves to establish a relation with the films title.
It first appears with the opening credits, which roll against a blue velvet backdrop.
Subsequently, it repeats itself most ubiquitously in the form of the song Blue
Velvetby Bobby Vinton. For example the same song is sung by Dorothy in the
club as well. Also, Dorothys robe is also blue velvet, as is the rag Frank pulls out
of his pocket during the rape scene.
The film also has subtle references to The Wizard of Oz. For example the
hat decorated with musical notes and a propeller on top in Dorothys apartment,
or for instance her red high-heeled shoes (a reference to the ruby red shoes
Dorothy finds in The Wizard of Oz)8. The film also shares a thematic similarity
with The Wizard of Oz in that they can both be considered as coming-of-age
stories.
Of passing interest, are the references to Abraham Lincoln and his
assassination. Jeffrey is warned not to go on Lincoln Street. Dorothys husband
is shot in the head, much in the same way as Lincoln was. And Frank Booths
name can refer to John Wilkes Booth, Lincolns assassin.9
-
7/27/2019 Aesthetics of Blue Velvet
4/7
Of course, like any other study, mine would be incomplete without atleast
a brief mention of the agents involved, in this case the main characters. They
consist of the protagonist and Hero Jeffrey Beaumont, the antagonist Frank
Booth, the femme fatale Dorothy Vallens. Jeffrey is depicted as a clean cut,
good natured and idealistic college student who unexpectedly stumbles upon a
world wholly new and disturbing to him. Frank is shown as an absolutely
wretched creature, with a penchant for sadism and rape. His prime victim is
Dorothy, whose son he has kidnapped and from whom he extorts
sadomasochistic sexual favours in return for her son. She is a tormented night-
club singer with developing masochistic tendencies. It is she who leads Jeffrey to
the Lumberton underworld.
These three characters can be said to form a metaphorical family, with
Frank the father, Dorothy the mother and Jeffrey the son. According to
psychoanalyst and film theorist Ann Mulvey, the films underlying oedipal theme
can be interpreted as symbolizing the domestic violence and abuse in real
families10. Michael Atkinson reads Jeffrey further as a nave and innocent youth
who at the same time is both horrified and impressed by the abuse Frank inflicts
and considers it the means for possessing Dorothy himself, as evidenced by the
scene where Jeffrey is finally forced to hit her11.
Blue Velvet incorporates many noir elements. For instance it is based
around a crime that draws the Hero to investigate it further. It features the
femme fatale in the form of Dorothy, who is responsible for the ordeal Jeffrey
goes through upon the pretext of help. It depicts the Hero Jeffrey as being
-
7/27/2019 Aesthetics of Blue Velvet
5/7
morally ambiguous at times and sexually motivated in continuing to help Dorothy.
The film overall is pessimistic in nature, for example, Dorothy is unwittingly
trapped in her situation and she is striving against a doomed hope, i.e. she wants
Frank to free her husband who as we see is killed later on. It poses a moral
question in the form of Jeffrey asking why there are men like Frank. Other
elements Blue Velvet borrows from noir include low-key lighting, location
shooting, night-for-night sequences and low angle shots. It also makes use of the
clichd shadows of Venetian blinds, notably in the iconic voyeuristic sequence.
Blue Velvetalso draws heavily from surrealism. It frequently employs the
element of surprise. For example, one can refer to the above mentioned
voyeuristic sequence when Dorothy discovers Jeffrey. Of less importance is its
use of non sequitur, especially in the scenes featuring Jeffrey and Sandy
Williams (Laura Dern).
In conclusion, I would reiterate the films what lies beneath theme. This is
not the type of film which can be understood in one screening. On the contrary, it
is a multi-layered tapestry of symbolism which lends a new meaning every time
one sees it. Most importantly, it is an intelligent commentary on the fact that
brushing anything under the carpet would not make it non-existant.
-
7/27/2019 Aesthetics of Blue Velvet
6/7
References:
-
7/27/2019 Aesthetics of Blue Velvet
7/7
1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Velvet2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrealism_and_film3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Velvet#Themes4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Velvet#Themes5
http://www.filmsite.org/blue3.html6
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Velvet#Themes7
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Velvet#Themes8
http://www.filmsite.org/blue2.html9
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090756/trivia10
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Velvet#Themes11
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Velvet#Themes