MULHOLLAND DRIVE - NARRATIVE Flashcards
Todorov
What is the Equilibrium of MD?
Diane - who has won a Jitterbug contest and comes to Hollywood - is an aspiring actress who lives with Camilla, who is also an actress. They have become lovers. Camilla starts to become a successful actress, breaks off her relationship with Diane and becomes engaged to the director of the film she is starring in. Diane is overcome with jealousy and bitterness.
Todorov
What is the Disruption of MD?
Diane decides to hire a hitman to kill Camilla
Todorov
What is the Quest of MD?
Diane struggles to deal with what she has done. as she waits for the hit to take place, she drifts into a dream where she becomes ‘Betty’ and attempts to deal with all of her conflicting emotions. She encounters versions of herself and others in his nightmare and in her subconscious, tries to make sense of her situation.
Todorov
What is the Resolution and New Equilibrium of MD?
She wakes up from the nightmare, unable to rationalise or reconcile what she has done. Plagued by memories of Camilla, she can no longer take the pain or guilt, and kills herself.
Formalism
What disillusionment does Lynch explore through Diane’s story?
Disillusioned by Hollywood
Lynch critiques the false promises of fame and success in the film industry.
Formalism
What themes does Lynch address regarding gender in Hollywood?
Patriarchal control and gender balance
The story reflects the struggles women face in a male-dominated industry.
Formalism
What aspect of performance does Lynch highlight in Diane’s narrative?
Female performance
The pressures and expectations placed on women in the entertainment industry are central to the story.
Formalism
What significance do dreams hold in Lynch’s storytelling?
Importance of dreams
Dreams serve as a vehicle for exploring deeper themes of ambition and desire.
Formalism
What does Lynch suggest about the power dynamics of women in Hollywood?
Power and control of women in Hollywood
The narrative examines the complexities of female agency in a patriarchal context.
Formalism
How does Diane’s character relate to the American Dream?
Establishing Diane - or her fantasy alter-ego ‘Betty’ - as a small-town girl with dreams of becoming a Hollywood actress links to ideas about ambition, fantasies, glamour, American Dream and Cinema
This connection highlights the allure and pitfalls of pursuing fame.
Formalism
What does the equilibrium and instruction reveal about dreams in Lynch’s work?
Using the equilibrium and instruction to show how these dreams falling apart helps explore the idea that behind the promise or prosperity and success in - more often than not - failure, jealousy and sadness
The narrative structure emphasizes the darker realities behind the facade of success.
What does the dream space signify in Lynch’s storytelling?
The fact the quest takes place primarily within a dream space indicates the importance of the subconscious with Lynch’s work and worldview
The dream setting allows for exploration of deeper psychological themes.
Formalism
What themes relate to Diane’s inability to overcome her feelings?
The inability for Diane to overcome her feelings of loss, betrayal, guilt and jealousy during her quest suggests themes relating to Lacanian ideas of identity and self-realisation
This reflects Lynch’s interest in the complexities of self and identity.
Formalism
What does ‘Death as the New Equilibrium’ imply about Lynch’s worldview?
Death as the New Equilibrium (Fire Walk With Me) suggests a bleak worldview on behalf of Lynch - something is happening with the end of much of his previous work as an auteur
This indicates a shift in Lynch’s thematic focus towards darker conclusions.
Narrative Device
An example of set design which is a narrative device?
Mulholland Street sign establishes location and movement
Narrative Device
How is editing used as a narrative device?
The use of flashbacks in the second half
Narrative Device
How is omission and revelation used as a narrative device?
Doesn’t tell us that Diane is dreaming - this is revealed later
Narrative Device
How is hair and makeup used as a narrative device?
Diane VS Betty
Narrative Device
How is the use of reptition/motif used as a narrative device?
The repeating of elements of mise-en-scene and dialogue (the limo)
Narrative Device
How is dialogue used as a narrative device?
‘This is the girl’ - both abstract and expostitional, both communicate narrative
Narrative Device
How is the use of doppelgängers/alter-egos used as a Narrative Device?
Obscures narrative inetrpretation that is revealed to us later
Narrative Device
How is
