I’ve written and rewritten this introduction many times because I don’t know exactly what to say. At the time of writing, David Lynch has just passed away. We knew it would eventually happen. Now that it has, I don’t know how to process it fully. Lynch has had a profound impact not just on cinema but on art in general. I’d normally give a short list of people who were inspired by Lynch, but it honestly feels like everyone was. If you scroll through social media, you’ll see tributes from almost every creative person you know. His brand of surrealism is often imitated, but no one can reproduce his unique vision. There will only ever be one David Lynch.
Nearly everyone has at least one Lynch project they feel a deep connection with. A friend of mine used to watch “Blue Velvet” at least three times a week. Many others I know would quote “Twin Peaks” at any given opportunity. While I adore the majority of Lynch’s work, the one that resonates with me the most is “The Elephant Man.” I always felt a little odd, so stories of this nature really speak to me. Quasimodo and the Phantom of the Opera are dear friends of mine. Lynch’s “Elephant Man” looked and felt like one of those great Gothic horror films I’ve loved since childhood. John Merrick was a similar figure to the Phantom and Hunchback, except he was loosely based on the real Joseph Merrick. He was closer to our reality.
For the few who haven’t seen it, “The Elephant Man” is the story of a severely disfigured man living in late 19th-century London. An eminent surgeon discovers him in a sideshow and becomes a sensation. Shot in black-and-white, the film is like a Universal Monster movie and portrays its subject with absolute empathy. There is much that is both eerie and sensitive, morbid and beautiful. Lynch was known for his mastery of surrealism; “Elephant Man” demonstrates his talent for storytelling. However, in the sequences that bookend the movie, that trademark Lynchian weirdness is used greatly.
I don’t really want to review the film as I typically would. Most of you are probably familiar with it, and you likely don’t need me to convince you of its greatness. “The Elephant Man” speaks for itself. And while it’s been lost to time, the very first article I ever wrote was about “The Elephant Man” and its relationship to the titular figure who inspired it. The Lynch film isn’t exactly historically accurate. Even the fact that its Merrick is called “John” instead of “Joseph” is a testament to that. But that doesn’t diminish its power as art. As a motion picture, it’s irreproachable.
The reason I am writing this is that until I learned of Lynch’s passing, I never really thought about just how much “The Elephant Man” has changed my life. If I hadn’t written that first piece about “The Elephant Man,” I probably wouldn’t be writing at all. I’ve been drawn to sideshows and carnivals since I saw this movie. At times, I’ve even performed circus stunts in front of a crowd. At one of my few professional shows, I came out with the theme from “The Elephant Man.” I even promoted a screening of the movie dressed as Merrick. So much of who I am today (for better or for worse) can be traced back to the first time I saw this movie.
I’m just one random person on the internet, but I’m sure my story is fairly common. Someone watched the work of David Lynch and decided to create their own. That is the power of truly exceptional art. It inspires and creates artists. Lynch alone has led millions and millions of individuals toward the road of creativity. While it is unfortunate that he is no longer with us, he will continue to inspire new creators and touch the lives of many. There will always be someone who will discover “The Elephant Man,” “Twin Peaks,” or any of Lynch’s other projects for the first time. There will only ever be one David Lynch, but there will always be artists. Through them, Lynch will never die.