“It’s better not to know so much about what things mean or how they might be interpreted or you’ll be too afraid to let things keep happening. Psychology destroys the mystery, this kind of magic quality. It can be reduced to certain neuroses or certain things, and since it is now named and defined, it’s lost its mystery and the potential for a vast, infinite experience.”
–David Lynch
I think Lynch is entirely correct here, but the developing artist can over-extrapolate from this approach and get lazy.
The artist’s instincts, dreams, and inexplicable sense of when things are “right” are usually a better guide than a purely intellectual approach. But unless you are a total savant, the intellect must be used to correct, edit, and shape these instinctive moves. Trust in your vision must be fused with rigorous self-discipline.
Lynch’s success in shaping the power of mystery waxed (Blue Velvet) and waned (Inland Empire) with the amount of self-disciple he applied.
