Žižek on Lynch and the Artist's Unconscious

Excerpt from a 2012 TIFF lecture with Slavoj Žižek.
The philosopher describes David Lynch as an "unconscious genius" and argues that a lot of great artists have "stupid and naive" ideologies.
#zizek

[@johnrogstad1278]

If artists applied the same level of scrutiny to their process that critics do to the final product, they would never get anything done. At some point, you do have to just trust your gut while creating and then let others have the final word on whatever you make. It really can't be any other way. That being said, I think Lynch is more intentional than he oftens lets on in (most) interviews. But it's clear he doesn't want to overdetermine the experience of viewing his work for anyone because he's committed to the idea that wrestling with mystery is the whole point of approaching art. No doubt if Zizek ever made a film or painting of his own, he'd quickly find that running around telling people what to think about the work would quickly neuter its impact.

[@dillegitante]

I think that Lynch knows what he is doing. He is a superconventionalist.

[@Garrett1240]

Shamefully I’m interested in what Lynch’s politics are

[@milo713]

he's said in the past that he's a libertarian, but became a democrat by the 2000s cuz he didn't see the libertarian party ever winning an election. he voted for reagan but also supported bernie in 2016. and also supported blm. i'd say he's a socially-concerned libertarian, paradoxically? idk, he's reportedly not very interested in politics anyway

[@jackstraw262]

They don’t actually care about blue/red in the upper echelons of Hollywood; it’s all about the green

[@yvngarmz5984]

Super reductive assertions here

[@makimasbrat5508]

Lynch is not unconscious and he is deliberate . Read his one sentence introductions to twin peaks episodes

[@TheGUNDALLS]

Where can I find those?

[@makimasbrat5508]

@TheGUNDALLS I think twin peaks Wiki. I will try to find it

[@makimasbrat5508]

He mostly lies to interviews

[@julianapostate6534]

Zizek loves to call people stupid, what would Lacan say about that. Lynch is purposely enigmatic. Like great musicians a different kind of intelligence produces great art. Even Listening to Lynch explain his process is more compelling than Zizek's dissection, using meditation to explore the vast subconscious which inspires his art, he then uses the relatively paltry intelligence ( that Zizek celebrates) to craft works those explorations into art that inspire millions

[@wandilemtambo9962]

Źiźek is a Hegelian first and just demonstrated that he believes the most profound and insightful things can often be produced by what is illogical, inconsistent and yes overwhelmingly dumb. We don't need to valourise certain actors by painting them as obscure genius. Andy Warhol was dismissed as an airhead by most who knew him and he likely was. But for Zizek this is something to be cherished, embraced as a fundamental part of the human condition.

[@GEMSofGOD_com]

[Zhizhek] is right.

[@semiguattari]

poster boy zizek