How David Lynch and the language of images guide us through the unknown
David Lynch, the legendary director of films like The Elephant Man and Eraserhead, was once asked by Terry Gross on Fresh Air what he does when he makes a movie. After a long pause, he replied, “You know, when I’m making a movie, I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Of course, something is guiding him, but whatever it is can’t be put into words. When Lynch is immersed in the creative process, he operates with a kind of knowing that transcends language.
Even if we’re not professional artists, we all experience this state. Any time we enter a situation without knowing how it’s going to turn out, we’re engaging in the creative process. The question is: how do we navigate this uncharted territory?
When the path is unknown, there’s no map or step-by-step plan to guide us. As Lynch suggests, it can feel like we don’t know what we’re doing. Words, our usual tools for explanation and understanding, fail us in these moments.
Depth psychologists describe the creative “middle realm” as a place where the primary language is image. Metaphors, dream images, daydreams, and visions lie at the heart of creativity. When we confront the unknown, these images become our navigational tools.
Though it may be hard to verbalize what we “know” in this space, we are all fluent in the language of image—it’s our original form of communication. The earliest humans didn’t rely on written language. They used gesture, posture, and facial expressions to convey meaning. They painted pictographs on cave walls and created visual signs to share their experiences.
As babies, long before we master verbal language, we use our bodies and senses to learn how the world works. We bump into things, see, touch, and form mental images that shape our understanding of life.
Images remain central to how we learn, communicate, and create. When words fall short, images guide us. They show us the way through the unknown, helping us connect with a deeper form of intelligence and creativity.
