The Auteur Theory: Which communication theory is the most intriguing to you and why?

In the book, Essentials of Mass Communication Theory, I found the Auteur Theory to be the most interesting. The theory refers to a film director's body of work and their recognizable style in their movies. According to the text, “directors impose their personalities, their aesthetic sensibilities, their values and beliefs, on every aspect of their films” (Berger 160). In other words, a director's particular style can be seen in all of their films' themes and visual aspects. While films are meant to be entertaining, the director is also trying to communicate their message.

I chose this communication theory due to the fact that I love movies and actually had the dream to be a film director at one time. My hero and absolute favorite film director is David Lynch.He has created such memorable films as Blue Velvet, The Elephant Man, and Wild at Heart. Additionally, he also created the cult television show, Twin Peaks. In regards to the theory, his films all convey his recognizable artistic vision. According to the imdb.com, some of his trademarks include, “examining the dark side of American suburbia, low/middle frequency noise, dark and rotting environments, distorted characters, a polarized world, and constant references to dreams as a way of connecting the plot and twists, and surrealism” (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000186/bio).