# Understanding "Eraserhead" ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 20, 1999, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/understanding-eraserhead/12199 "1999-12-20T02:52:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Doctordec](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cdc98d/32.png) [@Doctordec](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctordec)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/understanding-eraserhead/12199/1 "1999-12-20T02:52:00Z")
I was going to post this in General Questions but it’s related to art and not science and belongs in MPSIMS. I bought a video of the film Eraserhead because I only saw it once years ago and remembered it as a very odd film. So I watched it and I need some help. Could someone please tell me what it’s about !! Is there a message to this film or is it just meant to stymie the viewer trying to understand it. * * * “Hope is not a method” ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/understanding-eraserhead/12199/2 "1999-12-20T02:58:00Z")
I saw it a couple of times in college ('70s). I’d have to say, don’t worry about it. ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/understanding-eraserhead/12199/3 "1999-12-20T03:01:00Z")
It’s a fairy tale for the Industrial Age. ---
**Author:** ![JamesCarroll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@JamesCarroll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JamesCarroll)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/understanding-eraserhead/12199/4 "1999-12-20T04:39:00Z")
I saw it because I was A a Twin Peaks fan and wanted to see more of Lynch’s work. All I can say is that it gave me the hinks. ---
**Author:** ![Demo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demo/32/8472_2.png) [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/understanding-eraserhead/12199/5 "1999-12-20T05:27:00Z")
It’s about someone trying to make a film that makes absolutely no sense and which provides absolutelt no entertainment, and succeeding. * * * “Teaching without words and work without doing are understood by very few.” -Tao Te Ching ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/understanding-eraserhead/12199/6 "1999-12-20T15:53:00Z")
You can’t “understand” Eraserhead. You can only “experience” it. One of the all time creepiest movies I’ve ever seen… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 1999, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/understanding-eraserhead/12199/7 "1999-12-21T06:40:00Z")
You have to understand that the whole movie is intended as a dream that the main character is having. So like most dreams it doesn’t follow a clear cut narrative. This movie along with _El Topo_ and _The Forbidden Zone_ is part of the Triple Crown of weird movies. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/understanding-eraserhead/12199/8 "1999-12-20T20:48:00Z")
> [@](#): > > This movie along with El Topo and The Forbidden Zone is part of the Triple Crown of weird movies. Oh I don’t know. I’d put _Manos: Hands of Fate_ in there somewhere… * * * b]StoryTyler[/b"Not everybody does it, but everybody should." [I Spy Ty.](http://sites.netscape.net/storytyler/homepage) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/understanding-eraserhead/12199/9 "1999-12-22T05:08:00Z")
David Lynch is a fascinating human being, but I don’t think he has any business making movies. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/understanding-eraserhead/12199/10 "1999-12-22T15:10:00Z")
Well, I’m just glad that HE made it. Now _I_ don’t have to. * * * Uke