Abstract

The long-standing significance of urban design and architecture on places and people has often been overlooked throughout history, having created spaces that would go on to be often associated with urban decay. Although the industrial period was one which allowed American cities to thrive economically for a time and flourish, many struggled keeping up with technological advancements which resulted in post-industrial neighbourhoods that were struck with poverty and decay. This article tackles spatial alienation caused by urban decay in the twentieth century through an analysis of the fictional film Eraserhead and director David Lynch’s experience of a city that attempted to keep itself afloat towards the turn of the century. The paper takes a qualitative approach in its research by examining selected sequences from the film through a theoretical and historical lens to better understand the film’s usage of space to convey its underlying core themes of anxiety and fear. This study ultimately demonstrates the effects that architectural ideas and societal changes can have on the wellbeing of people through fictional representations, placing importance on sustainable urban design and architecture.

Keywords

Architecture, Eraserhead, Liminality, Spatial alienation, Psychogeography, Industrial architecture

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