YOUR READING ASSIGNMENT THIS WEEK 🔽
Limited access to this copyrighted material is by explicit permission of the author and only available for this free cost during the active running of this course in 2024. The final version will be available in book format shortly after the conclusion of this course.
This Week’s Syllabus
Watch Twin Peaks: The Return “Part Seven”
READ THE NEXT CHAPTER in your textbook: A Skeleton Key To Twin Peaks, 2nd Edition. by
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Consider and, if it feels right, discuss the following topics I explore in this podcast.
Part Seven
Topic 1: “What are we supposed to feel right now?”
As we enter the penultimate phase of Twin Peaks: The Return, let us reflect on our feelings about this art so far and re-establish our position for the unsettling and disorienting journey ahead.
Topic 2: “Dreaming Chaos”
Let’s explore the metaphor of Dale Cooper trapped in his own dream, with the audience as witnesses to his psychological struggle. We are working with the core theme of a human being lost in their dream, with their psyche infiltrated by an evil presence, and divorcing them from their agency. Let’s spend a few minutes discussing Twin Peaks' dreamlike nature and mythological framing of human goodness, which is now threatened by corruption. What does this mean for Cooper and for the town of Twin Peaks?
Topic 3: “Cooper's Failure and Its Consequences”
Now, let’s examine Dale Cooper's failure at the end of Season 2 and how this trapped him in a fugue state. Cooper’s inability to save Laura Palmer—a key plotline—becomes a significant metaphor for his own internal collapse. The unresolved trauma of Laura Palmer’s death becomes the anchor for Cooper’s descent into his own mind. What happens when our hero can’t save the girl, and what does that mean for this dream?
Topic 4: “Investigating the Dual Nature of Dale Cooper”
Hawk and Truman discuss Laura Palmer’s diary, revealing the idea that the Cooper who entered the Black Lodge is not the one who came out. This section bridges the supernatural with the investigative, adding layers to our understanding of Cooper's corruption. Fans of detective work and supernatural intrigue will enjoy this breakdown of how Twin Peaks blurs the line between reality and dreams. What’s next for Hawk and Truman as they follow the trail of clues?
Topic 5: “The Tragic Tale of Audrey Horne and Corrupted Memories”
This section unpacks the dark subtext of Audrey Horne’s fate, including the revelation of her assault by the evil version of Cooper. Here, we’ll explore how these corruptions of Cooper’s memory shape the broader narrative. The tragic ripple effect of actions, such as Audrey’s assault, changes the trajectory of Twin Peaks’ characters. We’ll discuss how memory is manipulated to create layers of dream and deception.
Topic 6: “The Investigations Begin To Merge—Cooper, Briggs, and the Sheriff's Department”
How do three investigative threads—Cooper’s corruption, Major Briggs’ disappearance, and the enigma of Dougie Jones—begin to converge? The narrative pushes towards a critical junction where major mysteries start unraveling. We may have found one of the corner pieces of the Twin Peaks puzzle. Dive into the mind-bending connection between the Air Force, Cooper’s transformation, and the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department.
Topic 7: “The Woodsmen and the Corruption of this Dream”"
The segment introduces the Woodsmen—corrupted overseers of the dream world—and their role as both shepherds and enforcers of chaos. Let’s briefly examine the presence of these strange beings as signals of deeper corruption in the narrative. These eerie figures may seem like background players, but their importance to the dreamer’s psyche and their connection to the layers of reality are crucial. What are the Woodsmen hiding, and why should we fear them?
Topic 8: “Diane, Gordon Cole, and Mr. C’s Influence”
This section focuses on Diane's harrowing encounter with Mr. C and how his corruption reaches her. Let us explore the darkness of Mr. C’s manipulation and its broader significance in the dream narrative. The corruption of Cooper’s memory and image of Diane offers insight into how words and memories are twisted in The Return. How does this fractured relationship reflect Cooper’s descent, and what does it mean for his future and his past?
Topic 9: “Ike the Spike and Cooper’s Awareness Awakening”
This is a key (and rare) action scene in which Cooper defends himself against an assassin. We’ll examine it to understand that Cooper is slowly regaining awareness, but not full agency, over his surroundings and situation in this dream layer. In this pivotal moment, Cooper shows signs of waking within the dream. How does this encounter set him on a path toward self-realization and reclaiming his agency?
Topic 10: “The Hum and the Thin Places Between Worlds”
Let’s examine the scene of Beverly and Ben Horn investigating a mysterious hum, pointing to its connection to portals between worlds and the layers of the dream. Sound design in Twin Peaks plays a critical role in the show's larger metaphysical landscape. Throughout this show, sound (including music but not dialogue) is the only element that does not deceive the viewer. What is shown and what is said is deliberately deceiving. So, what is the hum, and where is it leading?
Topic 11: “Art and Meditation”
We wrap with reflections on art and meditation, encouraging listeners to engage with Twin Peaks as a show and a piece of transformative art. By deeply focusing on art and putting ourselves in the situations and emotions of fictional characters, we develop empathy, sympathy, and advanced psychological assessment skills, which can help every person become more sensitive to life in the real world, meaning the ones simulated inside each of us. Experiencing art on the deepest levels can elevate our consciousness, deepen our empathy, and ultimately transform our reality experience.
Next class…Press Pause: "The Calm Before The Bomb"
If you’ve never seen Twin Peaks The Return before this school class, you are in for a wild experience. You need to be prepared for what’s about to happen.
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