Devan Suber’s article ‘David Lynch’s influence on video games goes far beyond Twin Peaks’ is a good example of effective journalism. The structure is neat and concise, with a flow that does not feel repetitive. It uses numerous helpful examples to support its argument and help the audience to understand the thesis of the essay. For example, comparing the intentionally stilted dialogue in Silent Hill to Lynch’s Eraserhead and Lost Highway, or the shift in tones shared in Alan Wake 2 and other ‘Lynchian’ works. These connections also make it more accessible to readers who are not familiar with either form of media.
It successfully presents various news values, such as timeliness and relevance, seeing as it was published soon after David Lynch’s passing. It functions as a retrospective of his works and their impact in an industry other than film. It is also incredibly culturally specific, targeted to a niche intersection of people who both enjoy Lynch’s work and video games.
The article does not present itself as particularly biased, though there is a clear but unspoken appreciation for many of the games mentioned, but particularly David Lynch’s filmography. The piece is not critical, but rather appreciative of the ‘Lynchian’ style and particularly the impact it has made on the game industry.
I believe the article is effective at conveying its story to the reader- my only criticism would be to introduce other voices to the work to add more depth. For example, interviewing developers of the games to ask them directly about their inspirations.
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