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David Lynch[]
I don't want to restart an old argument. However, I wasn't here when you guys originally began talking about the Roadhouse vs The Bang Bang Bar argument. I've avoided this wiki on purpose because I didn't want to run into potential spoilers. But when I found out about this argument, I decided I should try and offer a different perspective.
I love Twin Peaks, but I'm also a David Lynch fan. These things can be indepedent of each other or mutually exclusive. For me, it's a combination.
First off, the sign clearly says "The Bang Bang Bar." People can argue against the fact and claim that the sign simply has a gun saying "Bang Bang." However, if this is true, then whomever bought the Roadhouse went out and spent money on a neon sign that simply says "The Bar." This idea is ridiculous and no bar owner would do this. I've been to more bars in my life than I care to admit and I can guarantee no bar owner would do such an idiotic thing. The sign clearly says "The Bang Bang Bar." The gun is added for effect.
Also, the club is clearly always identified verbally as "The Roadhouse." Why would they refer to the bar one way written down and completely different verbally? If you want to identify your bar with a bar sign, then it makes sense that you'd want to put the name of the bar on the sign. Why didn't they do this? Lynch is trying to make you think and understand the important of this bar. The duality is important and not an accident.
First off, anyone who thinks that Lynch picked a real world bar with one name and called it something else for his show is naive. He would not use an existing bar with one name and call it another and then STILL show the name of the real bar in his show. He is way too good of a director to do this. He would either change the sign or not show the sign. However, he clearly shows the sign over and over while referring to it outloud as "The Roadhouse." He WANTS you think about why he would do this. You're his audience and Lynch is trying to tell you something important. Everything the man does is deliberate and this disparity is deliberate. He is not the type of guy to make such an obvious mistake in a movie. And yes, it is a mistake to have a bar with a name on its sign that is different than the name it is referred to.
In order to watch Twin Peaks, you have to understand David Lynch as a director. David Lynch does several things in his works. First, he inserts cryptive events into everything. Second, location is important to him and very often location will tell you a lot about the people who are in that location. Thirdly, he wants to foster dialogue about what is happening.
David Lynch LOVES symbolism. The bar represents several things and instead of arguing what the name of the bar is, you should be spending your time discussing what the symbolism of the bar is.
In reference to the Roadhouse/Bang Bang Bar, I find it amusing watching people argue about the name of this place. By arguing about the name, you completely miss the point of this place.
The bar has always represented duality. In the original "Twin Peaks," it was a place where both good and evil existed side by side yet apart. If you watch the original series, you will see what I mean. In the new series, it takes a more prominent role. It becomes a connection between things. It's a connection between the old show and the new show. I think this should be clear by the music it has. Secondly, it's a connection between Lynch and us. Lynch used these scenes to tell us things that he feels he HAS to tell us.
But the most important factor is that Lynch likes to foster conversation about his work. He WANTS us to wonder why this place has two names. He wants us to talk about it. He also wants us to argue about. And we all are playing into his hands.
So, honestly, both sides of the argument are both right and wrong. Stop arguing and really think of this from a perspective that Lynch wants you guys to have this talk because he wants you to come to a conclusion that he is trying to tell you something.
Final Dossier seems to confirm...[]
That "Bang Bang Bar" is a legitimate name for this fine establishment. On the first page of Shelly's file, Preston says: "... local adult venue known by its sign as the Bang Bang Bar, but more colloquially as The Roadhouse." This reads pretty similar to what we had on here before.
Not meaning to start another ridiculous argument (thus why I haven't edited the article just yet), just pointing this out coming from Mark Frost himself. Special Agent Dale Cooper (talk) 19:02, October 31, 2017 (UTC)
- (anxiously looking around for an angry person) Well, I've gone ahead and made some edits. TenCents (talk to me!) 19:14, October 31, 2017 (UTC)
The prop menus from S3 also say "The Bang Bang" 👀 https://mobile.twitter.com/TwinPeaksArchve/status/1305557863058739200 Special Agent Dale Cooper (talk) 19:17, September 14, 2020 (UTC)