David Keith Lynch (born January 20, 1946) is an American filmmaker, television director, visual artist and musician. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound design. Indeed, the surreal and in many cases violent elements to his films have gained them the reputation that they "disturb, offend or mystify" their audiences..