What's your theory on the traffic lights?

At first I thought it must be showing whether something good (green) is going to happen or bad (red). I got proved wrong just after coming up with that solution, however. Is it just an artistic directoin for Lynch? 

Personally, I don't think the traffic light means anything significant. I do look at it as an artistic expression on Lynch's part. The way he can focus on an object one would often categorize as ordinary or mundane, and turn into something beautiful. The traffic light blowing in the wind...it just gives out a creepy vibe, and it's pretty to look at. Traffic lights like that are generally not that common, and Twin Peaks is no different. That may be part of what it is about...to convey that feel of Small Town America. Reminds me of Coop's response to when he gets Harry to ask him why he is whittling..."'Cause that's what you do in a town where a yellow light means slow down, not speed up."

That's my 2 cents anyway. :)

Traffic lights tell us when to stop and when to go. These shots end scenes, with a sense of sketchiness in the air though. There is more to it, I'm sure.

James does go on red in a state of confusion and loss.  When pushed, He exits on red. 

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I remember hearing that the traffic lights signify a change in the mentality of the teenagers, but I can't say I've watched TP to prove it.

 Probably just an artistic decision without any deeper meaning, as someone else said.

 I find the scene when James runs the red light, including the dialogue with Laura, to be one of the most powerful scenes of TP in its entirety. "I LOVE YOU JAMES"

This would look good on your wall.

-Noah- 

With all the different directors and editors on the show, I'd guess that the traffic lights are just used as a transition between two scenes.  Just something to causes a break between two events.  For example, instead of cutting from Catherine talking on the phone in her home right two Cooper and Truman in the bronco, they just put that shot of hte traffic light in between.

That's my thought. Doesn't really "symbolize" anythign because so many people worked on teh show, I doubt they were each told "only use the trafic light in these ways." 

I agree that the traffic lights are both a creepy transition between scenes, and the best other example i have heard is they are a 'visual haiku'

But i think that if the traffic lights mean anything, or rather their effect means anything it is due to this:

The reason that the traffic lights resonate so strongly with us when they are used in scene transitions is because at that moment they are an empty signifier.    The utilitarian purpose of lights is to indicate when traffic is allowed to move, when it is to stop etc. They are not there for any aesthetic purpose in their design, their purpose is completely built around traffic.

So, when they are mostly shown, in the middle of the night, with no cars around, as they change they perform their purpose- directing traffic- but there is no traffic around to direct: their purpose is empty, and that which they signify and interact with is absent.  Hasd no one else been walking home in the middle of the night amid empty streets and observed the changes in lights and felt a weird feeling (with no cars anywhere). I feel that this is why the traffic lights are so effective an image, and they help to further reinforce TP's atmosphere.       

Plus, electiricy and industrial things are part of Lynch's favourite imagery, but i felt i would articulate why beyond an intuitive level the image seems so strong. I hope that I have.

 Nice post, Cooped. I think the traffic lights are a very powerful image but I didn't exactly know why, but you've hit the nail right on the head. It's the world carrying on regardless.

But I think it also has something to do with a spiritual presence (or lack thereof). It makes us wonder if there is some being that sees the things the characters do, and looks after them (or punishes them). Maybe there is some mysterious purpose behind the lights changing, signifying that someone is watching. On the other hand, maybe there is no purpose, the lights are blind and our characters are alone.